SBD... I mean, Silent Acid Reflux

You may be wondering why we haven't posted any photos of Joshua. Well, unless he is sleeping or eating, he is fussing. I don't care to post a photo with my boob in it, he sleeps lightly so we don't want to mess with it, and his face turns an alarming shade of purple when he's mad. Therefore, photo opportunities are extremely rare.

So far.

I have new hope. Yesterday in response to my facebook plea for suggestions, my cousin suggested silent acid reflux. A couple of other friends had suggested GERD some time ago. At the time I was so focused on food sensitivities that I hadn't looked further into GERD. My cousin said her friend's newborn had just the same symptoms and improved dramatically with meds. She sent me some web sites and I did some research and it seemed like it might fit. Things like:

- not liking to be on his back during changes
- not liking to be in the car seat: he hates it
- swallowing spit up: Mom mentioned noticing this while she was here. Yesterday he was actually happy for a moment, then I saw him swallowing, and sure enough, right after that he made a face and started to cry
- fussiness: uh, yeah.
- persistent hiccups: I wouldn't go so far as "persistent", but he does get hiccups fairly regularly
- burping more than normal: Eva and Micah rarely burped, but Joshua does seem to need to burp regularly

I would rather not give him medications if I can help it. So I called Lucia and asked if she knew a homeopath. We made an appointment for this morning. He gave Joshua a thorough examination and asked me lots of questions. He felt that it was indeed silent acid reflux. He sent us home with three dropper bottles. Chamomilla, phosporus and robinia. I'm supposed to give 5 drops every waking HOUR for the first three days (alternating remedies, so that each remedy is administered every three hours). After that I'm supposed to give them every two hours until the bottles are empty.

I'm hopeful that these will help Joshua be more comfortable and relaxed. Poor kid! Out of the womb and into a world of pain...

He does have good moments though! While I was speaking to the homeopath, Joshua was sleeping in the sling, and I caught a full blown sleep smile. I loved it! I just really can't wait until he smiles when he's awake!!!