Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Acid Reflux

My youngest daughter (2 months) has severe acid reflux. It seems odd for a baby to have such a thing, but she does. And it does not just cause discomfort. She has these episodes where she chokes on the reflux. She often turns purple and gasps for breath. The first time it happened she was 3 days old. My husband and I did not know what was happening. Thankfully enough he took charge and stuck a bulb syringe in her throat and sucked it out. I called 911 and panicked. Since then it has happened 9 times. We have been to childrens hospital and are currently awaiting an appointment to see a GI specialist. The acid reflux really changed the way we live. With my first daughter she slept in her own bed in her room from ther first few weeks. She learned to fall asleep on her own pretty quickly and was sleeping through the night by 12 weeks. I never let Claire sleep more than a few feet from me. Unless I am wide awake and have the monitor. Also because of the discomfort she does not sleep well in her bed. She wakes up every hour or so if she is flat on her back. We even tried elevating her matress and it does not seem to help. So she sleeps in her swing. It makes me worry all the time. I want her to learn to sleep well on her own, but I am also desperate for her to sleep, so we resort to the swing. Also because of the reflux se sometimes cries for no apparant reason, simply because she is uncomfortable. It is amazing how different one child can be from the next. I thought I really had things figured out after Elizabeth, but Claire is a whole other story. This afternoon we were driving home from Walmart and Claire started choking in the car. I cut across traffic and pulled into a parking lot to get her out. I am not sure what is going to happen and I am scared for my baby and I am overwhelmed. I worry about everything. What if it happens when I am in the shower or something? I also worry about her becoming attached to the swing or not learning to fall asleep on her own because she never has to. She is almost always sleeping with me next to her. I wish I could talk with someone who has experienced this. I know a few people who have had babies with acid reflux, but I have not heard any say there child experienced the choking. I just am lost as to what to do and what to expect from her. Baby books will tell you not to let your child fall asleep in the swing and to let them learn to fall asleep on their own, but what do I expect from a baby who is in pain and uncomfortable. I cant just let her cry it out. And I am not sure if she will ever outgrow this. I really am at my wits end.

3 comments:

Nicole said...

Hey Jessica, I think you will really love this blog. Her name is Courtney and she has 9 kids and her blog is cool! I sent her your blog too in hopes that she might know someone that you can talk to. Her blog is http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/

Hope the two of you can connect!

Anonymous said...

Hi there...

is she on meds? Have you tried a small amount of rice cereal? I know she young, but that is what was reccommended to me to help hold down the milk.

What does the doc say about the choking?

Created For His Glory said...

My baby is 3 months old and has a cleft lip and palate and reflux! He does the exact same thing.... chokes. These things have helped TREMENDOUSLY:
-In his bed but elevated (quite a bit) with a wedge so he sleeps slightly on one side (rotate sides)

-He is adopted, but we have been blessed with breastmilk donors and switching from formula to breastmilk has made a HUGE DIFFERENCE.

-He was on Zantac when he came home, but we took him off that and gave him a natural alternative called www.colicease.com . HUGE help!

Hope this is helpful :)
K