reflux symptoms?

Since about 6wks DS has been an unhappy bubby. He has good days    but too many bad days
I'm now starting to wonder if it's reflux, but don't actualy know what symptoms I'd be looking for.

When he's upset, his cry is really high pitched, want's to feed, but squirms/crys/comes off. The squirming contintues as he cries and cries and he waves his little arms around, and scrunches up his legs like it's tummy pain. He's a bit spilly, but wouldn't say it was that bad. Only thing that seems to console him (& that doesn't always work) is a dummy.

Edited by IsaacsMum

sounds like what mack had. was very spilly but happy enough then 6 weeks came along and the high pitch scream that comes with it is ear piercing and unbeleivible. cant be compared to anythng else at all. try cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz as its got all the symptoms and stuff on it then take him to the doctor. is he formula or BF. mack got so bad he can only be on thickened formula and meds to reduce his stomach acid but hopefully sitting him up a bit more and elevating his bed might be enough

Best take him to the docs. Silent reflux is quite common which is where there isn't much spilling. Jake hardly ever spilled but he needed a prescription to help him.

Wierd- I wrote a big long post but its gone... ???

I think it sounds exactly like reflux to me..... and colic- one seems to cause, or contribute to the other IMO/experience. And it doesnt always happen at the same time of day.... It didnt with Locks. Apparently its trapped wind in the bowel, which causes pain... and with an under developed wee system- it hurts. I found w Locks- he would be swallowing air when he had the reflux, or was upset (ussually when he was refluxy), which would end up lower down the tract.... no matter how much burping we seemed to do. I heard that the pain from the trapped air can trigger cramp type pains- which is why they kinda contort themselves and scream so wildly- this is one deff of colic anyways. So if the symptoms all appeared at once- colic and reflux are prob agrivating each other iykwim.

BIG hugs to you- it is so hard. Esp on so little sleep- do you have good support??

Have you done the raising the cot 30deg angle, keeping him upright as much as poss etc?? And try eliminating certain foods from your diet???
Eg- dairy, eggs, brassicas, beans etc

This site is aimed at an adult diet- however all will be transfreable- ie- what you eat will come through the milk...
Site 1

This one is interesting- take or leave what info you like I think- It states that BM is hypoallergenic which isnt strictly true- but hey- there are some great tips there anyways.
Site 2

And last but not least:
from here

Vegetables (due to high acid or belching)

    * Broccoli
    * Green Peppers
    * Cabbage
    * Brussel Sprouts
    * Cauliflower
    * Tomato
    * Tomato Juice
    * Corn
    * Cucumber
    * Onions
    * Garlic
    * Turnips
    * Rhubarb
    * Kale

Fruits (due to high acid or lots of fiber and seeds)

    * Apple (especially peels)
    * Bananas (can cause constipation)
    * Citrus fruits
    * Figs
    * Coconut

Beverages

    * Milk (lactose intolerance can provoke reflux in some people)
    * Coffee (even decaffeinated)
    * Tea
    * Carbonated Beverages
    * Caffeinated Beverages

Starches

    * Beans (gas producing)
    * Oats (rolled oats OK)
    * Tofu (avoid large quantities)
    * Barley ( OK if perled barley is cooked 10-15 min)

Miscellaneous

    * Fatty or Fried Foods (fats take longer to digest)
    * Meat with connective tissue/gristle (take longer to digest)
    * Chili Powder
    * Vinegars
    * Chocolate
    * Molasses
    * Peppermint/Spearmint (Wintergreen is unrelated)
    * Honey
    * Caffeine
    * Foods with "air" such as fluffy baked goods, Meringues.
    * Swallowing air by sucking on hard candies or drinking from straws
    * Rye Seeds
    * Meat Extracts
    * Black Pepper (White pepper is OK)
    * Creamy Foods/Gravies (High fat content)
    * Gooey Pastries (High fat content)
    * Simple Sugar Foods
    * Excessive Fiber (increase very gradually as tolerated)
    * Pectin
    * High Energy Foods (digest slowly)
    * MCT Oil (medium chain triglycerides, digest slowly)
    * Guargum (thickener, digests slowly)

Babies change daily. They grow, develop, change, and deffinately go from happy to distressed in my experience.

hmm- Locks used to squirm down, first few nights- but he doesnt anymore.... who knows why?? we dont use a safety sleep.

Ive never measured the angle we have, but its pretty reasonable- apparently 30 deg is the magic number. any kind of angle is beneficial though I guess so maybe keep it small- youre just using gravity to help keep things down (even though you may not see spilling, its possibly coming up the throat and being swallowed back down).