Gastroesophageal Reflux is one of the most common problems among babies under one year of age, this is because their digestive system is still very immature, so the esophagus does not have enough strength to close properly.
When this happens, milk is allowed to flow back from the stomach into the esophagus, causing the baby to spit up a little milk and sometimes his esophagus may become irritated, causing pain and crying.
According to the Ministry of Health, around 50% of infants younger than 3 months of age have a regurgitation episode a day, a figure that decreases to only 5% in babies between 10 and 12 months of age.
What can I do to help my baby?
- When the little one is going to be fed, he should be a little seated, so that his head is higher than the rest of his body, it is important to keep him in this position half an hour later, because during this time, gastroesophageal reflux is more recurrent .
- Do not wait until the baby is too hungry, since when this happens, he / she takes the milk desperately, forcing his / her digestive system to work in the same way, it is necessary to offer the breast or bottle a little before it starts crying.
- Burp him every two ounces of milk or in each breast.
- If the crying appears, we must coo and comfort him before continuing to feed him, because he loses his calm and his stomach continues to try harder.
- Reflux is a very normal thing among lactating babies, so there is no need to be alarmed, you just have to take into account the measures we have already mentioned.
What do I do if my reflux gets worse?
If the following symptoms occur, it will be appropriate to go to the pediatrician:
- Frequent, intense, or violent vomiting or regurgitation, usually after milk intake.
- Cough, especially after feeding.
- Whistling or choking as the stomach contents rise into the esophagus and enter the trachea and lungs.
- Irritability or crying after eating.
- Lack of appetite and little or no weight gain.
The specialist will surely prescribe medications, suggest a change of formula or that the mother eliminate dairy products from her diet while breastfeeding the baby, since reflux can occur due to an intolerance to certain proteins contained in milk or its derivatives.