Baby Acid Reflux
October 9th, 2008 Posted by: admin
You might be surprised to learn that babies too suffer from acid reflux. Normally this is not a chronic illness and it disappears after one year of age. If it persists after one year the problem should be addressed fully by a pediatrician. By this time the baby acid reflux is termed as Gerd. The cause is a digestive system that is not fully developed. This can be left to develop fully with time or can be medicated. Sometimes the problem needs surgical intervention.
How do you know that your baby has acid reflux? The following are
some of the Baby Acid Reflux symptoms.
Uncontrolled crying
Nausea and vomiting
Lack of appetite
Drastic Loss of weight
Sleepless nights if the reflux is during bedtime.
These symptoms alone should not be an indicator of the reflux. An acid test should be done to verify the condition. This should be followed by a doctor’s approval. Please don’t go asking for medical advise from your friends or relatives. The causes may be due to wrong eating positions, or overeating. Wrong sleeping positions can also be a cause of baby acid reflux. The baby should be fed small portions of food more often throughout the day. Burping should be done after every meal to avoid a reflux. Try feeding a few hours before bedtime or very small portions of food at this time. An acid reflux pillow may also be used to minimize the problem at night. Normal pillows worsen the problem of acid reflux.
In case of vomiting, the baby should be given a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration. Sometimes the problem may be chronic and may require medication. You should first consult a doctor before administering any medication. Over the counter drugs are discouraged. These can cause other side effects.
