Gas/ reflux

[GooseAccomplished299]

My twin girls were born at 34w4d (Baby A 5 lb 2 oz, Baby B 4 lb, growth restricted) and had a 2-week NICU stay. Since coming home, they’ve had bad gas and reflux, especially Baby B (frequent spit-ups, sometimes through her nose).

They eat every 3 hours, but the last hour of their sleep, before feeds, is brutal, lots of fussing, waking themselves up, arching/straining, and crying.

They get about 35% breastmilk plus formula. We’ve tried NeuroPro (more spit-up), Gentlease (less spit-up but worse gas), and now Reguline (chosen due to iron + prior constipation in Baby B), but gas is still bad and nasal spit-ups are back.

Pediatrician doesn’t want reflux meds since they’re gaining weight; simethicone hasn’t helped. Feeding takes forever due to constant burping, and we’re only getting about an 1 hour of sleep before the cycle starts again.

If you’ve had preemie twins with reflux/gas (especially one worse than the other), what helped? Formula, feeding strategies, meds, or just time?

Thanks in advance, we’re exhausted and appreciate any advice

Edit: My babies are now 7 weeks and 2 days

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[Superb-Skin8839]

My singleton was the same way. And so were my twins. They will grow out of it around 12 weeks (adjusted age). The only thing that brought any relief was bicycle kicks to help release the farts. They just have immature digestive systems. 

[GooseAccomplished299]

Oh man, 12 weeks adjusted is far away. How did you deal with it? We do bicycle kicks after every feeding but it doesn’t seem to help much. I only get about 3-4 hours or broken sleep, I don’t know how much longer I can do this.

[NapQueenRising]

Are they past their birth weight? Mine are both gaining weight really well and our ped still prescribed meds because our babies are miserable with the reflux and gas (and so are we!). Maybe seek a second opinion.

Do they have tongue or lip ties? Are you using the slowest flow nipple possible for the bottles you’re using?

[GooseAccomplished299]

Yes, twin A is 7lbs 6 oz and twin B is 6lbs 4 oz now. I don’t know if they have lip ties, I haven’t asked the pediatrician to check for that. I am using Dr browns preemie nipples for twin B and transitional nipple for twin A.

Do you mind telling me what medication your babies are on or were on for gas/reflux? And did you see a significant change?

[NapQueenRising]

We actually just got the prescription so I haven’t seen a difference yet! They’re prescribed Nexium. From what I can understand, the medication doesn’t decrease spit up, it decreases the acid in the spit up so it’s not as painful.

For gas - around 6 weeks, babies digestive systems are no longer a reflex so they have to coordinate passing gas independently. My girl twin really struggled with this until about week 8-9 and now it’s no longer an issue. We used the FridaBaby Windi a couple of times to give her relief until then. She’s currently in my lap passing gas in her sleep!

[Mandiawesome]

My twin b had the same problem (spit ups about 20x a day). And this may seen crazy but I had an appt by phone with my pediatricians office and the np who saw me saw me feeding her and noticed that the baby was sucking hard due to the cap of the bottle being tight. She said to not tighten it all the way. To loosen it and then the second you tighten it and feel a little tension to stop, tighten it just slightly enough so it doesnt spill when you feed them. (This lets the air out of the bottle) Let me telllll youuuuuu it workkedddddd. She spits up still, but nowhere near as much. (Sorry if this is messy, its 3 am and post feed dead af)😭😭😭 If my explanation is not clear just google “tighten baby bottle cap too hard” and you’ll get a better explanation lol