When does spilling become reflux?

How much spilling is normal, and when should one become concerned that it might be reflux?

Jackson spills a lot - several times after every feed, but always reasonably small amounts. Sometimes it's a bit slimy, other times it is a bit chunky. Sometimes he just brings it into his mouth and then swallows it back down (glamorous life being a baby, eh?). He also gets hiccups several times a day.

It doesn't seem to bother him and for me the biggest pain is the smelliness and changing clothes all the time. But as he is slow gaining weight, should I be concerned that he is losing valuable food?

What sort of level does it need to get to for babies to require medication for it?

Thanks! I have had a look at the site, and it seems it could go either way.

I am reluctant to seek medication for Jackson, but wonder if he was on some kind of medication would he eat better?

He is very hard to feed - he loses interest in the breast so quickly and is slow to gain weight. I try to burp him regularly, but often if I pull him off the breast I can't get him on again - so I hate doing so, even though it is probably counter-productive.

Isla had bad reflux( and still has it), and she never spilt at all. Hers was silent relfux- so the stomach acid comes up and burns, but instead of spilling it goes back down to the stomach again, burnin g again as it goes back down.

Hiccups and farts loads are also signs of reflux, but babies without reflux do do these too of course.

Cos he is also hard to feed and gaining wait slowly I would get it checked.

Most people I know who have had babies with reflux know there is something really wrong cos baby is in so much pain. The scream all the time and never sleep.

DD is very spilly, even when upright, at least 3 x after each feed.We constantly use bibs and cloths, and she is on infant Gaviscon. It does help a bit.

We were concerned, so went to the GP and are now on the waiting list to the Paediatric clinic. As she isn't in pain with it, and as the GP wasn't overly concerned, we decided not to go private.

DD is gaining weight consistently, she's still little (on the smaller end of her age percentile), but Plunket and our GP are happy with her growth.

Maybe visit your GP and discuss this with them?

Good luck with Jackson...hopefully you have got lots of bibs!

Just a thought - is it a milk supply issue?

I am breastfeeding, and my supply is good. I have a very fast let down, which he gulps like crazy, but once the flow gets a bit slower he gets lazy and irritable.

After he is finished, I can usually express more off, so supply is not an issue.

I have had a Lactation Consultant visit twice and she is happy with my feeding. Of course, both times Jackson was an angel and took both breasts and stayed on for about 17 minutes (normally it is ten, and half hearted for half of that!).

Other than slow weight, he is happy and alert and weeing and pooing normally. I know I shouldn't be concerned (he is gaining, just slow, but is on the low end of the scales and looks tiny) but Plunket have a way of putting ideas in your head. I don't like how they frown at me!!

Unfortunately the constant battle with him does take a bit of joy out of feeding him, but I will persevere because at least he will take the breast and it is best for him at the moment (until I am told otherwise I guess).

By definition, reflux just means the return of the stomach contents from the stomach back up the oesophagus, it doesn't have to cause pain/discomfort to be reflux. But a lot of babies DO have pain and discomfort due to the acid from their stomachs refluxing with the milk causing burning.

If Jackson is feeding OK, not in pain but not gaining weight and spilling a lot a feed thickener like Infant Gaviscon might help as it will help to keep the milk in his tummy rather than it coming back up again.

My three youngest have all had pain with their refluxing, Mercedes and Chiara were both prescribed Losec which shuts off the acid pumps in the stomach so that there is no acid in their refluxing so no burning.

I definitely agree about Crying Over Spilt Milk tho, it's a great site, there is heaps of info on recognisig reflux, and there is also a forum with a special section for breastfeeding a refluxer which might help you too.

oh hun i feel for you..........i had the same probklem with plunket...............my boy didnt sit cause he was to active.............they said he had 'major issues'........he sits when he wants to but would rather play.............to me not an issue ...............i know its hard but dont pay much attention.............you are doing everything right and you know your baby..........if he seems to be in distress go straight to A&E and explain that he is your baby and you do know the signs..............goodluck

I saw a paed about the tongue tie, but he didn't think it was an issue. He tested his suck and said he could get his tongue right forward and it was working the motions as it should be. A lactation consultant told me the same thing.

The thing is, he doesn't seem hungry. I thought if there were a problem with sucking or anything he would display signs of hunger. He is just quite happy to have small feeds, play and then have a sleep.

I have noticed that he feeds better if he has a longer sleep and if he is allowed to self wake. So I am actually trialling a longer playtime, followed by a longer sleep with a feed at the wake up and just before sleep. Constantly topping him up I guess though it does mean we will end up dropping a feed but maybe that doesn't matter if the feeds he is doing are better?

So far (today only!) he's been a little bit better. I'll give it a couple of days and then see what his weight is like at Plunket on Monday.

Thanks so, so, SO much for all the tips and replies. This is why I love OhBaby and owe my sanity to it (and DH's as well I suspect).