More than half of all babies have to deal with acid reflux during there first three months of life. Symptoms of acid reflux include coughing, spitting, irritability, vomiting, blood in feces, and discomfort when feeding. While experiencing these symptoms, the baby tends to be very cranky and cries uncontrollably, probably at least partly owing to the fact that they are unable to explain their pain to the people caring for them.
This condition is most frequently referred to as colic and is very common.
Medications do exist for colic, but doctors typically do not suggest giving small infants medicine. Other treatments are often recommended for babies younger than six weeks old.
A baby's acid reflux can be controlled by using a specially designed pillow that props up the child's head. Most stores that sell merchandise for babies will stock such pillows.
One of the more typical causes of acid reflux in babies is consuming dairy products. Young children all develop slightly differently and some of their digestive systems simply aren't capable of breaking down dense milk formulas. If you believe that your child is suffering from acid reflux, speak with the doctor that has cared for them since birth about possible food related causes.
All of us humans have a nerve called the Vagus nerve that runs close to the Esophageal Sphincter. This nerve often triggers "throwing up" and other traumatic events. Sometimes, chiropractic treatments are successful in a given baby's situation, and bring relief.
Another great solution is drinking of liquid calcium. The creamy texture of the liquid calcium allows your child to heal at its own pace.
Babies who frequently spit up food may be doing so as a result of acid reflux. This can become very dangerous, even deadly. If a baby spits up too often or uncontrollably, it can cause them to stop breathing suddenly while they are sleeping, a condition called sleep apnea. The very first time that a child shows any signs of sleep apnea, they should be taken to see their pediatrician right away.
There are some things you can do to reduce your child's risk of contracting acid reflux. Holding them upright for thirty minutes after having eaten, inclining the head of their crib, and changing their feeding schedule can all be helpful. Although they should never be done without a doctor's direction, attempting to feed the child solid food and adding cereal to formula in bottles are also effective treatments for acid reflux in babies.
It would be best to avoid medicating such small children with medicine like Zantac if at all possible.
Some babies no longer experience the symptom of acid reflux when they reach their 12th to 18th month. It is a recurring condition, though, so parents have reasons to be concerned. There are some babies that continue to show symptoms even after a year, and cases like this needs immediate medical attention. This article will talk about some symptom of acid reflux in baby and how to check for their severity.
Mild Symptoms
A baby spitting doesn't necessarily mean he/she has acid reflux. To check for mild symptoms of acid reflux, take note of what happened before, during, and after your baby displayed certain behaviors:
- Pre-Feeding - Is your baby constantly refusing to feed every time your try to feed him/her? Understandably, a baby may refuse to feed because he/she is simply full. However, if your baby is constantly refusing to feed, that's a clear sign that he or she may be experiencing mild symptoms of acid reflux.
- While Feeding - Spitting or vomiting while feeding is very normal. But if you find your baby constantly spitting every single time you feed him/her, he or she may have acid reflux. However, your baby may spit while crying. So take note of certain behaviors and figure out when these behaviors occur. If they happen (spitting, vomiting, or coughing) while your baby is feeding or crying, then he or she may have mild symptoms of acid reflux.
- After Feeding - Take note of what happens after your baby displays peculiar behavior. If your baby is spitting or coughing during feeding and falling asleep right after feeding, then he or she may have acid reflux. The reason for this is that when a baby or adult lies down right after eating, the acid tends to travel to the esophagus. Of course, babies tend to sleep a lot, which is why the condition is so common among them. Babies that tend to do vigorous activity after feeding also has a higher risk of reflux.
Severe Symptoms
Aside from symptoms like spitting, vomiting, and coughing, there are other symptom of acid reflux in baby that may be much worse. To identify potentially severe symptoms, take note of:
- Symptoms that Persist - If your baby has been displaying symptoms for more then 18 months, then the condition might never go away unless treatment is applied.
- The Onset of Other Complications - If it has come to a point that your baby is developing slower than a healthy baby should, then this is almost a sure sign that the acid reflux is getting worse. Because of discomfort or pain, a baby with acid reflux will continue to feed poorly even after several months. This makes things even worse as the digestive system can be severely affected. Your baby may have a bloody stool and loss of blood. Generally, a baby may gain or lose weight suddenly with worse cases of acid reflux.
Both Frank Robson & Richal Peyton 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.
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