Four Remedies For Colic And Baby Reflux
Baby reflux. Colic. Eczema. A bowel movement every few days. My naturally-birthed, breast milk-fed baby had it all going on. If youre unfamiliar with reflux in babies, imagine that your baby has just fallen asleep. Then minutes later, he wakes up while swallowing acidic, partially digested milk. Or, theres projectile spit up.
While spit up is very common in healthy babies, with baby reflux you might also see:
- Coughing
- Back arching
- Excessive crying
Colic is usually described as a newborn who cries and cries especially at night arching his back in frustration as two bewildered and sleepy parents shush, jiggle, and bounce the baby.
Below are some colic and baby reflux remedies.
What Can I Give My Baby For Reflux
What feeding changes can help treat my infants reflux or GERD?
- Add rice cereal to your babys bottle of formula or breastmilk.
- Burp your baby after every 1 to 2 ounces of formula.
- Avoid overfeeding give your baby the amount of formula or breast milk recommended.
- Hold your baby upright for 30 minutes after feedings.
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I’m So Glad I Found This
My baby was a c-section baby. Ever since he was born he had bad gas and was extremely colic-y. He would cry so much that it was interfering with his sleep. He would never sleep long and wake up to 15 times a night. It was so bad I thought he had reflux and started him on medication…
— Holly M, California
I’m so glad I found this
– Holly M., California
I’m so glad I found this
– Holly M., California
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But How Do I Get My Fussy Refluxy Crying Baby To Sleep You Say
We know that left side positioning of babies decreases spilling and vomiting episodes, so if you are holding your baby getting ready for a sleep, try either left lying across your front cradle hold or upright over your shoulder. Always have baby sleep on their back, but left positioning is great for settling in your arms or in their cot as you pat or rub their back to settle . Roll them once theyve settled, and always supervise any left laying time.
Try to keep any top up feeds away from naps, give your baby the 20-40 minutes for gastric emptying before trying to settle to sleep for a nap.
Dummies/pacifiers work wonders in newborns with and without reflux! If you have a spilly baby offering a pacifier will not only ease any discomfort without over feeding, but it will also help trigger babys calming reflex and make sleep come easily. Even if your baby doesnt sleep with a dummy, offering one to a reflux baby in their wind down time can aid in calming and wind for a reflux baby.
Swaddling your fussy new-born will also likely help with any reflux symptoms but watch how tight your wrap/swaddle is over their tummy. Too tight and youll make things worse, consider something with a bit of give like an ergo pouch zip up swaddle, or a love to dream.
Emma Purdue
What Are The Options Or Alternatives
Currently the guidelines for babies showing symptoms of reflux or GERD are in this order.
But how many times are the first- and second-line treatments skipped or not even suggested? Im not anti PPIs or pro alternative treatments, but I am pro all options being explored and best practice being followed for all babies.
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How To Treat A Uti During Menopause
While UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, they can also be suppressed with probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help to keep the gut and urinary tract healthy.
They work by restoring balance in the microbiome, which can help to prevent infection-causing bacteria from taking hold.
Probiotics are available in supplement form or in fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. Incorporating probiotics into your diet may help to reduce the frequency of UTIs during menopause.
Research shows that during and after menopause, women are more likely to experience urinary tract infections . This is due to a number of factors, including changes in hormone levels, a decrease in pelvic floor muscle tone, and a weakened immune system.
Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of UTIs. For example, taking probiotics or eating yogurt with live cultures can help to promote healthy gut flora, which in turn can help to fight off infection.
Additionally, staying well-hydrated and urinating frequently can also help to flush out bacteria and prevent UTIs. By taking these simple measures, women can help to reduce their risk of developing a UTI during menopause.
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Limit Dairy Soy Citrus Caffeine Etc
After doing some research online and talking with some mom friends, the first change I made was to cut dairy from my diet, as I was exclusively breastfeeding. If you formula feeding your baby, there is dairy in regular formula as well, so try switching to a hypoallergenic formula like Nutramigen or Alimentum. After cutting dairy, Quincy was happier more often than not.
