Table of contents:
- Place the baby in an upright position
- Avoid overfeeding
- Avoid rocking your baby
- Avoid tight clothes
- Burp your baby
Do you often wake up in the middle of the night trying to calm your crying baby? Is your baby not eating well and continues to spit up? This is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), aka acid reflux. GERD occurs when food and milk overflow and return to the esophagus. There is an open muscle in the stomach that normally closes to keep milk and food in the stomach before emptying into the small intestine. When this muscle opens and closes at the wrong time, the acid content of the stomach causes irritation as it flows back up into the esophagus, causing pain.
As a new parent, it must be stressful to see your baby in pain and not knowing how to comfort him. We can help you with a few tips to help your baby comfort.
Place the baby in an upright position
After you feed the baby, you have to make sure the baby is in an upright position for at least 30 minutes. This will help gravity pull food and milk down and prevent GERD. Avoid putting your baby to sleep on his back. Your baby needs time to digest. Laying flat will make it difficult for food or milk to empty from the stomach.
Another suggestion is to change your baby's diaper before breastfeeding. The reason is to avoid your baby lying down like lifting your legs up during a diaper change. This can cause all food and milk to return to the esophagus.
Avoid overfeeding
It can be difficult to know when to stop breastfeeding your baby. If he continues to vomit, stop breastfeeding your baby. This is a sign that there is too much food or milk in the stomach. You have to wait until your next meal. You can try giving your baby your clean finger to create a swallowing act. This can help your baby's stomach to settle down and continue to digest the food in the stomach.
Avoid rocking your baby
It may be fun to rock your baby while playing. Make sure you don't do it after breastfeeding. Remember food or milk is still being digested in the baby's stomach. Food in a baby's stomach can easily be spilled back. This also causes a lot of discomfort to the baby. You should also remind family and friends when they are visiting.
Avoid tight clothes
Tight baby leggings may be cute but you shouldn't wear them on your baby when you want to breastfeed. If your baby is already suffering from GERD, give him loose clothing. Anything that is tight like pants with a tight, elastic waist will restrict the stomach from digesting food and milk.
Burp your baby
You can relieve and prevent GERD in babies if the baby burps a lot. Burp after every 30 ml to 60 ml baby feeding bottles and after finishing breast milk. There are many ways to burp your baby. Here are three general methods that can help:
- Sit up straight and hold the baby facing your chest. The baby's chin rests on your shoulder with one hand holding it. Use your other hand to gently pat your baby's back. Slowly rock your baby back and forth.
- Hold your baby sitting on your lap. Use one hand to support the baby's chest and head with the baby's chin resting on the palm of your hand. Use the other hand to gently pat your baby's back.
- Lay your baby, belly down, on your lap. Hold your baby's head and make sure it is higher than the chest. Then pat your baby on the back gently.
GERD can make your baby cry and uncomfortable. Babies may not speak, but they can show signs and symptoms of GERD. Listen to your baby by watching for these signs. These tips can help prevent your baby from developing GERD.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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