Are you noticing your baby spitting up with feeds? Odds are you are not alone. Reflux is very common in babies and can leave parents feeling unsettled with feeds. For simple reflux, small changes to feeds can make a world of difference. With some babies it can be beyond simple reflux and it would be beneficial to speak to your baby’s provider. Read on to find out how to tell the difference between the two.
What is Reflux?
Reflux is when stomach content (such as food or stomach acid) goes back up to the esophagus and can cause spit-up. This is very common in infants (almost 50% of infants experience reflux at some point). It happens in infants more often because the ring of muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter, is still immature and not able to close tightly or opens at the wrong time. This is also why reflux occurs often in premature babies.
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) versus Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Typical reflux, gastroesophageal reflux or GER, typically has no symptoms except for the spit-up. Often times babies with it are described as “happy spitters”. They are gaining appropriate weight and are not irritable during/after feeding. For most of these babies, symptoms go away around 12 – 18 months of age.
On the other hand, with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), there can be symptoms such as vomiting, poor weight gain or irritability during/after feeding with arching of baby’s back.
When to Speak to Your Provider
You should speak to your provider if you are noticing the following:
- Difficulty gaining weight
- Difficulty during feeds (arching back and screaming, gagging, choking or coughing during feeds)
- Forceful or even projectile vomiting
- Vomiting that is green or contains blood
How to Prevent GER
- Burping your baby frequently during feeds helps prevent spit-up. For example, you can try burping with each ounce of formula, or after a few minutes of having baby on your breast, before continuing a feeding
- Keeping your baby upright during feeds helps physically keep contents in stomach from going back up. This can be done by holding them up at 45 degree angle in your arms while either breastfeeding or formula feeding
- Keeping your baby upright after feeds by holding them up for at least 10 minutes and ideally 15-20 minutes after feed can prevent spit-up. Babies commonly get reflux to usually being in a flat position compared to children and adults
- You should speak to your provider if you are considering thickening milk/formula to see if this is a good option for you and your baby
Happy feeding!
