How To Identify And Treat Acid Reflux In Babies
Acid reflux has long been thought of as a condition that only adults can suffer from. But, did you know that your little one could be suffering from acid reflux as well? Here is some information about acid reflux in babies, as well as symptoms to look out for in order to preserve your infant's health.
Just like an adult, food and acid from the stomach flows in an upward direction into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a connection of muscles that is located in the bottom portion of the esophagus. It is these muscles that open and close to make it possible for food to travel into the stomach. The LES is also instrumental in letting gas out of the stomach after a meal has been consumed. When it comes to infants often more than gas is expelled. The esophagus may not be capable of keeping food in the stomach and it therefore makes its way up into the throat and then into the baby's mouth.
Acid reflux most often takes place during or right after a feeding has taken place; however it can occur at any time at all without warning. For example, babies can suffer from reflux when they cry, when they cough and when they strain. It is something that as a parent you need to be on the lookout for.
If a baby is otherwise healthy and growing as he should be then the doctor will examine him and sometimes will make a diagnosis based on what the parent has to say about the baby's actions. In other cases diagnostic tests will be ordered. Often this is the case if the symptoms can be attributed to any number of health conditions. Some of the tests used to diagnose the condition in babies include lab tests such as blood and urine tests, esophageal pH monitoring and upper endoscopy.
There are certain medications you can get from your pediatrician that are made to treat acid reflux in babies, but you may want to try these tips first. After you have fed your baby, don't put her to bed right away. Also, don't rock your baby right after feeding; this makes it easier for the stomach acid to end up in the esophagus. If you put your infant to sleep right away, there is not time for the nutrients in the breast milk or formula to turn into energy into the baby's system, and this could make for a very irritable little one, especially during the wee hours of the morning. Babies tend to fall asleep while they are feeding, so if you notice that your little one is dozing off, gently wake him so that you can finish feeding. Be sure to burp your infant after feeding as well, in order to get rid of any air pockets in the stomach that could cause discomfort later.
Just like an adult, food and acid from the stomach flows in an upward direction into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a connection of muscles that is located in the bottom portion of the esophagus. It is these muscles that open and close to make it possible for food to travel into the stomach. The LES is also instrumental in letting gas out of the stomach after a meal has been consumed. When it comes to infants often more than gas is expelled. The esophagus may not be capable of keeping food in the stomach and it therefore makes its way up into the throat and then into the baby's mouth.
Acid reflux most often takes place during or right after a feeding has taken place; however it can occur at any time at all without warning. For example, babies can suffer from reflux when they cry, when they cough and when they strain. It is something that as a parent you need to be on the lookout for.
If a baby is otherwise healthy and growing as he should be then the doctor will examine him and sometimes will make a diagnosis based on what the parent has to say about the baby's actions. In other cases diagnostic tests will be ordered. Often this is the case if the symptoms can be attributed to any number of health conditions. Some of the tests used to diagnose the condition in babies include lab tests such as blood and urine tests, esophageal pH monitoring and upper endoscopy.
There are certain medications you can get from your pediatrician that are made to treat acid reflux in babies, but you may want to try these tips first. After you have fed your baby, don't put her to bed right away. Also, don't rock your baby right after feeding; this makes it easier for the stomach acid to end up in the esophagus. If you put your infant to sleep right away, there is not time for the nutrients in the breast milk or formula to turn into energy into the baby's system, and this could make for a very irritable little one, especially during the wee hours of the morning. Babies tend to fall asleep while they are feeding, so if you notice that your little one is dozing off, gently wake him so that you can finish feeding. Be sure to burp your infant after feeding as well, in order to get rid of any air pockets in the stomach that could cause discomfort later.
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