Francesca Percival’s daughter, Imogen, was diagnosed with silent reflux after six months. Here, she talks about spotting the signs and how other parents can avoid the difficulties she faced.
When my daughter Imogen arrived, she was like every other baby, in that she cried and she fed, but that’s where the similarities ended.
She wanted to feed all the time and, if she wasn’t feeding, she was crying. She only slept for very short periods, usually falling asleep mid-feed.
Midwives and health visitors told me it was ‘cluster feeding’ or colic. GPs told me she liked the comfort of my breast instead of a dummy.
I saw an osteopath and, eventually, Imogen, who was born breech, straightened out and loosened up, but she didn’t cry or feed any less or sleep any more.
I tried baby massage and baby yoga, but spent 90% of the class time standing up and bouncing her. She was only peaceful when she was feeding and even then she would often become fussy or start screaming.
I lived every day for when my husband walked through the door.
I would spend my days with her in a sling, keeping her upright and bouncing her. She wasn’t content in her car seat or pushchair so we couldn’t travel long distances.
I lived every day for the moment when my husband walked through the door and he could take over. One evening, my husband and I watched as Imogen began drifting off to sleep, then suddenly she started writhing and screaming. We knew this wasn’t right. The next morning I took her to the GP who, after establishing I had tried all the colic remedies, referred us to a paediatric consultant with ‘sleep problems’.
‘Silent’ means that, unlike normal reflux, there is little, or no, vomit so it is very difficult to diagnose. Not only that, it seems to be one of the reasons why many mums stop breastfeeding when, in fact, with diagnosis and support, it is possible to continue. And, as breastmilk is easier to digest, it can help with reflux.
The paediatrician diagnosed Imogen with severe silent reflux and prescribed two medications. And, within a week, she was settling to sleep within 30 minutes and staying asleep for up to six hours at a time.
Underneath the reflux Imogen was an angel. It took us nearly six months to get our daughter diagnosed and in that time we were both close to breaking point.
Since then we have learnt that it is actually quite common and that diagnosis can take a long time, or perhaps never happen. ‘Silent’ means that, unlike normal reflux, there is little, or no, vomit so it is very difficult to diagnose.
Not only that, it seems to be one of the reasons why many mums stop breastfeeding when, in fact, with diagnosis and support, it is possible to continue. And, as breastmilk is easier to digest, it can help with reflux. I’m proud to say I managed to continue breastfeeding Imogen until she was 14 months old.
I would urge any parents who have a baby who cries a lot or won’t sleep to seek help and be persistent. Babies don’t cry without reason. If your baby is diagnosed with reflux, I would also urge you to get the right medication.
Our GP refused to prescribe one of the drugs the paediatrician recommended on the basis of the cost and that it isn’t licensed for babies. We now have three-weekly visits to the hospital to get this medicine, but it’s worth it for the difference it makes to Imogen.
Most babies grow out of reflux by the time they start cruising, as they are more vertical and the valve at the top of the stomach that prevents acid leaking up the oesophagus develops. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case for Imogen, though we remain optimistic that we’ll be able to take her off the reflux medication by the time she’s two.
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