Case Study: Baby with Silent Reflux

Baby Connor suffers from severe silent reflux. Read his incredible story.

Where baby silent reflux all started

Parents Bill and Katherine could not wait for the birth of their first born, a bouncing baby boy named Connor! In the first few weeks of life, Connor screamed the house down and was a very unsettled baby. Connor came, he screamed, and he conquered every paediatric doctor and consultant that his parents worked with in his first few months of his life.

Newborn feeding problems

Shortly after being born, baby Connor would not eat! It was apparent Connor had some feeding problems. As a new Mum, Katherine thought having a baby that won’t eat was a common and normal newborn problem. Katherine’s own mother ensured her something was not right with Connor’s feeding and Katherine became determined to figure out why her baby would not eat. At 3 weeks of age Connor had a tongue tie snipped and his parents and doctors hoped that would be the end of his feeding problems but boy were they wrong.

Symptoms of silent reflux in babies

Connor’s feeding slightly improved but he still was not gaining enough weight and had problems breastfeeding.  Connor never seemed to finish a feed fully satisfied and many feeds ended up in tears for both Mum and bub. Connor was snack feeding which led to him waking early from naps because he was hungry. Shortly after feeding Connor appeared to be in pain and became very fussy and irritable.  At the advice of a lactation consultant and paediatrician, Connor started having a combination of both breast milk and formula to help with his weight gain. Sadly, Connor quickly developed a negative feeding association with the bottle and refused to take it. Katherine still found herself struggling with a baby that wouldn’t eat.

Being diagnosed with silent reflux

When Connor was 6 weeks old, he was diagnosed with severe silent reflux.  The diagnosis of silent reflux was a blessing for Connor’s Mum as she had strongly felt something was just not right and felt Connor was in pain whilst eating. Although Connor’s diagnosis was silent reflux, life so far with Connor was anything but silent. Silent reflux is a painful condition for newborns in which stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus, voice box and then throat after a baby has had a feed.

Helping a baby with silent reflux sleep

Wanting to help her son be as comfortable as possible and manage living with silent reflux, Katherine decided to contact a baby sleep consultant. She was determined to develop good sleep habits in the hopes that quality sleep would help with Connor’s silent reflux. Katherine contacted Stephanie from The Baby Sleep Teacher to get support and guidance on how to help her baby with silent reflux sleep at night and nap during the day. Using a gentle approach Mum and Dad started supporting Connor to fall asleep. Connor took about a week to adjust to his new method of falling asleep. For the first 5 days it seemed like Connor was not adapting to his new method of falling asleep and Katherine and Bill debated to just return to their old ways of cuddling him or letting him fall asleep on their chest.

With the support and guidance from Stephanie, they kept to their plan and consistently showed Connor how to fall asleep. After being consistent and persevering, one day it happened, Connor conquered his new method of falling asleep! This meant, Mum had more time on her hands and relaxed knowing that even though Connor was in uncomfortable from his silent reflux he was getting the sleep he needed and suddenly napping was the easiest part of their day.

Silent Reflux and weight gain struggles

Connor’s condition was puzzling for doctors and very concerning for his parents even with the diagnosis of silent reflux. After changing up his feeding regiment and starting on medication for reflux Connor was still not gaining enough weight. He was gaining weight but well below the normal levels. Connor’s paediatrician advised the use of a stronger medication. No one could really give Bill and Katherine the answers they sooo desperately wanted for their son.

A mother’s intuition kicked in

A few weeks after starting on the stronger medication for silent reflux, baby Connor was still experiencing discomfort when feeding and was continuously crying. Katherine felt something was not right and requested Connor be thoroughly looked over. During an appointment, it was discovered Connor required a second tongue tie to be snipped. The procedure was booked and completed very quickly and both Mum and Dad had new hope Connor and his feeding issues would soon be resolved.

Finding answers to silent reflux

Four days after Connor’s second tongue tie procedure, he had a follow up appointment to check his weight gain. Connor entered the hospital for the appointment, but he did not exit. Connor needed to be admitted immediately and fitted for a feeding tube. Finally, Connor’s parents got the answers they were looking for… his silent reflux was sooo severe that normal means of eating were too painful.  Once Connor’s feeding tube was in place, happiness took over for Connor and his parents. After 10 long weeks of crying from the pain and hunger of silent reflux, Connor finally had a full tummy, and was calm and comfortable.

Silent reflux and baby sleep

While in the hospital, Connor’s nurses and doctors all noticed how quickly he fell asleep and with minimal support. Impressed with how easily sleep came to Connor, the doctor commended Katherine and Bill for teaching their son good sleep habits as it helped Connor deal with his severe reflux. The doctor explained that the human body repairs and recovers while we sleep and commented that Connor would have been in a lot more pain, and their situation could have been worse had Connor not learnt the amazing sleep skills he had and his tired signs been missed. Katherine and Bill mentioned they worked with a baby sleep consultant as they felt sleep was one area they could help Connor with when they received the diagnosis that he had severe silent reflux.

Baby Connor with his Mum & Dad and dog Mable.

Managing silent reflux in babies

Connor is back home now and happily gaining weight. He is starting to show glimpses of his true personality. Being fitted with a feeding tube has come with its challenges as Connor frequently likes to pull the tube out. Feeding tube aside, Mum is slowly starting to come out of the newborn fog and takes comfort in knowing that Connor is on pain medication for his silent reflux, and that he knows how to fall asleep independently.

Connor has just turned 4-months of age and his circadian rhythm is in the immature stages of development. His sleep cycles are becoming more formed, and Mum is working with Connor on linking sleep cycles. Katherine has seen tremendous progress with Connor’s ability to link sleep cycles within a few days. Both Mum and Dad are thankful for the focus they placed on Connor’s sleep habits when he was just weeks old. Focusing on Connor’s sleep has paid off especially when dealing with his silent reflux and now as he approaches the 4-month sleep regression.