The children’s ward
Shortly after our arrival back from New York T became unwell.
The first sign was when she wouldn’t eat her dinner and didn’t want to drink her bedtime milk. She went to bed without any other fuss though so I didn’t think too much of it.
Two hours later I went to check on her and she was writhing a little in her sleep. Shortly afterwards T called out for me and when I picked her up she started being sick, and it didn’t stop.
I put her in the empty bathtub while my mind raced. T was vomiting heavily and I was starting to get worried. I tried calling an out of hours GP service, it was almost 11pm and I was told it would take an hour to get a call back from a doctor who would assess T over the phone.
At first I thought that would be okay, but she was still vomiting and refusing water and I feared if it continued she would become dehydrated. My husband wasn’t home so, I decided to put my mind at rest and take T to A&E.
I packed up her things and we jumped in the car. I prayed she wouldn’t be sick while in the back seat as I was worried about her choking.
T was very good and waited till we got to A&E to be sick again. And again. And again. The poor little thing had nothing left in her tummy but she still kept on vomiting. My husband joined us there and T smiled for the first time when she saw her Daddy which made me feel better.
After a 3 hour wait we were seen by a doctor. They tried to give T some saline solution to settle her tummy but she couldn’t keep that down so the decision was made to admit her to hospital and put her on a drip.
I hadn’t expected that but I knew it was for the best. After the drip was administered I spent the night on the children’s ward on a fold out bed next to T’s cot. They had run out of blankets but fortunately I had one for her and I didn’t need one. The next day my husband took over and kept T company.
Fortunately T made a speedy recovery she only spent one day in hospital. The doctors and nurses were all lovely but the children’s ward was so bleak. My heart broke for all the little ones who were in a much worse state and were having to spend Christmas time stuck in hospital.
T is now back to her smiley happy self and eating everything in sight. It turns out she picked up a bug that was doing the rounds at her nursery. I’m so glad it didn’t happen while we were travelling, that nightmare doesn’t even bear thinking about…
Photo credit: Tahitian Lime
Coping with reflux
One night, out of nowhere, when T was 5 weeks old she suffered from a severe bout of vomiting that started during the night.
After a phone call to the midwife the next day and a visit to the GP I made a frantic dash to the hospital, in my pyjamas, to get her checked out. The paediatrician suspected she might be suffering from gastro-oesphogeal reflux.
Reflux is a condition whereby the stomach contents come back up into the gullet or into the mouth and it’s increasingly common among babies. The doctors advised putting T on continuous medication, ranitidine and domperidone, if the symptoms continued.
Fortunately, it turned out T just had a spell of severe nausea that passed after a few days and it wasn’t reflux after all.
Other little ones are not as fortunate. My friend Laura shares her story of coping with a baby with reflux:
How old was your son when you discovered he had reflux?
My son, J, was 8 weeks old when his was formally diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux, although my husband and I suspected this was what he had from about 4 weeks old.
What were the symptoms?
Inconsolable crying, especially after a feed or if J was laid down flat on his back. Sometimes he would also arch his back and throw his head back.
Frequent vomiting was the other main symptom, and not just after a feed, but right through until the next feed. As a result, J’s sleep was very disturbed. If we did get him to sleep he would usually wake up crying after 20 minutes.
How was your son diagnosed?
We took J to the GP who said it was colic. Another GP said she suspected reflux. It was not until we went (privately) to a see a consultant in paediatric gastroenterology who described J’s symptoms as “classic reflux” that we knew for certain.
What treatment options were you offered?
The GP prescribed infant gaviscon but because I was breastfeeding it was a nightmare to administer. We had to try and spoon feed it after each feed. It also made J constipated.
We saw no improvement so we gave up after a few days. The consultant prescribed J ranitidine (which inhibits stomach acid production) and domperidone (used to suppress vomiting), which were given orally three times a day using a syringe.
How did you cope with caring for your son while he had reflux?
