Treatment for an Infant With Acid Reflux and/or Colic

The techniques suggested here are only the opinion of a mother who has had a child with Colic and Acid Reflux. Consult with your doctor before using any of these suggestions.

Colic is a condition that causes excessive crying (in babies) on a daily basis from the pain of gas in the intestines. There are a number of symptoms associated with colic such as: excessive spitting up, excessive painful crying, and hard bowel movements to name a few. I had colic as a baby. Some doctors have suggested that it is the position of the colon, which makes some people more prone to gas (colic) than others. That would also make this condition genetic, or passed from parent to child. We certainly have not had enough research and study on this topic, which is why doctors continue to make educated guesses when treating babies with colic.

Acid reflux is a condition where acid is projected into the esophagus on a regular basis. This also causes damage to the lining of the esophagus. One doctor tried to get me to agree to put a medical instrument called a "scope" in my son's throat to "observe the damage" from the acid. There is no real need to observe the damage in a seven-week-old baby. When I said, "Absolutely not, it's not necessary." The doctor proceeded to deny my son the necessary medication, "Prilosec." This would have been my son's third invasive procedure with this hospital and at only 7-weeks old. Luckily my insurance allowed a "second opinion." I took him to another hospital where they gave him the necessary medication right away. He was four months old before we could get an appointment, but that was the light at the end of the tunnel for me.

He was a year old when symptoms slowed to the point where medication was no longer necessary. During that first year he had painful crying fits. His screams where long, loud and shrill. My neighbors didn't complain about the noise, but they didn't offer to help either. I felt completely helpless every time the acid began to burn his throat. Infant gas drops helped a little, but they cost about ten dollars for only half an ounce of liquid. I think these gas drops should be covered under prescription plans, but so far they're not.

In babies, acid reflux can be life threatening, in that the airway can become blocked with fluid and the infant can suffocate. I used "Infant Back Blows" to clear my son's airway on more than one occasion. I didn't get much sleep, but when I did sleep I had my baby right in bed with me. I used to listen for his breathing just to make sure he wasn't choking. I know having baby in your own bed isn't good due to the possibility of rolling over and hurting him, but I couldn't allow him to choke. I had an instinctual drive to protect him. I laid him on his side facing me; he slept cuddled up to my breast. I wrapped him in a receiving blanket from the waist down. At times I felt a little baby fist punch me in the dark and he made a clicking noise with his mouth. Immediately, instinctively I would wake up and turn him onto his belly and pat his back and listen for breathing. If he was choking I gave "Infant Back Blows." Usually when he woke to acid burning he wouldn't sleep again for several hours. He was terrified by these incidents when acid blocked his airway. I would calm him by placing him on my forearm and gently swaying back and forth, making "swooshing" noises or singing. I didn't get much sleep back then. These were the hardest days of my life, no question about that. That's why I want to share some of the techniques that worked for me.

1. Wrap snugly in a light, receiving blanket. This makes baby feel secure.
2. Position at a 45-degree angle or on his side at all times. If nursing use the "Football Hold," along with a pillow. Doctors recommend putting a blanket under the crib mattress, however my son couldn't sleep comfortably like this. I think it's even safer to put baby on his side when lying down to sleep. I suggest tucking him in snugly on his side.
3. Use a sound machine, or baby mobile, preferably one with relaxing sounds, lullabies and a light show makes it that much better for everyone. I used one by "V-Tech" purchased at Wal-Mart. We used it every day. The lights and sounds distracted him enough to make him stop crying for a little while. He used the toy for his first two years. At twenty bucks, a great investment!
4. Do not give juice (high acidity) or foods that have high acidity. Baby shouldn't have foods until seven months to a year.
5. This is contradictory but you may use applesauce or yogurt or whatever your baby will eat to get them to take the medication. If your situation is like mine, the doctor will tell you to pull apart the pill and put the little white beads onto a spoon with applesauce. I didn't want to use applesauce because of the acid in it. You may use something else. The most important thing is to get the medicine in your baby! It can't work if it doesn't get in the baby.
6. Add rice cereal to formula or breast milk. Some suggest cutting nipples, but instead of that ridiculous mess I discovered I could avoid cutting nipples if I put the cereal (dry) into the blender and made a fine powder that went easily through the hole. My son's reflux case was severe; I used a ratio of 2:4 (two ounces cereal and four ounces formula) but only for a few months.
7. ALWAYS watch a baby with this condition. If you are alone and need to shower take baby in his seat into the bathroom with you. Watch him even when he sleeps. This may sound crazy, but it's only for a few months until the medication starts to work and the reflux episodes become more predictable.
8. Observe when the reflux episodes take place. Make note of how long it's been since he ate. Refluxing occurs after eating and also (about ten minutes) before feedings. If you know when the acid reflux is worst you can prevent choking incidents, by watching him especially at these times.
9. My doctor recommended I stop breast-feeding. I didn't argue because what mom eats can affect baby. I wanted to eliminate my diet as a possible trigger for his symptoms.
10. Give baby 2-4 ounces of water per day to avoid constipation. My son had serious constipation, in fact they tested him for a rare disease but results were negative. A little water is all he needed.
11. During a crying spell you can put baby belly down on your forearm. Gently pat him on the back and sway gently back and forth.
12. Sometimes I would make "swooshing" noises, which distracted him for a little while.
13. Singing is a good way to calm baby.
14. To prevent further damage (from reflux) to baby's mouth, wipe teeth and gums with a wet washcloth each time he spits up.

Hopefully, if you are in this situation, you have help and support. You will need it! But, if your situation is like mine was (you are alone), be sure to find ways to take care of yourself. Talk to your doctor about your feelings. I dealt with post-partum depression, like many women and I got the help I needed from my doctor.
Surviving an experience like this can make a bond between mother and child that much stronger. When you're going through it you think, because of all the screaming and crying that you're not bonding. You may think you will lose your mind! Stay strong! Stay the course. Talk to your doctor every day if need be. Don't lose hope and don't forget, this condition will end.

I get so frustrated with our society. Its as if they mean to say women and children's health are not as important as man's. We don't have enough research in women and children's health and medicine. If doctors are taking educated guesses on how to treat well-known illnesses such as these, it's obvious to me; we need more medical research for women and infants!