Managing Infant Reflux - Treatment
Managing Infant Reflux - Treatment
Before you can begin infant reflux treatment you will need to obtain a medical diagnosis. As the doctor will only see your baby for a few minutes you will need to explain the symptoms you see in as much detail as possible. It is a good idea to keep a journal of the symptoms; including when and how much you feed your baby. Be persistent but not aggressive, if you feel that your doctor's opinion is wrong it may be wise to request to see a paediatrician as they will generally have more experience dealing with acid reflux; also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).Most children will outgrow acid reflux before their first birthday and many require nothing more than careful positioning (try to keep your baby's head at least 30% higher than their stomach at all times). Very few babies will continue to reflux after age two and almost no one experiences acid reflux beyond childhood.Babies with GERD should be positioned so that gravity can help keep their stomach contents down. Discuss how your baby should sleep with your doctor, it used to be advised that babies with acid reflux should not be left on their backs because their stomach contents could travel up in to their airway or lungs more easily in this position. The best way to avoid this is by keeping your baby's head at least 30% higher than their stomach as much as practically possible; this can be achieved by putting books under the top two legs of their crib or buying a baby reflux wedge. If you choose to let your baby sleep face down you might want to consider purchasing an apnea monitor to alarm you to changes in your child's breathing and heartbeat.When feeding your child:. Position them vertically. If your baby is formula-fed you should make it thicker to encourage the liquid to stay down. Burp him/her frequently. Feed your baby more frequently but in smaller amounts to limit their weight loss. If your baby is on solids you should feed them solids rather than liquid before they lie down. Do not feed your child spicy, fatty or acidic foods. Unless there is a medical reason to prohibit it, begin weaning your baby on to solids at 4 months to reduce their refluxThere are several types of medication which may be used to treat GERD. These include:. Gaviscon - reacts with your baby's stomach contents to form a gel. This makes it more difficult for the contents to be brought back up. It should be noted that a common side effect of this medicine is constipation.. Over the counter pain killers - these will generally be either liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen. Painkillers should not be given to babies on a long term basis, however they can provide one desperately needed good night's sleep.. Herbal remedies - for example gripe water. This will ease your baby's abdominal pain but will not treat the acid reflux itself.Regardless of the infant reflux treatment you decide to use, you should always consult your doctor beforehand.
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