It was heartbreaking when J cried and I couldn’t do anything to comfort him. I would end up in tears as well.
Sometimes, the only way to get him to sleep was cradled in my arms, so I would sit on the bed or the sofa during the days for hours at a time, not being able to get up to get a drink or go to the loo!
At night he would sleep on my chest, with me propped up against a pillow. We propped up the head of his changing mat, moses basket and pram by placing a towel underneath so his head would be elevated when he was put down (to try and stop the milk from coming back up).
After feeding we would try and keep him upright for at least 20-30 minutes. This all helped, but it wasn’t until he was prescribed the medication when we saw a real improvement in his symptoms. The crying stopped, and although the vomiting continued, it was a vast improvement and much more manageable.
We weaned him off the medication at around 12 weeks, by which time the reflux had pretty much cleared up. I was quite down and emotional throughout the whole thing. I felt guilty for bringing J into the world when he appeared to be suffering. I was anxious about going out, in case I couldn’t control his crying. Most of all I felt helpless, as I couldn’t comfort my baby.
Is there any advice you’d give to parents who are concerned their baby may have reflux too?
Talk to your GP and health visitor, and don’t be fobbed off if they tell you it is colic. The main point is to remember that you know your child better than a GP who sees them for 10 minutes, so you need to trust your instincts – if you think they may be wrong get another opinion.
Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help. Having another adult at home with you during the day, even for a few hours, is a big comfort. And remember that things will get better. J is now an extremely lively, happy and spirited little baby who sleeps really well, rarely cries and never vomits.
Were there any resources or sources of support that were especially useful to you?
I found lots of helpful information on the internet, such as www.babyreflux.co.uk. I got a lot of comfort from reading about other parents’ experiences of babies with reflux. My family, particularly my husband and mum, were very supportive and without them I don’t know how I would have coped.
Based on Laura’s recommendation I reached out to Jonathan Phillips, founder of babyREFLUX, to find out more about his website. You can read Jonathan’s interview here.
babyREFLUX
babyREFLUX is the only dedicated website to offer advice and specialist products to parents and carers of babies with infant reflux.
Providing expert resources combining an online reflux library with practical products for the day-to-day management of baby reflux. babyREFLUX is also the largest supplier of sleep positioners in Europe to help with plagiocephaly and flat head syndrome.
babyREFLUX is managed by husband and wife team Rachel and Jonathan Phillips. They now live in Basingstoke, Hampshire with their three daughters Jessica 12, Chloe, 10 and Willow 3.
Managing director Jonathan Phillips connected with Not So Yummy Mummy to share how it all began.
What is infant reflux?
Reflux is the word used to describe what happens when the stomach contents come back up into the gullet or into the mouth.
There are very important differences between gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) when describing the difference between reflux in babies.
These differences can be summarized as follows:
GOR is normal, GORD is a disease.
GOR refers to the passage of stomach contents from the stomach into the oesophagus (spelt esophagus in the US).
It sometimes enters the throat or mouth, and in infants it is often ejected from the mouth. Some degree of GOR is a normal occurrence in individuals of all ages, especially during and immediately after meals. It is usually normal if it causes few, infrequent symptoms, or none at all.
In contrast GORD is present when reflux causes symptoms that are troublesome, severe, or of longstanding; and/or if reflux causes a complication, the most common being damage to the oesophagus.
When did you start babyREFLUX and what prompted you to start your company?
Soon after our third daughter, Willow, was born she was diagnosed with a common but misunderstood disease called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease/GORD or for short ‘baby reflux’.
Willow would bring up her stomach acids with feeds as projectile vomit and wake every two hours during the night. We had no idea this was even a recognised disease, but statistics state it affects as many as 1 in 5 babies worldwide.
We were prescribed various drugs with little effective, so we found a way to ‘manage’ Willow’s reflux by careful positioning at bedtime and feed times and using specialist products. We sourced sleeping positioners, baby feeding equipment and imported products from the USA and mainland Europe as there were none available for reflux in the UK.
