Makes feeding a Nightmare! (My experience of GERD)

Member Name: Belfastgirl

Product:	My experience of GERD
Date:	29/08/01 (2655 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Sleepless nights, Sore, Makes feeding times unpleasant

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux - bit of a tongue twister that one, and if we all are honest, the first time we heard of it we all went, "what?" and at this precise moment, my spell checker doesn't like the word, and is pointing it out to me with an angry squiggly line!

So what is it?

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux, is more commonly known just as "Reflux" and is something that tends to affect many babies. Gastro refers to the stomach, and oesophageal refers to the gullet, or the food pipe, between the mouth and the stomach.

Reflux is caused if the muscle that connects the gullet to the stomach has a weakness in it, and this allows milk to flow back from the stomach into the gullet. This can lead to the baby vomiting following feeds, not just a "mouthful" that all babies do at some stage - or it can lead to the baby being quite cross following feeds. This is due to the milk and acid from their stomach irritating their gullet.

This vomiting or irritability, quite understandably, makes many parents feel very anxious and leads to a hospital admission.

Many parents have told me that it is like a vicious circle, and I have had the experience of this myself when looking after little ones with Reflux. The child is crying because it is hungry, you give it some milk, then they cry because they are sore - or else they vomit, which leaves them crying from hunger again.

It is very important that Reflux is correctly diagnosed and treated.

So how is Reflux diagnosed?

From what you tell the doctor, it is likely that they will be able to initially suspect that your child has reflux, but usually they will try to confirm this using other tests.

pH monitoring is one such test that may be carried out. For this test a small tube will need to be passed down the baby’s nose, down the gullet, to the entrance of the stomach. This tube has a probe on it that tests how much stom
ach acid is being refluxed. The tube will be secured in place using sticky tape and an electric box will be attached to the end of the tube. This box will record how acidic any reflux is over a period of 24 hours. Most hospitals will send your child for an x-ray just to be sure that the tube is in the correct position to monitor the acidity. If it's in the wrong place then wrong readings may be given.

Having the small tube passed should not hurt the baby - it may annoy them initially, but most babies that I have seen are contented with a dummy/pacifier (whatever you want to call them!). After 24 hours the readings will be analysed and you will be spoken to by a doctor.

Another test that may be carried out to diagnose Reflux is a barium swallow.

For about 4 hours before this procedure, the baby will not be allowed to eat anything. The procedure is carried out in the x-ray department and most hospitals will allow parents to come along with their child. The child will be required to drink a small amount of Barium and through imaging techniques, the radiographer will be able to see the Barium passing down the gullet into the stomach. If the child does have reflux then the barium will be seen passing up the gullet again.

So how is Gastro-oesophageal Reflux diagnosed?

The main form of treatment in babies if to add a powder to the feed called CAROBEL. The main aim of adding this powder is to thicken the baby's feed, so meaning that it does not pass back up the gullet as easily.

Carobel will be prescribed by the doctor and it is important that this is added to any liquids that the baby is having.

The instructions for using Carobel are on the side of the box, but the recommendations are that 1 scoop of Carobel (using the scoop provided not the baby milk one!) should be added to every 30 mls (1 fl oz) of liquid.

Add too much and you will end up with a gloopy gungy mess (yes, said from ex
perience!) add too little and the feed will not be thick enough and may cause reflux.

Because the milk is being thickened, this will make it difficult for the baby to suck the milk unless the hole in the teat is made bigger. In hospital we use sterile scissors to make the teats wider, but a hot needle can be used or faster flow teats from the chemist can also be used.

What about those who are breastfed?

It is possible to give a small amount of carobel made up with cooled boiled water before and after breastfeeding.

Other helpful Ideas to help minimise Reflux.

Sitting the baby up following a feed helps prevent reflux, for example in a baby chair or in a cot with the mattress slightly raised (remember to raise the mattress using a towel UNDER the mattress, NEVER use a pillow under the baby’s head).

If you are breastfeeding try raising the child up a little more than usual while feeding.

It also helps if the baby is moved as little as possible following feeds.

At anytime, if your child has reflux, that you are concerned about them, you should speak to your GP or Health Visitor or if your local hospital has a children's information hot line, do not be afraid to contact them.

Thankfully, for most children, reflux is something that will only affect them as baby's. As they get older, most tend to grow out of it - A little light at the end of the tunnel, and less of those sleepless nights.

Summary: