Acid Reflux In Infants
Acid Reflux in infants is a condition where food and the acid in the stomach flow back in the esophagus. There are circular muscles at the end of the esophagus which open and close to let the food travel from the throat to the stomach. This set of circular muscles open to release the gas after meals. When they open they also allow some content from the stomach to travel in the esophagus and mouth. Infants that suffer from this condition are often seen vomiting after their meals. Acid reflux can also occur when the babies cough or sneeze.
When do they suffer?
Not all infants suffer from this disease for a long time. It is mostly seen in the infants in the first three months of their age. Many infants don't require treatments on this, and it gradually disappears by 12 months to 18 months.
Symptoms in an infant:
Following are some of the symptoms which can be noticed in an infant suffering from acid reflux:
Hiccups and frequent coughing, burps along with spitting, restless crying, eating in small quantities or not eating at all, lack of continuous sleep, waking up at irregular intervals, bad breath, throat problems, swallowing problems, and weight loss or poor health.
It is always better to consult a doctor if any of the symptoms are seen in your infant.
Depending on the severity of the problem, suitable treatment can be started. If the problem doesn't seem severe then no treatment is needed, and it will usually disappear as the infant grows up.
Preventive steps to avoid Infant Acid Reflux:
"Spitting up" is a normal symptom seen in all the infants. This is not serious and disappears as the infant approaches the age of 6 to 8 months. If the symptoms persist beyond that age then a doctor or your infant's pediatrician should be consulted. The infant's doctor might make few changes in the eating habits and give you some useful tips which reduce the infants reflux.
Some useful tips for reducing acid reflux in babies:
Holding the baby in the upright position: If the position in which you hold the infant while feeding is right it will reduce the chances of the food coming back in the throat. Hold the baby upright for about 30 minutes after feeding.
Prone position (Laying the baby on stomach): If the baby is awake after feeding lay him on his stomach in at least a 30 degree angle position.
Infants position while sleeping at night: In the same manner you keep the baby on its stomach in a 30 degree incline position, keep the baby on his back with a 30 degree incline while sleeping.
Feed your baby with regular small meals: Feeding too much at a time may not be healthy for your baby and might become heavy for your baby's stomach. Instead, try feeding him with small meals with a 2 to 3 hour gap between meals.
Making the infant pass gas after his or her meal: Make the baby burp at regular intervals while feeding. This will reduce the pressure on the infant's digestive system and help in digesting the food better.
Above are some of the symptoms and some common and simple tips by which you can prevent acid reflux in infants.
If you are ready to relieve the burning sensation and pain then you need a plan of action to conquer acid reflux.
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