Because breastmilk is perfect for babies’ delicate digestive systems, reflux is uncommon in exclusively breastfed babies. So when reflux does happen, it presents some particularly puzzling problems.
Technically, reflux is a word that simply means that the stomach contents are coming back into the esophagus. Most reflux is normal ; everyone has reflux, it is only when it causes discomfort, pain, failure to thrive, or other problems that it is considered a disease. If your baby seems to have reflux, you first need to decide if any intervention is necessary. Does she have any symptoms beyond frequently spitting up? If all that vomit doesn’t seem to bother your baby, then don’t let it bother you!
The Pediatric/Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux (PAGER) Association lists these common symptoms of reflux:
- Pain.
- Irritability.
- Constant or sudden crying.
- "Colic"
- Frequent spitting-up or vomiting.
- Vomiting or spitting-up more than one hour after eating.
- Not outgrowing the spitting-up stage.
- Poor sleep habits.
- Frequent waking.
- "wet burp" or "wet hiccup" sounds.
If your baby is having severe problems with reflux, such as poor weight gain, dehydration, labored breathing, or apnea, you should consult a professional as soon as possible. Remember that even in the case of very severe reflux, you can continue to exclusively breastfeed. If your doctor does not support this, get a second opinion!
Once you’ve decided that your baby’s reflux is truly a problem, you’ll want to try to determine the cause. Unfortunately this a difficult, frequently impossible task. Reflux is often a symptom of another problem, such as a foremilk imbalance or an allergy to something the mother is eating. It can indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or it may be related to another condition, such as Down’s Syndrome. In rare cases, it can be due to a birth defect. It is also common for reflux to have more than one cause. For example, my daughter’s reflux was caused by both a foremilk imbalance and food sensitivies. It is often not possible to completely cure reflux. The best you can do is relieve the symptoms and wait for your baby to outgrow it. The good news is, almost all reflux babies outgrow reflux, generally around one year.
Support:
Breastfeeding A Baby With Reflux Email List
Learn more about reflux:
Children's Medical Center of the University of Virginia
Learn more about breastfeeding:
Becky's Breastfeeding Information Library
Do you have a success story about breastfeeding and reflux that you'd like to share? Please Email me
If you understand that I am not a medical professional and that I have limited time on the computer, please feel free to email me.