subject: Nexborn Acid Reflux - Causes, Symptoms and Natural Treatments [print this page] Nexborn Acid Reflux - Causes, Symptoms and Natural Treatments
One of the most important responsibilities of parents is to take care of their child and to make sure that their offspring is secure. For first time parents, caring for their young ones can come as a challenge because they are still trying to get by and assimilate to this new chapter in their lives. Newborn acid reflux is customary to babies, on the other hand, we often cannot tell if they are in pain, except when they cry so much.
There are a lot of causative factors for newborn baby reflux. The fact that newborn's digestive system is not yet properly established, moms who are not cautious enough in feeding their babies might encounter symptoms of an acid reflux problem. Anatomically speaking, humans, including babies have a valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus called LES or lower esophageal sphincter. This muscular tissue acts as a barrier that opens and closes as food passes through the stomach. Once the food gets in, the LES make sure that it properly shut down into the stomach preventing the occurrence of a reflux.
Aside from the sensitivity of a baby's stomach as well as the LES valve, a reflux is aggravated especially when babies are lying mostly on their back. As a result, not enough gravity is there to push the feedings down to the stomach. Thus, this is the main reason why babies are spitting up their milk. So clearly, insufficiency of a newborn's digestive system and gravity are the obvious reasons for this condition but it doesn't stop there. The occurrence of the acid reflux condition can also be blamed for poor diet, weight of the baby, food allergies and some other factors.
As parents, it is imperative that we know how to interpret and to discern our baby's body language. Cries may mean different things. Baby cries when they are hungry or when they need to have a diaper change. On the other hand if you hear a constant and loud cry, it may mean that your baby is not feeling well. Other symptoms include the following:
- Episodic sleep
- Coughing
- Poor weight gain
- Poor feeding
- Spitting up frequently
Check if your baby is experiencing one or two of the symptoms stated above, certainly, a trip to your baby's pediatrician will not hurt. Before putting your baby to experimental prescription, consider that all medicines are passed through the liver and once again your babies' vital organs are not yet completely established so it would be best to treat the condition first naturally.
-Postural therapy ( keeping baby upright after feeding)
-Carry the baby in your arms after feeding to allow burping (it releases air from the stomach)
-Stick to breast milk as much as possible; if you must choose formula milk make sure it is hypoallergenic.
-Use reflux wedge pillows for babies when supine to allow gravity prevent to prevent regurgitation.
