Symptoms of Infant Acid Reflux
How can you tell if your infant has acid reflux? Almost all babies spit up some, and this doesn't necessarily mean that your child has acid reflux. However, approximately one-half of all infants under the age of three months will suffer with this condition even if only for a short period of time.
Symptoms include:
- spitting
- coughing
- vomiting
- irritability
- pooring feeding
- blood in stools
What Causes Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when the contents of your baby's tummy back up into the esophagus, which is the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. The lower esophogeal sphincter is a ring of muscle which is located at the bottom of the esophagus and allows food to enter and gas or air bubbles to escape. When this muscle is open, food can come back up through the esophagus and out of your infant's mouth. This can happen at virtually anytime, but it commonly occurs during a feeding or directly afterwards.
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Treatment of Acid Reflux
How can you treat your baby's acid reflux? First, you'll need to work closely with your pediatrician. He or she may want to change your baby's formula or readjust her feeding schedule. If you are breastfeeding, you may need to examine your diet to see if there are any foods that you are eating which could be upsetting your baby's tummy.
Problems
While most acid reflux isn't serious, problems can occur. If your baby experiences poor growth due to his inability to keep food in his stomach, then your doctor may need to prescribe medication. Some babies also refuse to eat because of the tummy pain they experience while feeding. Babies can also lose blood because of acid burning the esophagus. Breathing problems can also occur. If your infant experiences any of these problems, contact your doctor immediately.
Medications
For more severe cases of infant acid reflux, pediatricians often prescribe H2-blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid, or Tagamet. Protone-pump inhibitors, such as Prevacid, Prilosec, and Nexium are also often prescribed. Surgery is sometimes needed, but your doctor should explore all options with you.
Help For Your Infant
You can help your infant be more comfortable by trying the following procedures.
- Feed her more often, and make meals smaller.
- Feed her in an upright position.
- Attempt to burp her several times during her feeding.
- Keep her upright for 30 minutes or so after feeding,
- Do not overfeed your baby.
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