Gastroesophageal reflux is when contents of the stomach pass back up into the oesophagus (food pipe) which can occur with or without vomiting. Not all babies with reflux actually bring up milk but may still get other bothersome symptoms; this is known as silent reflux.
What are the symptoms?
In infants this can include bringing up milk, coughing, hiccups when feeding, discomfort when feeding, feeding aversion, unsettled behaviour, discomfort laying on the back, arching the back and pulling legs up.
What can I do?
If your baby suffers reflux there is are a number of first-line approaches that can be helpful:
– Position your baby’s head higher than the tummy when breast or bottle feeding
– Keep your baby upright for 20-30mins after feeding
– Adjust the feeding pattern (try shorter more frequent feeds)
Sometimes a prescription formula might be recommended by your GP or dietitian. Our expert Lucy J could discuss this with you in the clinic after a full assessment.
Other factors to consider
Sometimes, reflux can be linked to cows milk protein allergy. If you think this might be the case for your baby, please speak to your GP or dietitian.
In most cases, reflux is manageable, but if you have a baby who displays any of the following please seek advice from your GP, dietitian or healthcare professional:
● Projectile vomiting
● Swollen or distended looking stomach
● Vomiting green colour
● Weight loss or poor weight gain
Head over to The Gut Health Clinic page here for more information on the services we offer & if we can help.
