Reflux
Reflux
What causes a baby to have acid reflux?
When the lower esophageal sphincter opens, the contents of the stomach can flow back into the oesophagus, causing the infant to spit up or vomit. This is very common and does not usually cause other symptoms. However, constant regurgitation from acid reflux can sometimes cause damage to the esophageal lining. This is much less common.
Infant reflux occurs when food backs up (refluxes) from a baby’s stomach, causing the baby to spit up. Sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), the condition is rarely serious and becomes less common as a baby gets older. It’s unusual for infant reflux to continue after age 18 months.
Signs and Symptoms
It may present itself as follows:
- Frequent or recurrent vomiting
- Frequent or persistent cough or wheezing
- Refusing to eat or difficulty eating (choking or gagging with feeding)
- Heartburn, gas, abdominal pain, or colicky behaviour (frequent crying and fussiness)
associated with feeding or immediately after
- Regurgitation and re-swallowing
- Complaining of a sour taste in their mouth, especially in the morning
- Frequent spitting up or vomiting; discomfort when spitting up.
Silent Reflux
Some babies do not spit up and silent reflux occurs when the stomach contents only go as far as the oesophagus and are then re-swallowed, causing pain but no spitting up. Gagging, choking, frequent burping or hiccuping, bad breath. Babies who tend to have silent reflux tend to arch their backs.
How I will help you
A full diet review to identify if and what are the triggers.
Prepare gentle herbal prescription which reduces the acid as well as reduce the inflammation and soothe the oesophagus.
Give techniques to help digestion and reduce stress around reflux.
In my experience, the sooner that reflux is addressed the quicker the results.