Reflux Lowdown

You may be surprised to learn that acid reflux babies are quite common. In fact, most infants experience mild heartburn or reflux at some time. Which doesn’t make it any less frightening for parents. So let’s take a look at what’s happening when a baby has acid reflux and what can tip you off about the condition.

Acid reflux babies experience the same condition as adults. Stomach acids push up against the lower esophageal sphincter and pass into the esophagus, often rising as high as the back of throat. The result is a painful burning sensation. 

Infants with this condition will often display behaviors such as spitting, vomiting, coughing, irritability, poor feeding, and even blood in the stools. Acid reflux disease can also cause respiratory problems including pneumonia, strictures and ulcerations on the esophageal wall, and malnourishment. Although, these signs don’t always mean your infant is suffering from acid reflux disease. There may be something else entirely going on.

In more severe cases, which are much rarer, acid reflux babies may experience poor growth due to the inability to keep food down, refusing to feed due to pain, blood loss from the acidic burning of the esophagus, and breathing problems.

Acid reflux in babies can be the result of a number of factors, though the most common factors tend to be complicated by the fact that infants spend most of their days lying on their backs or in a supine position and consume mostly liquid foods. The combination of these exerts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which creates a greater risk of reflux. Other influences may also include the anatomy of an infant’s stomach, improper or incomplete development of the lower esophageal sphincter during fetal growth, poor diet, overweight, food allergies and a host of other factors.

There are some things you can do to help if your baby is displaying acid reflux symptoms. For instance, you can do simple things such as changing your infant’s food and keeping your infant in an upright position after eating. This extra attention could be all your child really needs.

If these don’t appear to be helping, it’s time to see your pediatrician. Tests may be needed to make a proper diagnosis, and your doctor will likely want to monitor your child’s feeding habits and possible symptoms. You may be asked to keep a log of your baby’s behaviors, such as irritability, crying, etc. The more information your pediatrician has, the easier it’ll be to make a proper diagnosis and get your infant feeling better.

In most cases, acid reflux babies will exhibit symptoms that are easily manageable. But it’s always better to play it safe and involve your pediatrician if you any concerns about your baby’s health.