- What are the signs and symptoms
- How the treatment is done
- Infant reflux feeding
- Possible complications
- How to prevent reflux in babies
Reflux in babies can happen due to the immaturity of the upper gastrointestinal tract or when the baby has some difficulty in digestion, intolerance or allergy to milk or some other food in its diet.
Reflux in a newborn baby should not be considered a worrying situation when the amount is small and occurs only after breastfeeding. However, when reflux occurs several times, in large quantities and long after breastfeeding, it can compromise the baby's development and therefore should be evaluated by the pediatrician.
What are the signs and symptoms
Symptoms of reflux in a baby usually manifest themselves through small amounts of swallowing after feeding and some discomfort, which can happen in all babies. However, this reflux can be exaggerated, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Restless sleep; Constant vomiting; Excessive coughing; Choking; Difficulty in breastfeeding; Irritation and excessive crying; Hoarseness because the larynx swells due to acidity in the stomach; Refusal to eat; Difficulty gaining weight; Frequent inflammation in the ears.
In the presence of these symptoms, it is important to take the baby to the pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist to make the diagnosis and guide treatment.
How the treatment is done
The ideal is to prevent reflux through some precautions, such as avoiding rocking the baby, avoiding wearing clothes that tighten the baby's belly or choosing a good position during feedings to prevent the entry of air through the baby's mouth. Learn how to breastfeed successfully.
In addition, after feeding, it is advisable to place the baby to burp, in an upright position on the adult's lap for about 30 minutes and then to lay the baby on its back and with the head of the cradle raised about 30 to 40 degrees, placing a 10 cm chock or an anti-reflux pillow. The left lying position is recommended for babies from 1 year. See more tips on caring for your baby with reflux.
Usually, reflux in a baby disappears after six months of age, when you start to sit and eat solid foods, however, if this does not happen, after all care, the intake of medicines, such as Motilium, can be guided. or Label, according to the guidance of the pediatrician or gastroenterologist or surgery to correct the valve that prevents food from returning from the stomach to the esophagus.
Infant reflux feeding
Infant reflux feeding should ideally be breast milk, but if baby drinks artificial milk, adding rice flour or corn can reduce reflux. Breast milk naturally produces less reflux, as digestion is easier and so the baby only breastfeeds what is necessary, avoiding overeating.
If the baby takes artificial milk, it may be necessary to thicken it with rice or corn flour, which helps the food stay longer in the stomach, preventing reflux and, in addition, adds more calories to the milk, making the baby gain weight quickly. In addition, there are also milk adapted for babies with reflux, which already have thickeners in the composition. Learn more about these adapted milks.
The baby's feeding should be given in small amounts and as many times as possible throughout the day so that the stomach does not distend so much.
Regarding the feeding of the breastfeeding mother, foods such as fats, fried foods, chocolate, acidic juices, coffee, soda and yogurt should be avoided, as these foods can pass into the milk, making it difficult for the baby to digest.
Possible complications
One of the most common complications related to reflux in babies is the pain and discomfort of gastric acid in contact with the mucosa, which can lead to esophagitis. Another of the most serious complications of reflux can be aspiration pneumonia, which happens when babies "return" the milk that enters the trachea into the lung.
When reflux is not diagnosed and treated, the pain and discomfort generated can cause the baby to refuse feeding, which can compromise his development.
How to prevent reflux in babies
There are a few ways to prevent reflux in babies, such as:
- When breastfeeding, support the baby in the arms, so that the mother's belly touches the baby's belly; At the feedings, leave the baby's nostrils free to breathe; Prevent the baby from just sucking on the nipple; Give breast milk as much as possible months possible; Avoid giving large amounts of milk at once; Increase the frequency of feedings; Avoid rocking the baby; The bottle should always be given high, with the nipple filled with milk;
If even with these preventive measures, reflux continues to occur frequently, the baby should be taken to the pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist to make the diagnosis and guide the treatment.
