AboutMelanie Horrocks Expertise I can answer questions about self help remedies for breast thrush.
I can further answer questions about the introduction of solid foods using the baby led weaning route in relation to a breast fed baby.
Experience I have personal experience of both matters. Further, I run a sucessful blog about baby led weaning.
Publications www.myBLWexperiences.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials I have studied diet and nutrition as part of my BA degree. I have completed my LLL peer support breast feeding training.
Expert: Melanie Horrocks Date: 6/27/2008 Subject: Reflux or overeating?
Question I have a 6 week old and the doc thinks she has reflux. She has many of the symptoms like projectile spitting up and vomiting. These tings only happen very seldomly and started within the last two weeks. The doc has advised me to put her on rice cereal. She gets 2.5 oz and 1 tsp of rice cereal per oz. I have done this a few times and she does not spit up but goes into a deep sleep. She has recommended meds for reflux but I am not too big on those. In talking with my LC she said the baby may just be eating too much. I have a lot of milk and one breast with overactive letdown which I am trying to control through pumping before hand and cool compress. Basically when she eats I keep her upright for 30 mins and sometimes 30-60 mins later she will spit up forcefully. She can easily take 3 oz at her age. I wonder if she is eating too much and its just coming back up. She is extreamly hard to burp when on the breast. The last 24 hours I have been doing a control feeding and pumping, giving her only 3 oz at feeding time and burping her every oz. She has not spit up at all. Do you have any advice on this if she is overeating and what I can do about it if she is? How can you tell how much they are getting when on the breast? I really want to put the baby to breast and not have to do double duty by pumping and putting it in the bottle. Let me know...
Answer Hi Lara,
to be honest I am very shocked by the advice from your doctor, the World Health Organisation recommend NOTHING but breastmilk (or formula as a second best option) until 6 months.
Rice cereal given this early may lead to all sorts of digestive problems when she is older, as well as allergies.
I have never heard of reflux being treated in this way.
Giving rice cereal will also make her feel fuller for longer, will reduce the number of times she feeds a day and could cause her to stop gaining weight, or even to loose weight.
Whilst I am not a doctor I would urge you to seek a second opinion immediately. I have enclosed a link with some excellent advice for you to read as soon as possible, with hints tips etc.
I would also urge you to contact your local LLL, and speak to a counsellor. Their international site can be found with the following link, you can select your country, then find someone local to you.
