Acid Reflux in Newborns

By Annemarie Thursday, April 24, 2008

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My son was only 5 days old when he turned grey and went limp in my arms while at his first doctors check-up. I just finished nursing him and his doctor walked in the room. He stopped breathing, turned completely grey, and was limp. I was in shock, his doctor quickly put him on oxygen and rececitated him. He was rushed to the hospital and after 5 days of testing was diagnosed with Reflux and he had an apnea episode that almost left him dead. His esophogus was not closing all of the way, which is common in many newborns. It was determined that he choked while in my arms since I just finished feeding him. He was sent home with medicine for reflux problems and with an apnea monitor. After about 3 or 4 months he was doing fine and outgrew it.

I want to make mothers more aware of this very common problem because it can lead to SIDS! If I put my child in his bed and walked away he would not be alive today. He is now 2 years old and healthy as can be. The simple things they had me do could save other newborns too. I had to hold him upright for much longer than normal after each feeding and keep his crib elavated. The apnea monitor was a huge help at night too. He had choked that day and it was silent. I could not hear anything and he never showed signs of reflux at 5 days old either.

THANK YOU! Annemarie Strait

Comments (3) | Add comment

Jan Gambino

4/24/08 6:03am

AnneMarie,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so glad your little guy has weathered the storm and is doing fine!

Jan

LYDIA HUNTER

9/24/09 2:40pm

MS. ANNMAIE

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PUBLISHING THIS INFORMATION. MY GRANDSON JACOB PASSED AWAY OF WHAT THEY CALLED "SIDS"..I PROVIDE CHILDCARE IN MY HOME AND I ALSO HAD HIM IN MY CARE WHEN HE PASSED. TAKING ALL THE NECESSARY CLASSES....I THOUGHT I WOULD BE PREPARED TO USE MY CPR EXPERIECE ANY TIME NEEDED......I TRULY THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING WRONG PERFOMING IT FOR MY FIRST TIME.......BUT A REFRESHER COURSE REASSURED ME I HADN'T . I WENT TO GET MY GRANDSON FROM HIS NAP AND WHILE CHANGING HIM. THINKING HE WAS SO TIRED FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE, BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER SAID HE WAS UP ALL NIGHT WANTING TO PLAY.......HE WAS STILL SLEEPING NOT EVEN A TWO HR. NAP. WHILE I WAS GETTING HIM READY FOR HIS DAD TO PICK HIM UP. I NOTICED NEAR HIS LIP , IT WAS BLUE, I CHECKED HIM AND HE WASNT ALERT. HE PASSED AWAY, IM SURE EVEN BEFORE HE MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL. OUR OTHER GRANDSON ELIJAH JEFFREY RIVERA BORN JULY 6,2009 5 WKS EARLY, BORN WITH ACID REFLUX, SLEEP APNEA. OUR OLDERST GRANDSON NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, MAYBE BECAUSE FROM A DIFFERENT FATHER, BUT THE OTHER 4 GRANDCHILDREN, 2 GIRLS 2 BOYS, ONLY THE BOYS HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME SYMPTOM. BUT IN JACOB. NOBODY EVER WARNED US.....AND IF IT WERENT FOR ELIJAH, HAVING THE PROBLEMS THE SECOND HE WAS BORN, THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SENT HIM HOME, WITH A FULL CLEAR BILL OF HEALTH......THIS HAS GIVEN ME SOME RELIEF, A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE CHILDREN JUST DON'T PASS IN THEIR SLEEP, I TRULY DON'T BELIEVE THAT.......BUT THANKS TO YOU.......THINGS SEEM ALOT CLEARER.....I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY......BUT THEY DO. MY GRANDSON ELIJAH IS ON MED FOR HIS APNEA AND REFLUX AND IS ON A MONITOR UNTIL HE IS 4MTHS OLD......WHAT A RELIEF....AGAIN, THANKS ANNMARIE FOR YOUR INPUT........LOVE THE HUNTER FAMILY/LAKEWOOD CALIF

Annemarie

12/25/09 5:45pm

Dear Hunter Family,

I just received your response to the e-mail I put out over a year ago. My heart goes out to your family for your terrible loss, but I am thankful that my posting was able to help you in some way. I was also unaware of this problem. I believe that if more parent's were aware of that this could happen that more babies would be saved. My doctor told me that they don't talk about reflux and irregular breathing to parent's because they have enough to worry about. But in our cases, it sure would have helped! And in many more families who have suffered terrible losses that could have been prevented. Thank God that the problem was diagnosed so early in Elijah! How is he doing now? I assume that the 4 months have passed by and he is off the apnea monitor. My son, Ian, is almost 4 yrs old and doing really well. We thank the Lord everyday that it happened right in front of his doctor for the first time and not while in his bed when he was only 5 days old.
I also beleive that babies do not die in cribs for no reason. I feel that for many that pass away from SIDS, it has alot to do with apnea and reflux problems that the doctors and parent's are unaware that they have. In fact, I know another case that a 3 month yr old passed away after being breast-fed and being put down for a nap. The autopsy preformed show the same problems that my son had. Fortunatly for us, Ian was revived and we were able to take the precautions neccessary to see that he does not slip away from us again.
I pray that Elijah continue to grow and to stay healthy. We did not have anymore problems after those first 4 months of our son's life. Of course, I still respond quicker than normal when Ian get's hurt due to what happend almost 4 years ago. I know that your story will also help so many other parent's who may have gone through this or may be going through.
Thank you and God Bless,
Annemarie (McAllen Texas)

Acid Reflux in Newborns

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