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[A192]Acid Reflux Symptoms Babies

by Anna Hart, Ann

Tips to get acid reflux babies to eat are not numerous. It is one thing for an adult to experience acid reflux, and quite another for an acid reflux infant. Adults can learn what causes the problem, and deal with its symptoms. Acid reflux symptoms in infants are just another form of pain, with no understanding of what is causing them.

Brief Consideration of Acid Reflux In Babies

Acid reflux is when the band of muscle, called a sphincter, at the bottom of the esophagus fails to close, or reopens too quickly, allowing stomach juices to reflux (back-flow) into the esophagus. This lower esophageal sphincter is often called the LES, and when weak, will be forced open when it should be closed.

Every infant has a little bit of LES weakness. Their muscles, including the LES, need time to mature. That's why we use burp cloths when burping a baby that has just finished nursing.

Acid reflux infants, however, do this a lot. Eventually, the stomach juices that flow back into the esophagus are not those that have just been diluted with a bottle of milk. The milk has been gone for a while, sometimes for hours, and the LES is allowing strong acid to flow into the esophagus.

Acid reflux is painful to the baby, and can cause extended crying and/or vomiting. This can rapidly become a vicious cycle: the baby feels pain, cries, vomits, and does not want to eat. Parents, siblings, and daycare providers are all pressed to the limits of their knowledge and patience.

Tips to Get Acid Reflux Babies to Eat

The tips given here are not from a medical professional. They are intended for educational purposes only, but they may help your get your acid reflux baby to eat and get necessary nourishment.

1. Schedule frequent, small meals for your baby. Keeping the stomach less full gives it opportunity to digest food without pressuring the LES and risking acid reflux. If acid reflux does occur, there will be little food to come up. If you have been nursing or giving a bottle every 4 hours, offer food every 2 hours for a while. Do not let the baby continue nursing to the point of being full. Small meals are better.

2. Always be sure your baby is in an upright position for nursing or drinking from a bottle. Avoid pressure against the baby's stomach while feeding. This will give the LES maximum ability to function as it should, to keep milk in the stomach.

3. After feeding your baby, continue to hold him or her upright. This will help keep the food in the stomach where it can be digested. Hold the baby up to your shoulder, and pat to be sure the baby is burped very well. Every little air bubble is potential pressure on the weak LES, and potential acid reflux. Avoid bouncing the baby while burping. It is better to sway back and forth, comforting with the motion while patting the back.

4. Check your infant's clothing frequently to be sure diapers and other clothing around the waist is comfortably loose. Pressure at the waist is often a contributing factor in acid reflux.

5. Never shake your baby for any reason. You are only encouraging acid reflux, and may cause your infant to connect your action with the pain.

6. NEVER allow anyone to smoke around your infant. Tobacco smoke only further weakens LES muscles, and causes acid reflux symptoms in infants to worsen.

7. Be sure that anyone responsible for your infant's care knows that extra care and attention are needed, as are extra patience and understanding.

Words of Encouragement for You!

It is important for all concerned to remember that an acid reflux infant will usually stop having symptoms by age 1. The LES strengthens, and the baby is able to enjoy eating normally.

PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) are the most common pharmaceuticals prescribed for the acid reflux condition. These drugs actually stop the production of stomach acid. Obviously, we were created to produce stomach acid for a specific reason. Stomach acid is necessary to break down, digest and assimilate food. Without proper digestion and assimilation, our bodies cannot work as they were designed to. Most people who pop those PPI drugs are walking around in a state of malnutrition.

Sometimes we overlook the reality of a situation by choosing convenience over common sense. The simple way is usually the best way to go. Two inexpensive supplements, when taken together, can alleviate most acid reflux symptoms. These supplements are probiotics and digestive enzymes.

Would you rather take expensive and harmful habit forming drugs for acid reflux, or take two natural capsules before each meal? Probiotics are beneficial microbes which protect the digestive tract by keeping the natural flora in balance. The most well known is lactobacillus acidophilus, which is found in yogurt and in supplement form.

A good probiotic should contain at least five billion live microorganisms per capsule. The ideal composition should include L. acidophilus, L rhamnosus, S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus. These are considered "friendly bacteria". They are of great benefit to the health of the colon and to the immune system, in general. Taken in conjunction with digestive enzymes, they balance the digestive system and reduce the possibility of acid reflux.

Digestive enzymes, which are normally secreted by different glands in the digestive system, help to break down food molecules into smaller particles in order to aid digestion. Each enzyme has a specific function related to different elements of food. For example: lactase breaks down lactose (milk sugars), protease and pepsin break down proteins and diatase digests vegetable starch.

Those who suffer from acid reflux usually need more digestive enzymes than their bodies produce. A good digestive enzyme supplement should contain protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, diastase, invertase, lactase, pectinase and alpha galactosidase. Just ask for a full spectrum product.

In addition to taking these supplements to aid the digestive process, you might also consider drinking at least eight glasses of water each day - more won't hurt. Do not drink anything with a meal as it dilutes stomach acid and the body produces more to compensate.

Eat raw vegetables as often as possible. Munch on them as snacks or appetizers before a main meal. Eat fruit for breakfast.

Walk for thirty minutes each day. Aerobic exercise is essential for the over all health of the body. It encourages a healthy digestive system.

Chew gum between and after meals. Chewing produces saliva, which is alkaline in nature and counteracts over production of acid.

By taking responsibility for your health and making a few little changes in life style, you can avoid a problem like acid reflux before it evolves into a more serious medical issue. Supplements like probiotics and digestive enzymes will give you a jump start and get you on your way to better digestive health.

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Both Anna Hart & Charles Stewart Richey are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Anna Hart has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Backpain and Acid Reflux. © 2007, Anna Hart. Anna went through months of endless crying with her infant son, and she empathizes with your problem. She invites you to read more of her articles about acid reflux and heartburn at. Anna Hart's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.

Charles Stewart Richey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Pets and Acid Reflux. Charles Stewart Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease by natural means. He has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies.For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natura. Charles Stewart Richey's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.