Infant reflux GER or GERD

Benefits of breastfeeding for infants with GERD

GER ((Gastro Esophageal Reflux) is a common, normal condition that happens to everyone, of all ages, particulary after meals.
  It usually involves regurgitation. Almost all babies, even they are breast or bottle-fed, will regurgitate after some feedings. Babies with GER regurgitate without secondary signs or symptoms of inadequate weight gain, esophagitis, or respiratory disease.

In contrast, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is a more serious pathologic process that usually needs medical management, especially on babies. Symptoms of GERD are more common in children with neurological impairments. Little patients with GERD may manifest regurgitation with typical complications as inadequate growth, failure to thrive, feeding and oral aversions, esophagitis,etcor atypical complications such as wheezing, pneumonia, chronic sinusitis.
Breastfeeding has a lot of advantages in prevent GERD on babies. Human milk is more easily digested and emptied from the stomach. If milk spends less of time in stomach, they are a fewer chances for it to back up into the esophagus. Human milk has also the quality of being less iritating for esophagus than artificial formula.
    The closeness between mother and baby is another benefit of breastfeeding. The hormons produced when you breastfeed help promote relaxation to any stressed baby.
So, your baby must be encouraged to nurse. Here are some tips:
- Nurse in a quiet, dark room and listen to relaxed music.
- Try nursing when baby is sleepy.Babies with reflux are wakening more often, so you must take advantage of this opportunity for extra feed them. The baby must be kept close to you during the night.
- If you have a large supply of breast milk and your baby spits up afterward offer him only one breast per feed.
- Skin to skin contact is very important for a relaxed baby, so try to breastfeed him in a warm bath.
- Try nursing while standing and walking around.A baby sling will be for more help, it will keep the baby upright while your hands are free.
If your baby is growing normally, without other symptoms, any reflux will be GER, not GERD. In this case, spitting up can be minimized by some tips:
- Nurse frequently. Smaller, more frequent feedings are easier to digest.
- Avoid foods in the mother or baby's diet that might be causing reflux. Dairy, for example,is passed on to baby through breastfeeding and can cause allergies or sensitivities.Avoid on your individual diet foods as tomatoes, citrus, high fat foods or carbonated beverages.

   Spitting up and GER occurs in healthy babies so keep a positive attitude if your baby has reflux. Keep in mind the tips above and use them for having a less stressed and healthy baby.