Most babies spit up after eating, but a baby should not spit up everything he or she eats. When a baby does this, it can mean that he or she has acid reflux. If you are concerned with the way your baby is spitting up, you should schedule an appointment with a pediatrician. The pediatrician can help you determine what is causing this and how to treat it.
Signs of acid reflux
Because most babies spit up daily, your doctor will look for signs of problems before determining if this is a problem. A common sign doctors look for is lack of weight gain. Babies should gradually gain weight at a steady pace. If your baby is not gaining weight or is not gaining enough weight, this can be a sign of acid reflux, or some other type of digestive issue.
The other common sign doctors look for involves respiratory issues. When a baby has acid reflux, he or she is likely to experience respiratory issues, such as wheezing. If your baby often has respiratory problems, spits up a lot, and is not gaining weight, it is very likely the baby has acid reflux.
If the doctor is not sure what is going on with your baby, he or she may recommend tests. There are a variety of different tests that can be used to find the problem the baby has, including x-rays and blood tests.
How acid reflux is treated
When a pediatrician believes a baby has acid reflux, he or she will determine a treatment plan for the baby. This will often include switching to a different type of formula to feed the baby. If you are breastfeeding, you may need to change your diet before you can continue feeding your baby.
Treating this condition may also include holding the baby up for 30 minutes after each feeding. This is designed to help the food enter the baby's stomach so it can be digested. There are also times when doctors will recommend medication, but many doctors will first suggest trying other options first.
In most cases, babies will grow out of this problem by the time they are 18 months old. If the problems continue, your pediatrician will continue treating them.
Finding a good pediatrician that you trust is important if you have a baby. If you have any health concerns with your baby, make sure you call and schedule an appointment today with a pediatrics office, such as Ada Pediatrics PA.