![]() ![]() Tongue Tie/High Palate - This in my experience almost always causes either reflux, wind or both. Isn't just handing out mediction without investigation unfair?īecause several things are known to cause reflux - yet instead of looking at possible reasons why a baby is refluxing, the doctor (with little breastfeeding training or experience and likely pushed for time), deals with trying to stop the symptoms via medication. Infants suffering with moderate to severe reflux can be naturally very distressed, there can be risk of aspiration as discussed and it can be a worrying and exhausting time for parents. The vast majority of typical infants will outgrow reflux by around their first birthday - even those who suffer severely when younger.Ī reason that is often given for around 60% of infants suffering from reflux, is that they have a weaker lower oesophageal sphincter (the muscular ring at the lower end of the oesophagus), making them more prone to refluxing stomach contents - but given the number now diagnosed with this condition, why are babies suddenly suffering en-mass from abnormally weak stomachs? I don't doubt there are some with an unusually weak valve, or other physical condition, but I do believe these are the minority. Generally reflux is forceful vomitting, whereas posetting is the effortless mouthful of milk infants can bring up after a feed (which can still look an impressive amount at the time, but isn't comparable to projectile). If the amount of sick isn't sufficient to be termed reflux - it's considered normal "posetting". If he adds "gastrointestinal oesophageal" he is telling you what is refluxing and where, ie contents from the stomach, into the oesophagus. So, when you tell your doctor your baby is frequently being sick (sometimes copious amounts) and he tells you the baby has "reflux" he is simply repeating back to you what you told him, using a more impressive sounding word. On the flip side, infants with moderate to severe reflux (which can cause serious issues from aspiration to oesophageal damage) seem to really struggle to get anyone to take their problem seriously, beyond Gaviscon!Īs those listening at Chemistry class might remember, the term "reflux" (from medieval Latin reflūxus) means "flowing back". Gaviscon prescription please! I would love to know just how much Gaviscon's profits have increased since this new trend. It seems to have replaced "colic" at the doctors surgery - new mother, baby crying a lot, back arching ah that will be reflux. Ask anyone above about forty and they look puzzled when you toss the term about - yet seemingly every other baby at a group now suffers from this rapidly spreading problem. Reflux has to be one of the most over diagnosed and yet least understood conditions of the 21st Century. ![]() So I thought a blog piece might save me repeating myself quite so often. As those who know me will testify, the subject of infant reflux (or gastrointestinal oesophageal reflux GOR) is one that launches me on to my soapbox at a rate Dick Fosbury would have been impressed with.
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