Causes of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Newborns

Gastroesophageal reflux in newborns is a common condition that your little can suffer from. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, "more than half of all babies will develop this condition within the first three months of their lives." By the time a child is two, symptoms from the condition usually resolve. The most notable symptoms of the condition cause spitting up (especially after eating), vomiting (in older infants), coughing and wheezing, irritability (especially at night), not maintaining weight, and blood in stools.

Causes

When you swallow food, your esophagus and lower stomach (esophageal sphincter) relaxes as you take in food. In an infant, this reflex is completely immature. In your infant, the esophagus and esophageal sphincter opens at the wrong time. As a result, contents from your infant's tummy flow back up through the esophagus and out of your infant's mouth. According to the Mayo Clinic, air bubbles can help push food contents up, as well as your infant eating or drinking too quickly.

Burping

Burping your infant regularly during feedings can substantially reduce your infant's chances of spitting up frequently or developing air bubbles. If you breastfeed, burp your infant before switching between breast. If you bottle feed, burp your infant after every two to three ounces. This will help keep air bubbles from building up in your little one's tummy. Also, keep the feedings small, and make them frequent. According to the Mayo Clinic, feed your infant one ounce of formula (if infant is bottle fed), or limit feeding to one breast (if breastfed). If your little one eats too much, or isn't burped, this can lead to symptoms of GER.

Bottle Nipples

Sometimes using the wrong sized bottle nipple when bottle feeding, can contribute to infant GER. If the nipple is too large, excessive amounts of milk can be swallowed in. If the nipple is too small, your infant will just gulp in large amounts of air, which can cause air bubbles to accumulate in their tummy. Too check if a bottle nipple is the right size, hold the bottle upside down. Only a few drops of milk should drop out. If the milk dribbles quickly, the size is too large. If the milk doesn't come out at all, the nipple is too small.

Feed Sitting Up

Try not to feed your baby while in an upright position. After you have fed your little one, be sure to burp. Keep your little one sitting up for at least 15 to 30 minutes while the food begins to settle. According to the Mayo Clinic, don't put your little one in a swing, or play with your infant. If the food isn't allowed to settle, your little one is liable to regurgitate the contents of food.

Warning

Vary rarely can symptoms of GER cause serious complications. However, if you notice that your little one is unable to gain the weight necessary for their age bracket, or they refuse to eat at all, this requires prompt medical attention. Other causes of concern are breathing issues, such as frequent bouts of coughing, wheezing, or gasping. If your baby is constantly irritable, writhes in pain frequently (their back arches, neck stiffens), spits up constantly, or has continued night awakenings (with crying and screaming), take your little one to a pediatrician for care. Continual GER, can cause bleeding and irritation of the esophagus, as well as scarring which can lead to the difficulty in eating.