Having an entrepreneurial background we took advantage of this experience and started importing the products in bulk. This led to a new business venture in May of 2007 called babyREFLUX – www.babyreflux.co.uk – selling wedges, sleep positioners and associated products to help manage infant reflux.
This wasn’t our first business idea; since 1998 we have successfully managed a number of businesses including a marketing consultancy, a software company, a sports coaching company and even a cartoonist/illustration business.
Not only are we selling reflux products, we offer various support lines from chat room, online support, email and phone support. Most recently we launched a sister website called ‘Little Refluxers’ – www.littlerefluxers.co.uk - which adds additional support and provides a place for carers and parents to share stories ideas and help one another by sharing experiences.
Were you familiar with infant reflux prior to your youngest daughter’s diagnosis?
Our first daughter Jessica was described by health professionals as a ‘sicky baby’. Obviously this was reflux but not a term used in the late 1990s for infants. The problems we had with Willow were much more severe which meant we had a much steeper learning curve.
What are the most popular products available from babyREFLUX?
Our cot wedges make up about 50% of our sales (http://www.babyreflux.co.uk/products/Baby-Lift-Safely-Cot-Wedge.html) although we sell several hundred sleep positioners a week.
What advice would you give to parents who are caring for babies with reflux for the first time?
Don’t panic! You are not alone even though it may feel like it sometimes. A few simple steps:
- Positioning is key! The worst position for a baby with reflux is lying flat on their back, slumped or with pressure round the tummy. This means keeping them upright during and after feeds, when changing and all times in between!
- Raise one end of the cot/crib so the head of your little one is above the stomach.
- See your GP or Health Professional. If they don’t understand baby reflux or don’t give you the answer you were looking for – get a second opinion.
- Get your GP/Paediatrician to prescribe the appropriate medication.
- Talk to other parents who are the suffering in the same way. Either look for a local support group or visit a specialist social network site such as Little Refluxers.
For more information visit babyREFLUX – www.babyreflux.co.uk and www.littlerefluxers.co.uk
The best 20 quid we ever spent
That was my husband’s verdict on the first aid and resuscitation course he attended today.
I separately went to my first ever course on Wednesday, with T in tow. I’m so glad we did it.
Having a baby has made me think about things that had never occurred to me before, like would I be able to help someone in a life and death type of emergency?
After T was born I decided that we should both learn some first aid basics, just in case we ever find ourselves in an emergency situation. A few months ago I put my name down on a waiting list for info at my local children centre. At the same time today’s 4 hour course became available another nursery in Highbury advertised their week day course via a NCT mailout.
I’m doing my course over two consecutive weeks. I can take T along with me and she found it fascinating. As I worked on resuscitating the dummy torso T patted her hands on the chest in unison trying to copy my actions.
My husband’s course was more intense. It included some scary emergency services videos showing various scenarios including someone being brought back to life using CPR, someone bleeding to death from a stab wound and someone who was choking. I’m not sure I could have watched those, but my husband said they were really effective and his instructor really knew his stuff.
We’ve both learnt a lot, I just hope I don’t forget it all.
Photo credit: Shaunnz
Snow
It’s snowing. It’s the first time I’ve seen snow in a long time, and T’s first time ever.
T hasn’t noticed the snow yet though as she’s sleeping. She’s still sick with her cold so no baby massage today. I didn’t want to risk infecting other babies. So instead of being at the clinic I did a load of ironing for the first time in weeks and now I’m eating spicy samosas to keep warm followed by chunks of white chocolate (the Sainsbury’s order arrived at 10am this morning so I’m happy).
T is peaceful right now as she’s asleep but she seems to suffer most at night. She cries and cries and cries from midnight. The 8 hour night time sleeps are long gone. T has a runny nose and a harsh sounding cough. This morning after her feed she coughed so hard she brought all of her milk back up, soaking her clothes, me and the sofa. After that she whimpered while I cuddled her before falling asleep. That was 4 hours ago and she’s still sleepy.
