My daughter was diagnosed with Acid reflux at a 2 weeks old. Everytime she would take a bottle she would spit up almost the entire thing. My first pedatrician for four months kept telling me she would grow out of it so for 4 months she cried for hours and hours, she constantly spit up/threw up her bottle, stopped gaining weight so I switch doctors and she was put on Zantac. The Zantac has helped but I am concerned because her food is still coming up her throat but she is swallowing it back down. This happens when she is moving around and playing. She still spits up a little (about four times a day) but she doesn't cry like she used to. Should I bring her to a specialist b/c her doctor just keeps increasing her Zantac and I am not seeing much difference. Will she grow out of this and is this damaging her throat/esophogas?
Hello!
Welcome to our on line community! There is much information and support here.
You and your daughter have had a long journey during the past 9 months. I am glad she is feeling better.
Don't you wish the reflux treatment cured the reflux? Unfortunately, it does not cure reflux but controls the symptoms. It sounds like the Zantac has decreased the acid to the point where it does not hurt anymore. Sometimes decreasing the acid also decreases the vomiting. As you know, it is still possible for the food and stomach contents to move up and down the food pipe. When it does not get expelled as vomit, some doctors and parents call it regurgitation or silent reflux. As long as the medication is controlling the acid so the food pipe is protected from irritation and your daughter is growing and eating, her reflux is considered to be "controlled". You and the doctor still need to be watchful for signs of trouble: weight loss or slow weight gain, respiratory problems, picky eating or pain/discomfort with eating. Hopefully she will join the 80-90% of babies who outgrow reflux in the first year or two.
Let me know if you need more information.
Jan Gambino
The Reflux Mom
Thank you so much for your response. I had one more question. My doctor told me to feed my daughter solid food first and then only give her 1 or 2 ounces of formula. I feel that she should be drinking more fluids. Right now I feed her solid food first and wait 30 minutes and give her 4 ounces.
Hello!
Giving solids before liquids is worth a try. There is a bit of trial and error with reflux treatment and this is a common recommendation.
It seems that the liquid diet can backwash into the food pipe more easily than solid foods. By feeding the solids first, it helps to keep the liquid down. Some doctors recommend adding rice cereal or thickener to the liquid in the bottle. Others suggest offering solids on a spoon before a bottle.
Jan Gambino
The Reflux Mom