What constitutes reflux??

[Ti Lung]

Hi Folks:

Many on this forum have referred to reflux in babies. Sounds painful! Mine spits up a lot, and I am not sure whether she has reflux. We are not due at the ped's until a few more days, so I thought I would ask all you experienced parents out there. How can I tell generally whether my little one is suffering from it? And, what are your tricks in reducing the pain associated with reflux?

TIA!!!

[COElizabeth]

I think all babies have reflux to one degree or another, but it's only a problem if one of two things is happening:

1. Baby is in pain from the acid irritating the lining of the esophagus. Signs of this include fussiness after eating, not wanting to be his back, and arching of the back.

2. Baby is not gaining weight well because he is spitting up too much food. Many babies spit up a LOT and still gain perfectly well. If your little one is having plenty of wet and dirty diapers and is gaining weight and doesn't seem in pain, the spitting shouldn't be anything to worry about.

If you do suspect problems, ask your ped for help. Zantac will neutralize the acid and cause baby less pain but won't reduce the amount of spit-up. It takes several days or up to a couple of weeks to take full effect.

Other things to do include having baby sleep with head elevated, feeding smaller amounts more frequently, keeping baby upright for half an hour or so after eating, etc.

HTH.

Elizabeth
Mom to James
9-20-02

[daisymommy]

Your baby only needs to have a few of these following symptoms to be considered as having reflux. However, teh more symptoms, the more severe the reflux, and the more treatment they will need from a Ped. or GI Specialist.

Taken from:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t106004.asp
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Villa/2193/educate.htm

1. Frequent spitting up or vomiting (not all babies with reflux spit up)
2. Frequent hiccups
3. Unexplainable crying, irritability
4. Baby isn't outgrowing the "colic" and/or spitting up
5. Frequent blasts of crying that are painful cries, not just baby cries
6. Your gut feeling tells you that your baby "hurts somewhere"
7. Bursts of nightwaking "as if in pain"
8. Colicky, abdominal pain after eating, even as long as one hour afterwards
9. Poor sleep habits, restless
10. Writhing as if in pain: drawing up legs, arching back
11. Erratic feeding patterns. Refuses to feed or wants to breast or bottle feed all the time. They may appear avidly hungry for bottle or breast until their first swallows and then become very irritable and refusing to take it again.
12. Failure to thrive, losing weight.
13. Frequent "wet burps" or "wet hiccups"
14. Sinus and nasal congestion(due to aspiration)
15. Throaty noises: swallowing noises, choking, gagging
16. Frequent, unexplained colds, wheezing, and chest infections
17. Stop-breathing episodes
18. Excessive drooling
19. Spits up like a "volcano"

[Ti Lung]

Thank you both for your input (invaluable)! I shall monitor baby more carefully...