Reflux Zone

Acid Reflux

My first child kept on crying for weeks together, he would eat and constantly spit up. Finally the child was diagnosed with acid reflux. Since it was my first baby, initially I got alarmed with the news. I did not want him to be in any pain or diagnosed with any sort of medical complication. But our pediatrician assured us that acid reflux food to avoid is quite a common condition and after some treatment the baby would be okay. The doctor also informed us the treatment was safe and there would not be any side effects either. Acid reflux is caused when the contents of the stomach, including both acid and food, work back up into the esophagus sometimes causing pain and discomfort. Some of the other symptoms of acid reflux could be vomiting or a burp that contains some of the acid and/or food. Amongst babies, it is quite common to spit up; hence it is difficult to tell what exactly is happening.

If your child spits up or vomits often, and it is accompanied by crying, arching of the back or poor sleeping habits then the child most often is diagnosed with acid reflux. As I later realized acid reflux is common in babies, as their muscle closing off the stomach from the esophagus is often not completely formed yet.

With proper medication acid reflux food to avoid can be easily treated. Some over the counter medication, such as Mylanta is often recommended for child suffering from acid reflux. The dose has to be very small depending upon the size of the child and it should be given with a dropper. This small dose is good enough for lessening the discomfort. However, if this does not seem to be enough to calm the acid reflux symptoms the doctor may recommend taking a prescription medication such a Prevacid or Zantac. Actually these medications prevent the production of acid in the stomach and hence lesser acid is passed on to the esophagus.

A year later my first son had outgrown his acid reflux and was doing quite well. When our second son was born I knew what symptoms to look for. Again I consulted our pediatrician with the same concerns and he, too, was diagnosed with acid reflux. But this time I was not disturbed as I had been earlier. Both of my sons were treated with a combination of Mylanta and Prevacid, none of them faced any trouble or complication while being treated. Slowly, with time, their sleep patterns regulated, they spit up much less, and their overall appearance has been pleasant to watch. Both of them conquered the acid reflux and are now perfectly fit with no side effects at all.