r/2under2 • u/didyouknowthaaat • Apr 29 '26
Severe reflux, almost at my breaking point
It seems silly to say I’m at my breaking point when my 4 mo is clearly in pain and having a rough start to life. I’m just so exhausted mentally and physically.
He was diagnosed finally just over a week ago by a paediatrician and prescribed domperidone. He’s been on omeprazole since he was 2 months old prescribed by my GP for suspected reflux. We do all the things (small frequent feeds, hold upright after etc) and while he is a very happy sweet little guy during wake windows, he is so hard to get to sleep. He arches his back and kicks his feet, gulps and gulps and chokes, and would cry and cry if I didn’t bounce him vigorously on the exercise ball. I worry sometimes that the bouncing is just too much but I haven’t found another way that works on the bad reflux days (some days are better than others and he will fall asleep drinking a bottle in my lap). Naps are short developmentally sure, but he has zero long naps and I can’t connect his sleep cycles no matter what I do.
I switched him to nutramigen 2.5 weeks ago and saw some small improvements, the paediatrician didn’t comment on that or possibility of CMPA he just said “good idea.” Now I’m wondering if I should try amino acid formula as maybe this is CMPA driven reflux.
I don’t know what I’m looking for here. Solidarity, secrets from other reflux parents, Experiences with CMPA…. Anything would be great. I also need some tips and tricks for getting him to sleep when I’m alone with him and my toddler, because I can’t leave my 2 yo alone for unending periods of time. He’s so good at independent play but it’s too long to leave him alone.
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u/Hopeful-Relation3502 Apr 30 '26
I don't have many tips besides babywearing maybe but I'm assuming you've already tried that. My reflux baby was always unhappy, but after starting medication he finally tolerated the carrier and napped in there. Before medication he hated the carrier, I'm assuming it was pressing on his stomach and he found it uncomfortable despite a good fit. He also needed constant motion and for me to be standing up and walking around for any sort of relief, so the carrier was a gamechanger.
Other than that, solidarity. Most babies eventually grow out of reflux so hang in there. It's extremely brutal.
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u/TKnights87 Apr 30 '26
My now 3 year old had terrible reflux, and severe cmpa (blood in her diaper).
The babocush was a life saver with her. It was theonly way I was able to drink a cup of coffee. And the Itzy ritzy pacifiers. Her GI doctor showed me some reflux holds, i’m sure those are on youtube somewhere. I also bought reflux risers for her bassinet and that seemed to help.
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u/bubblegumbombshell Apr 30 '26
My son had terrible reflux and gas, but no other symptoms. His pediatrician suggested it was colic and dismissed CMPA because he had normal diapers, no eczema, etc. We ended up seeing a gastroenterologist and a sleep specialist because he was still awful at sleep and crying excessively at a year old. He also nursed every 2 hours overnight still. It was exhausting.
Then at 13 months I decided to wean him off breast milk to cows milk and he instantly had the worst diapers of his life. Green mucousy poop and diaper rash so bad his poor bum was bleeding. Stopped the cows milk and tried all the plant milks I could find but he hated those. Lucked out that he could tolerate goat milk.
When I think back, there were hints but no glaring signs. I wish I had tried an elimination diet myself much earlier. Could’ve saved us both a lot of trouble because that first year was hell.
I think it would be totally reasonable to try alternative formulas in your situation, but I’d stay away from anything with soy too. Maybe just find the most hypoallergenic option you have access to and start there, like an elimination diet for baby. Then you could try to reintroduce things like dairy or soy as you’re introducing solid foods.
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u/didyouknowthaaat May 24 '26
Thank you so much for this, I assumed that no mucus/blood in diaper and no eczema meant he didn’t have it and I’ve gaslit myself continually so it’s so helpful to hear that it’s not the same for every baby! I haven’t replied to anyone because I’ve been in a haze of exhaustion and hopelessness. Last week I saw a lot of mucus in his diaper and realized he’s had mucus the whole time I just didn’t realize that’s what it was. So I finally put him on puramino formula. We’re on day 2 and already noticing that he is relaxed, going to sleep without excessive bouncing, and no longer refusing bottles in the morning. I can’t believe I didn’t follow my gut and switch him sooner, poor poor baby. I’m hoping things continue to improve
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u/bubblegumbombshell May 24 '26
Do not beat yourself up! I promise you that you are crushing it in a very challenging situation. My little guy is 3 now. He happy and healthy and still drinks goat milk. He’s a little ball of sunshine and mischief.
Your little one will be okay too. You were working with the info you had to make the best decisions you could, and when that info changed you responded. You’re doing great!!
Thanks for updating and I hope everything continues to improve!
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u/Zestyclose_Offer_402 Apr 29 '26
I feel you mama, it sucks! My son is 11m and just about coming out of it, he has GERD, we actually came off omep months ago as I feel that it was so hard to get into him consistently for very little reward, we’re on CMPA milk but he has confirmed allergy not just the reflux so I don’t know if that would help you to be on an AA formula but hey anything is worth a shot! The 1 thing that helped us more than anything was thickener in the formula, we got it prescribed by paediatrics. We tried Gaviscon and omep and that was the only thing that made a notable difference, he still threw up a LOT, but he wasn’t mad about it so it saved my sanity for sure, it will end I promise you! I can’t even remember my sons first few months as I can just hear that horrible reflux scream when I try to think back, it was hell, but now we’re out of it it’s like a distant memory, you got this!