In addition, I limited soy, citrus, caffeine, chocolate, and eggs. Here are a few of my favorite non-dairy substitutes or dairy-free things are :
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Evivo Baby Probiotic Starter Kit With Live B Infantis
Why its great: This probiotic kit comes with a 30 day supply, as well as a mixing bowl and syringe. Its the perfect choice for your baby as it doesnt contain any additives or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Its also gluten-free. This probiotic is the only probiotic for babies on the market that contains the B. infantis EVC001 strain. This strain is stored and processed in such a way that it can consume the bacteria from breast milk better than any other strain. On top of that, its clinically proven to remove 80% of bad bacteria, while still increasing the good bacteria by 79%. This probiotic helps to reduce colic, diaper rash, and allergies.
Keep in mind: This one does need to be stored in the freezer or you can have it in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Good for: Parents that want the most effective probiotic thats been clinically proven to work.
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When Can You Start Giving Probiotics To Your Baby
Current research on infants and probiotics is limited. Yet, the research that is available agrees that they are generally safe to use in healthy infants. Probiotics should not be given to premature infants, children with cancer, heart defects, or a compromised immune system, unless under strict supervision by the pediatrician.
Since infants require unique care, always work with your primary care provider before adding a supplement to your babys daily routine. Discuss the need for it and which probiotic youd like to use. Its also important to review the manufacturers instructions to ensure it is safe for infants. If you can, start giving your baby a probiotic supplement right after birth and through 36 months of age. This is how long it takes for their gut microbiome and immune system to develop.
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Do Probiotics Have Side Effects In Babies
Probiotics are considered safe for infants and are unlikely to have any dangerous side effects . There is little research on the potential side effects of long-term consumption of probiotics. However, probiotics are known to trigger a mild allergy with the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Mild stomach ache
Side effects of probiotics are mostly seen with higher than recommended doses, yet are mild and do not impact the babys health. Also, the symptoms mostly appear the first few times a baby has probiotics and disappear after a few days, with regular probiotic consumption.
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Biogaia Protectis Probiotic Drops
BioGaia is a probiotic that includes one stain, Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis. This is the same strain found in breastmilk, which may encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in a babys digestive system.
The manufacturers website notes that these probiotics have been clinically evaluated and proven to reduce crying time in colicky babies, ease regurgitation, constipation, diarrhea, decrease spit-up frequency, and promote a healthy digestive system. Yet, they do not include details regarding the clinical studies on their probiotic drops.
BioGaia Probiotic Drops also include vitamin D3. Some studies in adults have shown that taking probiotics with vitamin D can improve their effectiveness.
- Type: Drops
- Dietary Considerations: Does not highlight but based on the ingredients list, it is dairy-free, soy-free
- Clinical studies using the final formulation:Yes
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Smaller More Frequent Feedings
Feeding a baby with reflux can be challenging. Breastfed babies who have reflux may try to soothe the pain by nursing, which can exacerbate the issue.
Formula-fed infants can go longer stretches between feedings, however, this is also not ideal for babies with reflux.
Aim to feed your baby every two to three hours while awake. This may mean reducing the number of ounces your baby gets at each feeding. Overfeeding can increase abdominal pressure, which worsens reflux symptoms.
You may also find nipples with smaller holes to be helpful for your baby. Look for bottles that are designed to reduce the amount of air your baby takes in during feedings.
Do Babies Need Probiotics
Amniotic fluid is not sterileits your babys first introduction to bacteria. And the kind of bacteria in the amniotic fluid is influenced by moms gut and oral flora.
In a perfect world, moms would have great flora to pass onto their babies. But over the last century, we have been subjected to antibiotics, GMOs, sugary/starchy diets, and lots of processed foodsall of which can degrade the gut flora passed onto our babies.
Baby probiotics are a babys first line of defense, since they help to improve the balance of good bacteria in their body.
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Breastfeeding Crying And Colic
Dr. Claudia Frye, a pediatrician at UnityPoint Health in Bettendorf, Iowa said babies with colic tend to cry for prolonged periods, often at the same time of day every day. The fact that the study was dependent on parental reporting further calls into question the severity of the crying fits.
Some parents can have the fussiest baby in the world but tolerate it very well, she said. Others can get to wits end with their baby.
Frye said that the study has merit, but she cautioned that if an infant has asthma, eczema, or an autoimmune disorder, a probiotic should not be used.
The natural process of establishing the right balance of lactobacillus and other micro-organisms naturally in the intestine helps your body do what it is supposed to do with what you eat, she said. We need to understand how this works in the body.
Interfering with that processby not breast-feeding, giving an infant antibiotics, or keeping a baby in an overly sterile environmentmay lead to colic. Colic also can be caused by factors not related to stomach problems, such as an under-developed nervous system.
