Baby Reflux

Baby reflux is a condition where a baby brings up partly digested food back into and out of the mouth through the esophagus. Usually, unless in very severe conditions, the baby outgrows the condition and therefore no medical intervention is necessary. However, if the reflux is very frequent therefore causing problems to the baby, medical intervention should be sought.

Medics state that baby reflux usually occurs because the muscle, which stops stomach contents from coming back, is still developing in most babies. That is the reason why most babies outgrow the condition with time. In some babies however, frequently refluxes cause inflammation of the esophagus due to the acidic content of food that goes back up. This usually leads to the Gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Baby reflux symptoms are rather obvious because the baby keeps bringing up previously swallowed food. Medics however maintain that this is not usually risky to the babys health, unless in instances when the amount of regurgitated food is in large amounts. Some of the other pointers that may need medical attention in a baby who has regular baby reflux include stomach pains and the failure to develop well. A mother or caregiver can easily know when the baby is experiencing pain through the constant crying while arching their backs. If the contents brought up by the baby looks like coffee ground, this may be an indication that the babys esophagus or stomach is bleeding.

Baby reflux in older children may manifest with symptoms such as trouble swallowing, bad taste, heart burn and water-like fluid coming from the babys mouth. Usually, the doctors treat baby reflux if it is hampering baby development, or when the reflex is connected to other underlying conditions.

Doctors usually recommend that mothers thicken the food fed to the babies, because this reduces the likelihood of the food coming back up. There are commercial baby food thickeners available for purchase although mothers and caretakers may need to confirm with the doctor about the safety of their use. For breastfeeding babies, the doctor may have to use Domperidone, proton pump inhibitors or H2 inhibitors. Domperidone tightens the esophageal muscle thus preventing food from flowing back up. This however requires a physicians prescription. Babies may experience mild diarrhea as a side effect. Both proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers reduce acidic levels in the stomach. They reduce the irritation that the baby may experience from constant regurgitation of food. However, like any other medicine intended for a baby, the mother or caretaker should ask the doctor of the medicines safety before administering it to the baby.

Baby reflux usually stops by 1 years in most children even without medical intervention. In rare cases, the condition may lead to coughing, wheezing and under-development with the affected babies.