Reflux

We had to rush my 4 month old to the doctor yesterday because he was having tummy problems. He broke from his routine and was waking up once every hour to eat. He wasn't keeping anything down. By the time we went to the doctor, we had already decreased his feedings from 6 to 4 ounces so he wasn't over eating. We tried organic tummy soothers, gripe water, and gas drops. Nothing seemed to ease his pain. He was also having a bowl movement once every other day (this was caused from us thickening his feedings to help keep them down).

His doctor diagnosed him with having reflux. Reflux (GER) happens when the contents of the stomach reflux, or back up into the esophagus during or after feeding your baby. At the bottom of the esophagus, there is a ring that opens to release gas (the lower esophageal sphincter or LES). Instead of releasing gas......he would spit up or vomit. His doctor put him on a low does form of Zantac to help ease the pain. He also switched him from his soy formula to a low lactose formula that is partially broken down so he can digest it better.

Reflux can be very painful for an infant. If you suspect your baby has reflux, call your doctor right away. He are some symptoms of reflux:

• spitting up
• vomiting
• coughing
• irritability
• poor feeding
• blood in the stools

Here are some symptoms that only occur in a small number of babies:

• poor growth due to an inability to hold down enough food
• irritability or refusing to feed due to pain
• blood loss from acid burning the esophagus
• breathing problems

Resource: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerinfant/