Reflux – When What Goes Down May Come Up!

What is Reflux?

What goes down comes up!

We all have a sphincter and this is the muscle that keeps the lid on the stomach to stop contents and acid coming back up into the esophagus. As we know their little bodies are developing all the time and sometimes this muscle takes longer to establish in some babies. Also, please bear in mind that babies are mainly on their back and as their diet is mainly liquid, it can be tricky.

Reflux is very common and very normal. Of course, there are levels of severity with this condition and if you are in the thick of it now, then you will certainly know how rough it is for you and your baby. The stomach acid and ‘burn’ when it comes up can be very upsetting for everyone.

All babies will ‘spit up’ as their gut is still very immature, but if this is happening on pretty much on every feed, then it is time to get to the doctor and have them check your little one out. The impact of reflux on babies can hinder their ability to thrive as they just aren’t keeping those calories down.

Reflux tends to go away when we introduce solids, however if this is still happening then this could be a food intolerance to something.

What can I do?

Firstly, have your little one checked out by a doctor! There are lots of treatments available that will help. Many of my families have also found support from a paediatric chiropractor or osteopath as a way of releasing some pressure from their little bodies.

A few other things you can try are;

If bottle feeding then try and ensure you aren’t shaking up the bottle too much when mixing the formular, try to swill more than a cocktail shake. I would also try and slow the feeds down and offer up lots of winding.

Try offering up smaller more frequent feeds throughout the day. You may also find that offering up a split feed before bedtime helps. Offer up some before and then after the bath, but always aim to have time before you pop them down. If we don’t do this the milk will rise up.

Keep baby upright during and for about 30 minutes after their feed and their head higher than their bottom whilst feeding. I know it’s hard if you are feeding to sleep, so if you can I would try and offer up feeds when they wake as apposed to before a sleep session.

I know it’s a pain, but try with a few different types of bottles. Some babies will have a better latch with some brands more than others. We want to avoid any air getting into them and this goes for breastfeeding too. Is their latch good? Are they tongue tied? If they are then this can have a huge impact as they are taking in way too much air and this will kick off the reflux.

If you are breastfeeding then it could be time to look at your own diet. I am not saying you are eating bags of sweets or takeaway foods, but even dairy, some fruits and wheat could be adding to the issue. Working this out can be tricky but worth experimenting where you can by eliminating certain foods for a few days and monitoring any improvements.

Sleep training a baby with reflux.

OK, firstly I understand that if your baby has reflux and it is still very much a huge issue then we need to get this under control BEFORE we start any form of sleep training. Now, sleep does help with reflux. When anyone is tired and then sick, it seems a whole lot worse and this applies to babies too. A baby sling/ carrier can be a great tool to ensure that they are upright and getting that much needed rest.

Of course, we are ideally looking to have babies sleeping in their own sleep space in an empty cot, but sometimes we just need to get them some rest. Trying to navigate through a day when your little one is exhausted and uncomfortable is a battle that none of us want.

Finally, I have worked with a lot of families whose children had reflux. It is VERY common if your child has gone through something like this then you will be a lot more sensitive to their tears. Please know that tears around sleep training are not comparable to tears of reflux discomfort, they are more frustration than anything but I do understand that crying will be a trigger for you and your family and I am here to support you.

Reflux is temporary but it can feel like an endless battle. Hang on in there!

Alex

x