How Do I Know If My Baby Has Acid Reflux?
She spits up infrequently, but it is usually thick and slightly chunky. She will often pull off the breast while feeding and cry, and this makes her feedings irregular and unsatisfying for her. Out of the blue she wil start to gag like she has something in her throat. Also sometimes she will start moving her mouth like she is tasting something. How do I know if she has Acid Reflux
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:10 am
I would take her to the doctor. Some of that sounds like the description my daughter’s ped. gave me. The pulling off the breast and making a face like she’s tasting something can also come from the taste of something you’ve ate.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:13 am
My godson had Acid Reflux and he would seem to spit up his whole bottle during and after eating. It never seemed like he was getting anything, but he was. They now make infant antacids, you could try that and see if it helps her.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 am
either take her to the drs or test her yourself try her on sma milk or cow and gate and you will find out the problem
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:47 am
My now 14 month old has this. He has had it since birth. He has never stopped breathing from this but i have heard of babies who have. We knew in the hospital something was wrong. Alls he did after a bottle was spit up the entire time in between feedings. Take her to the doctor to find out for sure what it is. It sounds like it to me but i am no Doctor.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 am
try feeding her smaller amounts, more often and burp her every cupple of ounces. lay her down and feed her kinda sitting up so it doesn’t come back up. see if that helps. take her to a pediatrician when you can and get more info. ps, don’t give the baby cow milk before one year because it hurts their digestive system.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 am
I would bring it up a t her next appointment
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
Well first don’t freak out. . . take it slow. Just because your infant may have a few of the symptoms does not mean they have acid reflux for sure. Have him/her checked by a doctor before taking actions into your own hands.
Symptoms:
spitting
vomiting
coughing
poor feeding
blood in the stools
Just remember more than half infants do have acid reflux, so it may go away, if indeed he/she does have it. Also, most babies do spit up frequently until about 12-18 months. So it could just be that. Which would probably ease your mind a little bit. Trust your gut. Don’t ignore it if you think it could be serious.
God luck. Hope your baby gets well!
-Katie
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Acid reflux typically doesn’t strike children.
I would stop every so often to burp her. Sometimes they get a lot of air in their tummies and it will make them spit up chunky looking milk. It’s because the milk curdles in their stomachs. (If you threw up milk it’d look the same, yuck!) I had to do this with my youngest son. He was the pukiest baby I’ve ever seen. He had a weak epiglottis, but he also would suck in a lot of air. I say give that a try and if it doesn’t help talk to her pediatrician. Good luck!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 am
She’d stop breathing at times if she had acid reflux. You may just need to burp her more frequently, even during feeding, like after 10 minutes.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Read the links below for info on it. . . my daughter had it and was diagnosed at 3 weeks old with it. . these sites will help you understand it and see if it is. . and how to help it. . .
** Signs of GER
Babies with GER often spit up a lot. However, babies can have serious GER without a lot of spitting up if the stomach contents don’t usually reach the mouth. Infants with GER tend to be irritable and fussy because of the associated discomfort or pain. They may arch their backs and stiffen their bodies, act colicky, sleep poorly, or have a chronic cough. Poor weight gain can be a sign of serious GER. By the same token, a baby who spits up a lot and fusses some, but who is gaining weight normally, has a less urgent problem.
*** Clues that your baby suffers from GER enough to need treatment are:
Frequent spitting up or vomiting (not all babies with GER spit up)
Baby isn’t outgrowing the “colic” and/or spitting up
Frequent blasts of crying that are painful cries, not just baby cries
Your gut feeling tells you that your baby “hurts somewhere”
Bursts of nightwaking “as if in pain”
Colicky, abdominal pain after eating, even as long as one hour afterwards
Poor sleep habits, restless
Writhing as if in pain: drawing up legs, arching back
Erratic feeding patterns. Refuses to feed or wants to breast or bottlefeed all the time.
Frequent “wet burps” or “wet hiccups”
Throaty noises: swallowing noises, choking, gagging
Frequent, unexplained colds, wheezing, and chest infections
Stop-breathing episodes
Excessive drooling
Spits up like a “volcano”
Other symptoms in toddlers and older children:
Bodily contortions: head tilt or arching back and body twisting motions after eating
Swallowing difficulties
Bad breath
Dental cavities from eroding enamel
Eats and/or drinks constantly
Doesn’t want to eat
Poor weight gain
Hoarse voice
Excessive drooling
Frequent sore throats
Respiratory problems: wheezing, frequent coughing, asthma
Frequent ear infections
Bitter aftertaste in mouth after eating, “sour burps”
Post-feeding fussiness
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 am
We have gone back and forth about whether or not my son has Reflux, and the best website I found is: http://www. reflux. darshani. com/ It could be that she is spitting up in her mouth and swollowing it. Our son did the fussing at the breast, too. Don’t stop nursing him, your breastmilk is still the best for him. It could also be that when she pulls off the breast is it because you have an active let down and she suddenly gets a strong flow of milk. If you can feel your let down, you might unlatch her when you feel it coming on until it settles down. She also might have gas, which could be something you are eating, commonly wheat or dairy. Cutting those out of my diet made a big difference. We got to a point where he wouldn’t eat lying down or in cradle hold because of the stomach pains, so I nursed him in our Ergo carrier (www. ergocarrier. com) which was a HUGE lifesaver.
We also worked with his doctor- a naturopath, and found a homeopathic remedy that helped a TON. If it hadn’t worked, we were all set to try a prescription for Zantac. Some things to make sure you do at home if it is reflux are- keep her upright for 30 minutes after you feed her, if possible. Wear her in a sling of other carrier that keeps her head above her stomach. Slightly elevate the head of her matress.
The source listed below is a great Dr. Sears article about reflux. You should definately talk with your doctor about it. If it is reflux, it wil make a HUGE difference to get it treated, you will have a happy baby again!