My husband thinks he may have passed the cold to her. He emailed this morning to say he has a slight ear infection too so to keep a close eye on her if she cries more than usual. T hasn’t cried today but if she isn’t starting to get better by end of day tomorrow I may have to call the health visitor.
Baby’s first cold :0(
T has caught her first cold. Her Grandma spotted it over the weekend when she heard her starting to snuffle. It’s now developed into a runny nose, big sneezes, raspy breathing and lots of coughing.
At first T was taking it in her stride and sleeping lots and lots. Last night she cried and cried and cried. We checked her temperature which thankfully was normal so I cracked open the medical box my friend Aimee who lives in LA had sent us and used the little colds baby rub to try and clear her congestion.
Today she’s stopped crying but she’s still not very well so I called the health visitor and then the doctor to postpone her 12 week immunisations which were scheduled for tomorrow. I’m hoping it disappears by Christmas
From Long Beach to London
Baby T is doing much better. Within 24 hours of our dash to A&E she was back to her usual self, which was a relief. We suspect she was suffering from a bad case of gripe/upset tummy and it seemed to have passed as quickly as it came. She still still suffers from wind but nowhere near as badly as she did last week and when I give her Infacol before her feeds it seems to help her a little.
Today as T and I were getting ready to go to Sainsbury’s I had a phone call from my friend Shira which made my day. We don’t get to speak on the phone very often as she lives in West Hollywood and the time difference makes it hard to connect.
Shira is the very first friend I made when I moved to Los Angeles in 2005. We met by chance when I wandered into her store on Robertson Blvd in Beverly Hills. Shira was so warm and friendly and after we chatted briefly she suggested meeting for lunch as I was new to the area. When Shira called me a few days later she said she would meet me in Long Beach. I didn’t realise that would mean she would have to do a 70 mile or so round trip just to have lunch with me in my neighbourhood. I was bowled over by her kindness and consider myself incredibly lucky to count her as my friend.
In March of this year my husband and I left Long Beach to move back to London. It was bittersweet. My husband was being transferred back to the UK and initially I was excited to go home, especially as I’d found out I was pregnant just days before we flew back to London. I’d spent four years on the West Coast when I’d originally thought I’d probably only be out there for 12 months before hot footing it straight back home. But, I was wrong. The time whizzed by and it was a truly amazing experience. When I left London in 2005 I didn’t really know what to expect. LA didn’t really captivate me at first but slowly, without me even realising it was happening, I started to love my new surroundings.
I miss alot of things about my life in LA… my friends… my miata… mexican food… living one block from the ocean… consistently blue skies… never having to worry about carrying a jacket or an umbrella for most of the year… being in the best shape of my life thanks to Shannon and Caroline at Long Beach Bootcamp… cross-state roadtrips and motel stays with my adventurous husband… hours spent combing the racks at Buffalo Exchange on 2nd St, Long Beach… having an accent all the locals love… happy hour at Chaya on Alden Drive… $25 dollar mani-pedis… going all out for Halloween (two years ago I talked my other half into dressing up as Mr & Mrs Bobbitt, it was an outfit to remember).
Nursing a sick baby
Baby T is sick. It all started on Monday night after a busy day that included a trip to Mamas & Papas in the West End to try on baby carriers followed by a dash to Sainsbury’s, all without protest from T. It was only after I’d unpacked the groceries, cooked dinner and given Baby T her final feed that it became apparent she wasn’t feeling well. Her feed came straight back up and she was really irritable.
I put it down to wind, as we’ve been giving her Infacol with feeds for a few weeks as she has a gassy tummy. T’s daddy looked after her for a bit but she remained irritable and kept vomiting again and again and again. That night she barely slept and neither did we as T kept on crying and writhing with pain which isn’t like her at all.
