Signs that Your Baby's Colic Could Be GERD

Previously published in Examiner
Part 2 of the baby colic series

Many Montrealers suffer from GERD, or Gastroesophageal reflux disease. This disease is chronic, meaning people suffer from it for many years. Perhaps you suffer from it yourself of you know a person or two who is drinking pepto bismal like it is soda pop.

Montrealers will go to their family doctors or walk in clinic if they are concerned about GERD. The doctor will then refer them to a gastroenterologist. If you prefer a private clinic you can try: The Montreal Clinic J.S. Benhamron for Gastroenterology, the consultation is covered by medicare. Children will be seen by their pediatricians who may refer them to a specialist after the initial consultation.

Though infant acid reflux is normal and your baby is healthy, there will be times when you will want to have the pediatrician examine your baby. If you notice that your baby:

• Is not gaining weight
• Refuses to eat
• Brings up a lot of stomach content by shooting it out of his or her mouth
• Spits up green or yellow bile or fluid.
• Spits up a substance that looks like coffee grinds
• Spits up blood
• There is blood in the stools
• Begins vomiting at six months old
• Or is ill, has a fever ,or has trouble breathing

This would be the time to take the baby to the doctor. These symptoms could indicate your baby has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gastroesophageal reflux disease, (GERD) is a severe form of acid reflux. GERD inhibits weight gain, triggers vomiting and causes pain.

Your baby may also have another condition known as pyloric stenosis. Pyloric stenosis is a very rare condition where the tube between the small intestine and the stomach is too narrow to allow the stomach content to empty out into the small intestine.

What causes infant acid reflux?

The sphincter between the esophagus and stomach will open only when we swallow, however, with infant acid reflux the mechanism has not fully developed. Since the tube has not completely closed, the stomach content backs up into the esophagus and then exits through the mouth. Sometimes acid reflux happens because your baby has some air bubbles trapped in the esophagus, or has simply eaten or drank too much at one feeding.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant-acid-reflux/DS00787

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant-acid-reflux/DS00787/DSECTION=symptoms

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant-acid-reflux/DS00787/DSECTION=causes