Gastroesophageal reflux--also known as gastro reflux, or reflux--is a very common condition among babies under one year. Severe cases, which involve more dangerous symptoms than simply spitting up, are rare. When an infant experiences the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, his pediatrician may recommend a treatment that involves some dietary changes.
Gastroesophageal Reflux
There is a ring of muscle at the top of the stomach that keeps the food in, and lets gas through to return up the esophagus and out the mouth as a belch. When this ring of muscle isn't working correctly, your baby's food, which is milk or formula, escapes as well, resulting in spit-up, or gastroesophageal reflux.
Symptoms
In addition to spitting up, reflux can also result in more severe symptoms, such as vomiting or blood in your baby's stool. Your baby may also have a cough, and blood loss, due to the stomach acid that flows up the esophagus. He may eat poorly, or even refuse to eat, and have a loss of growth. Each of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions as well, so it's important that you have your baby seen by his pediatrician if he is experiencing any of them.
Treatment
For the majority of healthy babies, who are not experiencing complications associated with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, the symptoms of reflux can be treated with a minor change to the diet. Adding a small amount of rice cereal to your baby's bottle can thicken the milk or formula enough that he will not reflux as easily. In addition, burping him frequently, and holding him in an upright position after meals, can help to make sure he has the chance to digest his food, instead of losing it to reflux. Feeding him small amounts, more frequently, will also help his reflux symptoms.
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