Although some have speculated that lactobacillus reuteri is present in breast milk, Greer and Frye dont believe it. Frye said the bacteria can colonize a mothers skin, so breast-fed babies might get it that way.
As a grandfather of five grandchildren below the age of six, all exclusively breast-fed, they all had fussy times of days, Greer said.
How To Treat Acid Reflux In Babies Without Drugs
In conventional medicine, they start with the symptoms. So for example, if a baby has acid reflux, they prescribe a drug that just suppresses that symptom, without doing any investigation into why the reflux is occurring in the first place. There are so many problems with that approach. One of the main ones is that drugs dont just have intended effects, they also have unintended effects. If a drug suppresses acid production, what else is it doing that may not be beneficial? What are the effects of acid that are beneficial?
Note: The Prescript-Assist supplements discussed in this article are no longer available. Please to learn more about a substitute, the Daily Synbiotic from Seed.
In this episode, we cover:
9:43 The causes of reflux13:17 Four risk factors for reflux in infants19:16 Why acid-suppressing drugs may not be the best treatment29:06 How to prevent reflux and GERD in babies32:24 How to address acid reflux and GERD
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How To Pick The Best Probiotics For Babies With Colic And Reflux
When you are feeling tired and overwhelmed it can be difficult to make informed health decisions. Any parent looking to find a natural solution to their babys discomfort wants to know that its safe for their baby and based on sound clinical research.
When choosing a supplement for your baby’s colic, I suggest following these two simple steps:
The best probiotic will be one that has robust research for supporting infant health. I like world-renowned B.breve M-16V® strain because it has positive and extensive research for supporting the baby microbiome11 . It can be found in the award-winning high-quality friendly bacteria liquid drop supplement Optibac Probiotics Baby Drops.
B.breve
When you pick the right strain, not only can it help to relieve digestive symptoms associated with colic and reflux, but it also sets the foundation for a strong, happy, and healthy baby.
If you would like to find out ways to support your child’s health, you can learn more in the following articles:
Scientific Research On This Condition
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, yet many parents find themselves supplementing with formula due to breastfeeding challenges.
Formula-feeding has been linked to an increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease in babies and research suggests that probiotics may offer a solution.
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Talk To Your Pediatrician About Medication
I would have preferred not to medicate a baby so young, but I also prefer for my baby to not suffer unnecessarily or have permanent esophageal damage from untreated acid reflux. After seeing how much pain Quincy was in and talking to his doctor, I decided that medication was right for us to try.
We started on Zantac and noticed an immediate improvement. But, after a couple of weeks, that went away, which is normal. So, after a month on Zantac, we decided to switch to Prevacid . PPIs can take at least two weeks to start working, so we continued with our Zantac in addition to the PPI until it ran out. I noticed more improvement with Prevacid.
However, Quincy was rapidly gaining weight, so about every two weeks when we would need a new dose, he would start to regress a bitwe realized that he had gained weight and needed a higher dose. Finally, when he was around four months old, we reached a good dose that worked for us for a couple of months.
If youve tried the medications only to have them work and then stop working, or youve maxed out on the dose your doctor prescribed and arent finding any more help from your pediatrician, this has a lot of helpful information for babies with severe cases of reflux.
Could Probiotics Help Relieve Babys Colic And Gas
Probiotics seem to be the new hot item on the market, but could they really help your baby?
If your baby suffers from gas or colic there are studies suggesting that regular probiotic use can be beneficial.
What are Probiotics and What Do They Do?
Probiotics are tiny living microorganisms like bacteria or yeast that help the digestive system. You can think of probiotics as the helpful bacteria that renew the good bacteria in your gut to help you digest food and fight off infections.
There are three groups of main probiotics, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii.
Lactobacillus is the most common probiotic often found in fermented food or yogurt. This strain of probiotic is particularly useful for helping digest lactose. Bifidobacterium is found in most dairy products and helps the gut absorb nutrients while keeping the food moving. Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic found in yeast that helps with digestive issues.
When probiotics enter your system, they remain in the digestive tract to restore the balance of good bacteria. They help boost the immune system and protect against infections by preventing the harmful bacteria from growing in your gut.
Why Babies Get Colic
Colic is very common in babies, affecting nearly 20% of them. They will be fussy and irritable for hours at a time, and it will be tough to soothe them. You can tell your baby has colic if he has been crying for three hours at least three days a week for three weeks at a time.
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