A common condition that is experienced by infants under the age of 12 months is infant acid reflux. Infant acid reflux is the technical term used when a baby spits up. The frequency of this condition generally takes place following the baby’s feeding. However, infant acid reflux can occur following any episodes of strain placed upon the baby’s stomach. These episodes can include coughing or crying.
The condition of infant acid reflux usually resolves itself within the first 18 months of birth. However, for the new parents, this condition may prove to be very disturbing. Therefore, it is important to know what causes infant acid reflux, steps that the parents can take and when to consult with a doctor.
Not only can acid reflux, or GERD, affect the adult population, it can also affect babies and young children, and carries the same levels of pain and discomfort we, as adults, have to put up with. Although you can’t cure your baby, you can do a lot to help her by looking out for her and altering her diet. The trouble with babies is they can’t tell you about their symptoms, nor can they suggest they may be suffering from GERD. It is important to look out for the signs and consult a physician if you are at all worried about the possibility of your child suffering from the condition.
It is common for newborns to throw up, sometimes on a regular basis, but typically there is no reason to worry. The lower esophageal sphincter is not usually fully formed and functional until about 18-months of age. Until then, if the infant overeats or eats lying down, it may give an indication of infant acid reflux, but there are other symptoms the doctor will use to form a diagnosis.
Learning about acid reflux in infants is important because you will want to do anything in your power when you hear that cry that comes with it. It can pierce the night, a child’s cry, and can cause an end to any dreams of magical sleep that you once had. About fifty percent of babies, within the first six months of their lives, will experience acid reflux in some form or another. This is incredibly painful for the infant, but it is generally not too terribly harmful in a long term sense. Acid reflux in infants, in terms of physical effects, is more a matter of a discomfort that causes pain more than it is an actual affliction.
Most people associate acid reflux with adults and heartburn or indigestion but the truth is that anyone of any age can develop acid reflux. It is particularly upsetting when babies develop acid reflux because it is difficult for them to describe symptoms to those who care for them, all they can do is cry and spit up and hope that someone understands that they are in pain and can do something about it.
We have all seen the movies with the baby spitting up all over someone’s shirt, right? If you have a baby and that baby is spitting up all the time, you may not think that image of the baby in the movie is so funny anymore. You may be seriously questioning what the heck is wrong with your baby. You may know what acid reflux is and wonder if your baby could possibly have acid reflux. To get the answers to your questions you may make an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician.
One major frustration for most parents is their inability to know what is going on with their very young children. What is bothering infants, who can only communicate through crying, is often a mystery. One way for parents to feel better about their ability to comfort their infants is to learn about issues that commonly afflict infants and toddlers.
Normal or Not? Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Babies
Acid reflux, which is also termed as gastroesophageal reflux, is one of the most frequent problems among infants. Babies with acid reflux often suffer from a range of conditions, from a mild degree to a severe one, such as recurrent spitting up, abdominal pain, and night waking.
Acid reflux is also known as gastro esophageal reflux disease, which occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly and stomach content reflux back up into the esophagus. This acid reflux generally occurs to adults and infants. Infants diagnosed with acid reflux, or acid reflux babies are in bad pain and they tend to cry a lot. Acid reflux is a condition wherein the esophagus is filled with the contents of the stomach as it comes back up.
Causes and symptoms of acid reflux in infant:
Infant acid reflux occurs when acids and other materials in the stomach flow back into the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat with the stomach. Normally, the esophagus contracts to move food from the throat into the stomach. A tough rim of muscle, called the esophageal sphincter, opens to allow food out of the esophagus, and then contracts tightly to prevent it from re-entering the esophagus. In infant acid reflux, the esophageal sphincter does not work properly, and the acid flows backwards into the esophagus, causing the infant discomfort. Acid reflux is not at all uncommon in infants–up to have of all babies may experience it occasionally.
