Gastro-oesphageal Reflux disease or Reflux
Most babies spit up a little of their feed from time to time but if yours does so frequently he could have gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially if she pulls up her legs as if she has stomach pain, or gags while feeding.
GERD usually occurs because the sphincter muscle at the top of your baby’s stomach isn’t yet strong enough to prevent some milk from flowing back out. Most babies do outgrow reflux as their sphincter muscles strengthen, but it’s important that your baby’s weight is carefully monitored until then. It’s possible she might not keep enough milk down to maintain a healthy weight, or that stomach acids flowing out with her feeds could irritate her esophagus and put her off feeding. Rarely, milk can get into her nose and lungs and this can potentially cause pneumonia a well as ear and sinus problems.
Treatment
When reflux is mild, it’s often enough to hold your baby in a more upright position while she feeds – prop her up or let her sit up for a while after feeds too, instead of laying her down. Smaller more frequent feeds may help too, as there will be less milk in her stomach at any one time. If she’s bottlefed, your pediatrician may suggest adding a tiny amount of rice cereal to her formula to thicken it slightly, as this will help it stay down.
If your pediatrician feels your baby’s reflux is adversely affecting her weight, she may prescribe antacids (don’t give your baby over-the-counter antacids as these won’t be suitable); or medication that helps stimulate her digestive system to keep food moving through her system.
In older children it’s known that certain foods can make reflux worse – for instance, whole milk, chocolate milk, citrus fruits (pineapple, grapefruit and oranges), sausage, bacon and fatty meat. There’s some evidence that a small amount of olive oil added into your baby's food helps with reflux because olive oil binds to bile acids, which are secreted into the intestines and assist digestion – but check with your pediatrician before doing this.
If reflux is more severe, medication can be prescribed to reduce the acid in your child’s stomach or to improve the function of her digestive system. See reflux in babies for more help.
The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Related Articles
Last Modified: 12/12/2007
Related Chat
You'll need to be logged in to post new Comments and Answers or to Chat.
Login or
Register