Call Our Office (270) 769-0110 |
Immediately if |
|
During Regular Hours if |
|
Description |
Reflux or regurgitation is the spitting up of one or two mouthfuls of stomach contents. It is usually seen during or shortly after feedings. In contrast to vomiting, the milk comes up without any effort for discomfort. Reflux usually begins in the first weeks of life. More than half of all infants have this condition to some degree. |
Possible Causes |
Poor closure of the valve (or ring of muscle) at the upper end of the stomach is responsible. This condition is also called gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or chalasia. Reflux is harmless as long as your infant does not spit up large amounts that interfere with normal weight gain. |
Expected Outcomes |
Spitting up improves with age. By seven months of age, most reflex has decreased or resolved. The reasons for this are probably the ability to set up and the introduction of solid foods. By the time your baby has been walking for three months, even severe reflux should be totally cleared up. |
Home Treatment |
Feed Smaller Amounts. Overfeeding always makes spitting out the worse. If the stomach is filled to capacity, spitting up is more likely. Give your baby smaller amounts (at least 1oz. less than you have been giving). Your baby doesn’t have to finish a bottle. Wait at least 2 ½ hours between feedings because it takes that long for the stomach to empty itself. Avoid pressure on the abdomen. Avoid tight diapers. They put added pressure on the stomach. Do not double your child up during diaper changes. Do not let people hug your child or played vigorously right after meals. Burp your child to reduce spitting up. Burp your baby two or three times during each feeding. Burp the baby when he or she pauses and looks around. Do not interrupt his or her feeding rhythm in order to burp them. Keep in mind that burping is less important than giving smaller feedings and avoiding tight diapers. Keep in a vertical position after meals. After meals, try to hold your baby in an upright position using a frontpack, backpack or swing for 30 minutes. When your infant is in infant seat, keep him or her from getting scrunched up by placing a pad under the buttocks so the baby is more stretched out. After a baby is six months of age, a jumpy seat or walker can be helpful for maintaining an upright posture. To make the walker safe, buy one without wheels or remove the wheels. The best sleeping position for severe reflux is on the baby’s side with the right side down. If the esophagus becomes irritated (esophagitis), talk to your doctor about sleeping prone (face down). Cleaning up. One of the worst aspects of spitting up in the past was the odor. This was caused by the effect of stomach acid on the butterfat in cow’s milk. The odor is not present with commercial formulas because they contain vegetable oils. A more common concern is clothing stains from milk spots. Use the power formulas which stain the least. Also, do not pick up your child when you have your best clothes on. Try to confine your baby to areas without rugs (for example the kitchen). |