Daniel has infant reflux.  This usually begins to manafest itself around 2 weeks of age.  We knew he had it because he would get very upset after eating.  Soon we could smell the acid on his breath.  We could tell from his crying that he was in pain.

So at three weeks of age, Daniel started on Zantac, and it has been both a blessing and a curse.

The blessing – the Zantac reduces the acid in his stomach so that his reflux doesn’t burn and hurt anymore.  He still has the reflux.  Because of the reflux we keep him upright for at least 20 to 30 minutes after feeding him.  We also feed him somewhat elevated.  We can’t lay him on his back until at least an hour after he eats or longer.  The reflux also causes him to choke easily, so we have to be careful feeding him.  We’ve had to change to premie nipples because the infant nipples flowed too quickly and tended to get him choked frequently.

The curse – there are several.  Since Zantac reduces stomach acid, it slows his whole system down.  He has stomach discomfort and gas because everything is just slow and backed up.  Zantac also probably makes him a bit edgy and nervous.  We also have to give him the Zantac twice a day, sometime between an hour and twenty minutes before he eats. That’s the part that resulted in this photo.  When I gave him the Zantac he decided it was time to eat and he had to wait twenty minutes.  He got really upset and is trying to comfort himself by sucking his thumb.