Known also as acid reflux and acid indigestion, gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is your baby’s equivalent of indigestion/heatburn.
what is reflux?
The valve at the top of your baby’s stomach isn’t closing properly when feeding has finished allowing contents from the baby’s stomach to regurgitate back into the oesophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, and spill out through your baby’s mouth.
Babies often spill a little after a feed and this is completely normal if your baby is happy, isn’t suffering and thriving. But sometimes the acid can burn and cause great discomfort and pain.
what are the symptoms of reflux?
Reflux causes vomiting, which can be projectile, forceful, as well as cause erratic feeding such as refusing feeds or constantly feeding, fussing after eating, excessive drooling, wet hiccups or burps, throaty noises, sour breath, constant swallowing and poor weight gain.
Symptoms usually emerge at 2-4 weeks of age, peak around four months, and typically start to subside from seven months onwards, and is usually outgrown by nine to twelve months.
Occasionally some toddlers can continue into childhood and even adulthood.
confusion with colic
Reflux can be misdisagnosed as colic and also gets confused with cow’s milk protein allergy and lactose intolerance – but they each have their own specific symptoms.
reflux versus cow's milk protein allergy
Cow’s milk protein allergy is an ‘oversensitive intolerance’ to the proteins found in milk.
Symptoms can include a rash, eczema, dermatitis, diarrhoea, constipation, wheezy congested sniffles, abdominal cramps or vomiting and gastric reflux. Most infants outgrow it by their first birthday.
reflux versus lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is sensitivity to the carbohydrates found in milk due to deficient lactase enzymes to break down the milk lactose.
Symptoms include watery, frothy diarrhoea, swollen bloated abdomen, excessive passing of wind, abdominal cramps and a rumbling tummy. It does not cause vomiting.
when reflux symptoms are severe
When reflux symptoms are severe and interfere with your baby’s growth and development, cause breathing problems or oesophageal ulceration, then the condition is considered serious and redefined as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
GORD results in other gastro-intestinal and respiratory problems caused by the stomach acid entering the back of the throat or lungs, such as choking-gagging, wheezing-coughing, respiratory infections and apnoea (temporary cessation of breathing).
If symptoms of GORD are present your baby should be medically assessed to confirm it is not something else giving cause to the symptoms and to initiate treatment.
calming a reflux baby
Most babies with reflux don’t need treatment, but there are things that parents can do to decrease spilling:
- Hold your baby semi-upright in your arms for half an hour after feeding.
- Continue to breastfeed as breast milk is a natural antacid.
- Burp your baby during and after feeds.
- Avoid tight clothing and nappies around the tummy.
- Give smaller, frequent feeds.
- Allow about half an hour of quiet time after feeds.
- Avoid leaving your baby hunched in a carseat or a push-chair for long periods.
help for mum and dad
A very real side-effect of reflux, and colic can be sleep-deprivation of the parents which ties their stomachs in knots, fractures their self-confidence, exhausts them physically and emotionally, plus, this misery can be a trigger for post-natal depression.
If you find you are not coping and you are on your own put your baby safely in the bassinet or cot and walk to another room to calm down. Then set about finding some help, e.g. parent support groups, family or friends. Seek medical help if you are concerned at anytime.
