My Story

Unfortunately I had two boys with “Silent Reflux”, all my friends said to me “You already had one child with silent reflux surely it couldn’t happen again”, “it would be easier this time as I knew what to do, ‘well weren’t we all mistaken’.

I was only able to breastfeed both boys for approximately 2 weeks as I had problems so both where formula feed from a young age, which I felt really bad about but I had a few friends that said that they breast feed their babies and they too had reflux.

From about week three things started to go pear shape, Jake was showing the following signs:

• He would scream all day
• Frequently hiccupped
• Arched this back and pulled he knees to his chest in pain
• Had allot of wind, which they call colic
• Seemed hungry but when I gave him the bottle he only drank small amounts then would pull off the bottle screaming
• Had poor weight gain
• He would only want to be held upright
• Would gag like he was regurgitating his food
• He was very easily startled and would wake at the smallest sound
• He would only cat nap during the day I would be lucky to get sleep for 10-15 at a time or even all day, I knew he was just so tired but he would fight going to sleep

At this time I was pulling my hair out, the constant screaming was driving me mad and I was so exhausted because he was just not sleeping so I went and I spoke with my paedicitrican he said that reflux can run in the family and it looked like Jake had silent reflux.

So we first elevated his bed with a sleeping wedge, then tried an Hypoallergenic AR formula, which helped a little, a week or so later the paediatrician recommended Jake be put on medication to help with the reflux.

A week or so after that Jake’s reflux started to ease but unfortunately I was left with a baby with bad sleeping habits, Jake was on this vicious cycle

First there was reflux, then came pain, then came crying which made the reflux even worse, which caused him to be over tired and very unsettled, he then had trouble sleeping which then lead back to more reflux, it went on and on, he was on this merry go round, which I had to stop.

Once we had the reflux under control I knew we had to break this bad sleeping routine.

Firstly I had to make sure that I was picking up on Jake’s tired signs and I didn’t let him become overtired otherwise it was game over, then because he was a easily startled baby I used to wrap him with the miracle wrap, I also introduced some “white noise music” at first quite loud to get him used to the noise, then it all came down to implementing a good routine which can be found in the books available on my website.

If I needed to do some house work or get some groceries I would put Jake in a sling, this kept him upright and close to me which kept him cam. When I was at home I also put him in a baby swing & a hammock which he enjoyed as it also kept him upright but he also enjoyed the swinging motion.

For me the key to my success after the silent reflux was under control was teaching Jake to self settle and as a mum this was the hardest thing to do because no parent likes to hear their baby cry. I also had a partner that drove a truck so I never wanted to wake him.  But after Jake learnt to self settle he finally started to sleep through the night and I finally started to feel human.

Also another big help for me was talking to other parents that where having the same problems as I was, and talking to close friends to reassure me that I was doing the right thing.  I was very lucky to get into a two different sleeping schools which help me realise I was doing the right thing and that I was not going mental and I got to meet some great ladies and their gorgeous babies, who were also going through the same problems and realised that I wasn’t the only person in the world suffering because my child wouldn’t sleep.

The books I have available on my website where like my bible I would also be referring back to them most days.

You have to remember that not everything is going to work for your baby you just have to try everything and settle on what works for you.  Make sure you surround yourself with family and friends that are there to support you, as you need it.

It’s very important to take care of yourself as your baby needs you to be strong for them, so if someone offers you help take it, don’t be too proud to take them up on their offer, take some time out for you whether it’s to have a nap, going shopping for a new outfit or even just get a haircut and feel like human being again.

Having a baby with sleeping difficulty is very difficult time you’re in life and puts many strain on your body & your relationship, you are not only physically exhausted but also mentally exhausted, and most people like myself not only have to be a full time mum to one or more children but also work full time, it not an easy thing to do.

Just remember you can get through it, there is light at the end of the tunnel have faith in yourself, having a child is a life changing event but in the end it’s all worth it, you wouldn’t change it for the world.