My baby is usually happy and content and while she is often alert and bright-eyed at night-time she had never cried like this before. She was clearly in discomfort and it was making her miserable.
My husband suggested that I call the community midwife in the morning. I was hoping T would be better by then, but she wasn’t, so I called the midwife who immediately recommended I take T to see her GP.
Getting a quick appointment at our local GP surgery is a bit like getting a seat on the tube during rush hour when you’re wearing your most uncomfortable shoes, carrying a zillion bags and are completely knackered, If it happens you feel like it’s your lucky day. However I called and begged and the receptionist was incredibly helpful. If I could get there fast she would put T on a list to be seen before noon. I was still in my pyjamas but that didn’t matter, I threw a jumper on, grabbed my coat and bag, placed T in her new baby carrier and dashed to the surgery.
We didn’t have to wait long, which was really fortunate, as when the doctor examined T he agreed that she wasn’t happy at all and recommended I take her to see the paediatrician at the hospital immediately just to be on the safe side. I wasn’t expecting to hear that and I started to worry a little, but I figured the sooner we got to the hospital, the sooner T would start to get better.
I quickly cancelled plans for that afternoon and evening and T and I headed to the hospital by tube (still in my pyjamas, jumper and leather jacket). I hadn’t been to an accident & emergency department at hospital before, the waiting room was kind of scary, everyone there looked like death. I tried to find an empty seat next to the person who looked the least likely to have a contagious disease and tried not to touch anything.
Luckily we didn’t have to wait very long at all. T was taken care of by two lovely nurses and two lovely doctors who concluded she may have an infection brewing, but if not, it’s more than likely that she’s suffering from gastro-oesphogeal reflux. I have to observe her for 48 hours and if her symptoms remain the same I was told to start her on two prescription medicines for the reflux, that she would need to take until she’s fully weaned at around 12 months.
I was fearful T would have to stay in hospital, like I had to when I’d least expected it, so I was so l relieved to take her home. On our way back on the tube I realised I’d put on the baby carrier inside out. Typical me! I held T super-tight all the way home just in case the carrier popped open.
Twenty-four hours later T’s still not well but fortunately she’s not getting worse so it’s looking unlikely that she has an infection. She was bawling last night so I bathed her in the Tummy Tub to see if that would help and it really soothed her. She still didn’t sleep much, and is still crying with pain but the bath definitely helped pacify her and I got a glimpse of how she used to be before this started.
In the interim I’ve kept T indoors today, which has meant we couldn’t go to Mum & Baby meet up. I’m also going to cancel other visitors until T gets better. I’ve not slept much as I’ve had to keep an eye on her as she’s vomiting a lot. Her daddy watched her last night after dinner so I was able to get an hour nap which helped me get through the erratic night sleeps.
We haven’t done much today, I’ve googled the medication she will need, Domperidone and Ranitidine, to check for side effects and grabbed a bite to eat when she napped briefly this afternoon. T is only sleeping for 30 minute periods, as she is constantly getting pain spasms. When she’s awake she’s mostly been in my arms as I try to keep her upright which is supposed to help and giving her lots of cuddles.
Luckily the frequent vomiting hasn’t put T off feeding. She’s now requesting feeds on an almost hourly basis. It’s sometimes hard for me to decipher if she’s crying because of pain or because she’s hungry so T has devised a way to let me know clearly what she wants. She’s kicked “rooting” up a gear and now if she’s lying on my chest she’s started shuffling down to my chest, opening her mouth and bobbing her head up and down over my breast really fast. Sometimes she can’t make it that far and ends up bobbing up and down over my arm but I always get the picture.
It’s now 6pm and I haven’t showered yet but as I haven’t been outdoors I figured washing can wait and T doesn’t seem to mind her mummy has been in pyjamas for 36 hours.
It breaks my heart that I can’t take the pain away for her as it makes me feel helpless. All I can do is hold her close, which calms her down a little. Hopefully she gets better soon.
