Anyone familiar with "Simply Thick" and shaking BM?

[cara9499]

HI all,

I posted earlier about my 6 week old having reflux and RSV (poor guy...this RSV is really a terrible thing). Anyway, while we were in the hospital, the attending doctor wanted us to start thickening his feeds with rice, until they realized that I was breastfeeding (I guess rice cereal doesn't really thicken BM). Anyway, instead, they wanted me to use this new thickener for BM called Simply Thick. However, in order to incorporate it into the BM, the directions say to "shake vigorously." Isn't it true that you should not shake BM?

I tell you, I am feeling so frustrated, Don't get me wrong..I will do whatever I need to do to make sure my son is OK, but this is crazy. I don't want to go to EPing, because I HATE pumping. This will sound selfish, but I know I won't make it a year (like I did with my older DS) if I have to EP. I also don't agree with thickening feeds, either. Plus, my son HATES this new thickener...it must be pretty gross because he is refusing to eat it. I really just want to go back to BFing like we did before. He's obviously thriving on it because he is 12 lbs at only 6 weeks!

What do you ladies think? Even my pediatrician. who I trust wholly, thinks I need to thicken feeds. But it just doesn't feel right to me. We are already giving him Zantac to combat the acid.

Thanks...I'm frustrated!

[ChristmasTree]

Well, i have never heard of that, and i am not sure it is necessary. but feeding him in a more upright position can help a lot with refulx, more of the football hold where you can support his back in an upward position.

Also, you really need to look at the things you are eating, it could be he has lactose allergy so i would go totally lactose free for the next few days to a week and see how he reacts at that point. That seems like the best course of action to me. You may have to try Reglan with him, that is what my little bro and sis were on.

Hang in there Mama! go with your instincts! He wont be the first BF baby with reflux so i see no reason to thicken feeds because if you start pumping only ur supply may go down at which point he may have to be put on formula and he most likely will not tolerate that at all.

Hugs! PM me if you need to.

[Nipple_nectar]

My DD2 had reflux really bad early on. I disagreed with thickened feeds and refused that suggestion. I have a history of family allergies and I was not interested in ontroducing anything, we went with actually delaying solids which I think helped her more.

I wouldn't pump neither, I just nursed and gave her meds. The zantac did not work and we quickly moved to prevacid and that did the job. We were able to take her off the meds by her first birthday.

If he has a sensitivity to cows milk protein, you need to give it up for at least two weeks for a proper accessment of the situation, it takes that long.

My DD did have an intolerance but she grew out of it. We are just introducing cows milk at 22 months without a reaction. She couldn't have any dairy without a problem, at first.

I think reflux babies need to be on a delayed schedule for the introduction of solids, my DD did so much better than my DS, who actually is still lactose intolerant, at age 23, and developed juvenile diabetes at age 11 which is directly associated with a premature introduction to solids. Do some research. Then decide.

[Amy_G_]

shaking the breastmilk damages the structure.

http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/shakenot.htm

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html#thickenedfeed
Baby cereal, added to thicken breastmilk or formula, has been used as a treatment for GER for many years, but its use is controversial.

Does it work? Thickened feeds can reduce spitting up, but studies have not shown a decrease in reflux index scores (i.e., the “silent reflux” is still present). Per Donna Secker, MS, RD in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease , "The effect of thickened feedings may be more cosmetic (decreased regurgitation and increased postprandial sleeping) than beneficial." Thickened feeds have been associated with increased coughing after feedings, and may also decrease gastric emptying time and increase reflux episodes and aspiration. Note that rice cereal will not effectively thicken breastmilk due to the amylase (an enzyme that digests carbohydrates) naturally present in the breastmilk

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/food-sensitivity.html

[cara9499]

Thanks for all of the great links, Amy. I knew I had heard that you should not shake BM. THat doesn't make sense why a thickener that is MADE for BM would need to be shaken. Oh well...I don't think we're going to use the thickener anyway, and I'm not thrilled about the Zantac, either. This is just making me crazy! Once my little guy finally gets over the RSV and can nurse again, he is going back to the boob! No more pumping! :)

[Amy_G_]

Even with RSV, with a good nose sucking he should be able to breastfeed at least partially.
Zantac I would consider before anything stronger.
and definitely look into other ways of controlling the reflux, including feeding him in an upright position, raising the head of the crib with a wedge under the mattress, keeping him upright after a feeding, etc. as well as food sensitivities that may be as much the cause as anything else.

[gravel10]

I sware by Prevacid. My daughter went the all the works & all the zantac doses. I only EB and once she got on to the previcd she was all smiles and never once did she even spit up. Good luck I no it is rough. I got a 2nd opinion to ease my mind from another pedi.
good luck

[gravel10]

ok that is the 1st time i ever heard not to shake or freeze the BM. I alway shake it cause the fat separates and I want my DD to get all of it.
Am I wrong to do it, what do u do scrape it.
I dotn really giver her a bottle often but have to sometimes.

[debsmooth]

My older DD had reflux. I know it seems hellish just now but it will get better and very soon. For us, we found relief by feeding upright, not putting her down for 20-30 min after a feed, elevating her mattress and just toughing it out. That thickener sounds awful.

[nycmama]

ok that is the 1st time i ever heard not to shake or freeze the BM. I alway shake it cause the fat separates and I want my DD to get all of it.
Am I wrong to do it, what do u do scrape it.
I dotn really giver her a bottle often but have to sometimes.

You can freeze BM. You shouldn't shake it for the reasons stated above. What you can do is swirl the bottle around gently in a circular motion and that will bring whatever separates back together.

http://www.mother-2-mother.com/storemilk.htm
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026900.asp

[cara9499]

Thanks again for all of the thoughts and suggestions. I think we are going to try to skip the thickener and just try to BF when he's over the RSV. I really appreciate your help!!

[Nipple_nectar]

Why is he not allowed to breastfeed now?

[Amy_G_]

Why is he not allowed to breastfeed now?
I'd like to know the answer to this too.
I know when they are on oxygen it is difficult to breastfeed,
and I know if they are intubated it would be nigh on impossible.
with congestion and a stuffy nose, it would be difficult as well, but not impossible. Moms breastfeed babies thru severe colds and flu with a nose sucker, saline solution and perseverence.

[cara9499]

As of yesterday, he starting BFing again. I think he was just so congested that he was not able to nurse (even with suctioning). He is still not eating nearly what he used to, but at least he seems interested again. I just keep pumping too to try to keep my supply up.

[Amy_G_]

nurse nurse nurse !