'My baby's grumpy face wasn't funny - it was a symptom of something serious'
A mum knew something was wrong when her baby developed a "grumpy face" and started projectile vomiting.
Rebecca Edwards gave birth to her son Tommy Goss on July 15 last year at a healthy 8lbs 12oz.
When he was just a week old he started vomiting an "extreme amount", the Liverpool Echo reports.
Doctors said it was reflux, but the mum-of-three said he started to lose weight and would not drink milk. When he did, Tommy would "projectile vomit".
Tommy was rushed to the Countess of Chester hospital when Rebecca and her partner Aaron Goss could not wake him from his sleep and he was appearing much weaker.
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The mum-of-three said: "A nurse said there could be a blockage in his stomach and he'd need an operation.
Tommy Goss was three weeks old when he underwent a two hour operation (Rebecca Edwards)
The newborn developed a 'grumpy face' (Rebecca Edwards)"I was getting worried then. We were in the Countess for a couple of days and we were transferred to Alder Hey where it was confirmed he had pyloric stenosis.
"He had an operation the next day and was there about two hours, he was only three weeks old."
Pyloric stenosis is a condition where the passage between the stomach and small bowel becomes narrower. Rebecca said the main symptom of this was the projectile vomiting, but also Tommy's "grumpy face".
According to the NHS, in most cases, a baby with pyloric stenosis will begin bringing up small amounts of milk after feeding which will worsen until no milk can be kept down. Vomiting can be so forceful it can be projected for several feet out of a baby's mouth.
Gradually, if untreated, the baby will become dehydrated, lethargic, not gain weight and the soft spot at the top of the head may be sunken.
Rebecca said: "A sign is having a grumpy face and he did have that, he was frowning a lot. And projectile vomiting, the vomit would shoot against the wall, also if a baby is losing weight or not gaining weight.
Tommy Goss was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis (Rebecca Edwards)"He's my third child but my first with Aaron and it's more common in the firstborn boy's on the dad's side.
"We were told we caught it early, apparently children can go up to six months which is scary, especially how much weight he lost. He went below birth weight, I could feel his spine."
Thanks to the support from staff at the hospital, the family have now launched a social media page "Tommy thanks Alder Hey" as they aim to give back.
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They hope to walk Snowdon next month, raising funds for the hospital and vital awareness of this overlooked condition.
Rebecca said: "They supported us throughout and supported us in getting him back on the milk. As soon as he took milk three times we were allowed home.
"We were there nearly a week with a newborn baby and it was terrifying, I'd never heard of this before and even I thought it was reflux. People have said their baby was a lot older when they realised.
"Alder Hey cheered us up at a dark time, they'd come in and sit with us and spend time with us. Now, Tommy is one next month and he's put all the weight back on, he's doing well."
Anyone wishing to donate can do so here. The family is also keeping people updated with Tommy's journey via their Tommy Thanks Alder Hey Page here and also on TikTok.
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