Infant Reflux or Just Spit-up ?
Tips for New Parents

If your baby is hard to burp he probably will tend to spit-up more often than one that is easy to burp.

Sometime a baby who rarely spits-up might go through a period of gastrointestinal upset and spit up more.

A particular formula might make your baby spit-up(i.e. dairy vs.soy based).

• If he's breast fed maybe something you have eaten might cause him to spit-up.
• If your baby spits-up and still seems content with no signs of pain or discomfort and is growing and gaining weight your baby probably is just spitting-up.

Some babies can have projectile vomiting after every feeding but still gain weight.If there are no other medical symptoms doctors will assume they will out grow it.

Infant Reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD)is a medical condition and needs to be diagnosed by your pediatrician and treated. If you are concerned that your baby have this condition make an appoint with your pediatrician.

• Babies who are born premature are more likely to develop gastrointestinal problems like infant reflux.
• Babies who required medical interventions at birth such as surgeries or being put on a vent also have a higher chance of developing this condition.
• If your baby's personality changes after you feed him or he becomes irritated he could have GERD and you should report this to your doctor. This could start while he's eating or up to a few hours after he's done.
• Watch to see if your baby grimaces or has any other expressions of discomfort before or right after he spits up.
• Your baby can still have gastrointestinal problems and not have any spit-up.
• Some babies gag or cough as a sign of GERD.
• You may see your baby arch to the side or backwards in an attempt to relieve the pain.
• Some babies start associating pain with eating and begin to become difficult to feed or even refuse the bottle,
• A baby with respiratory problems like asthma can cause GERD.
• GERD can cause poor weight gain and growth problems. If your baby is slow to grow GERD should be considered.
• If your baby's breathing crackles or sounds wet after eating this could be a sign that his food is coming back up.
• Chronic respiratory infection or worse pneumonia could be a physical sign of reflux.

The fact is that any baby could develop GERD without any predictable factors. Colic is another gastrointestinal problem that could mimic these symptoms. Be sure to team with your pediatrician to correctly diagnose your baby's symptoms.

OTHER SYMPTOMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT

Of course babies get other stomach problems too. The infamous stomach flu and other fun viral stomach bugs will probably come your way. These are not to be taken lightly either. I have known may little ones who have ended up in the hospital on IV fluids during a bad bout with a tummy bug.

Here are the symptoms to watch out for.

• Vomiting that seems to be getting worse over time.
• Persistent vomiting every 30-60 minutes.
• Forceful (projectile) vomiting more than 5 times in a 24 hour time period.
• Stomach cramping during feedings.
• Decreased number of or amount of urine in diapers. This could be a sign of dehydration. Also dark colored urine can be a sign.
• Dry lips or inside of mouth. Watch for cracking/chapped lips.
• Persistent diarrehea.
• Bloody stools.
• Babies tummy is hard or tender when you touch it even when he is relaxed.
• If your baby is running a fever and has any of these symptoms too call your doctor.

NOTE: If your baby runs a fever of 100.5 or higher with or without the above symptoms contact your pediatrician immediately.

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