Acid reflux and colic
Many babies with colic have been previously diagnosed with Acid Reflux. The medical field has no pharmaceutical treatment for colic, however, doctors are able to treat Acid Reflux symptoms with antacid medication. Pediatricians often diagnose infants with Acid Reflux rather than Colic because they are able to address the problem with medication.
In my 40+ years of treating babies, I’ve found that when babies thought to have reflux receive colic treatment, their spitting up often decreases or stops completely. This shows that fussiness and frequent spit-up are often signs of colic rather than reflux.
In my 40+ years of treating babies, I’ve found that when babies thought to have reflux receive colic treatment, their spitting up often decreases or stops completely. This shows that fussiness and frequent spit-up are often signs of colic rather than reflux.
Does Frequent Spitting Up Mean my Baby has Acid Reflux?
Frequent Spitting up is a common colic symptom, and does not necessarily mean that your baby is suffering from Acid Reflux. Colic causes excessive gas to build up in the abdomen and causes pressure to the stomach and diaphragm, resulting in spitting up. This is often accompanied by overfeeding of the baby due to excessive crying, which also results in spitting up. Generally, the milk that colicky babies frequently spit up is not acidic, and does not cause acid reflux.
baby acid reflux
Acid Reflux is a Symptom, not a Diagnosis, and therefore it is CAUSED by something else. Acid Reflux is CAUSED when stomach acid comes up into the esophagus and throat. It can feel like a burning sensation in the chest, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of food or sour liquid, or a sensation of a lump in the throat. Occasionally babies do actually have Acid Reflux Symptoms. These are usually caused by Colic, or an Esophageal Hiatal Hernia. An Esophageal Hiatal Hernia is a type of hernia in which abdominal organs (typically the stomach) slip through the diaphragm into the esophagus. This often results in Acid Reflux symptoms. It is important to distinguish espophegeal hiatial hernia from colic.
Quick Tips for Easing Colic & Reflux in Your Baby
While spitting up is common in infants, excessive spit-up combined with colic symptoms can be a sign that your baby’s digestive system is struggling. Babies suffering from colic often want to feed more frequently, as sucking helps soothe their tummies. However, gas and bloating—combined with overfeeding—can lead to increased spitting up. Here are some simple, effective tips to help reduce spitting up in your journey to helping your colicky baby:
1. Keep Baby Upright:
Hold your baby upright during and after feedings to reduce pressure on the stomach and diaphragm.
2. Watch Sleeping Positions:
Avoid laying your baby flat on the back or stomach if their belly is bloated. Upright carrying can be more comfortable.
3. Loose Clothing:
Avoid tight clothes around the tummy to reduce pressure.
4. Mind Your Diet:
If breastfeeding, limit foods that cause gas: beef, pork, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, spicy foods, some fruits, carbonated drinks, coffee, and tea.
5. Control Food Volume:
Overfeeding can increase stomach bloating and pressure. Feed your baby when they show the body language of hunger.
6. Burp Your Baby:
Helps release air from the stomach and relieve pressure.
7. Use a Pacifier:
Sucking can help move gas and reduce abdominal pressure.
8. Understand the Root Cause
These tips can ease symptoms, but underlying issues like colic may be the cause of your baby's excessive spit up. Understanding what’s really behind your baby’s discomfort is the first step toward finding relief.
1. Keep Baby Upright:
Hold your baby upright during and after feedings to reduce pressure on the stomach and diaphragm.
2. Watch Sleeping Positions:
Avoid laying your baby flat on the back or stomach if their belly is bloated. Upright carrying can be more comfortable.
3. Loose Clothing:
Avoid tight clothes around the tummy to reduce pressure.
4. Mind Your Diet:
If breastfeeding, limit foods that cause gas: beef, pork, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, spicy foods, some fruits, carbonated drinks, coffee, and tea.
5. Control Food Volume:
Overfeeding can increase stomach bloating and pressure. Feed your baby when they show the body language of hunger.
6. Burp Your Baby:
Helps release air from the stomach and relieve pressure.
7. Use a Pacifier:
Sucking can help move gas and reduce abdominal pressure.
8. Understand the Root Cause
These tips can ease symptoms, but underlying issues like colic may be the cause of your baby's excessive spit up. Understanding what’s really behind your baby’s discomfort is the first step toward finding relief.
What Causes Colic?
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In my research I have found that Colic symptoms are caused by a leakage of the ileocecal valve. The ileocecal valve is a cone shaped muscle that separates the small intestine and the large intestine. This valve works to let digested food move from the small intestine to the large intestine. The ileocecal valve stops waste materials from going back into the small intestine and is supposed to open only to let processed foods move forward. However, a weak ileocecal valve allows food that has already been digested to leak into the small intestine where it begins to re-digest. This causes the small intestine to become bloated and spasm with painful cramps. The treatment for colic is to STRENGTHEN the weak ileocecal valve muscle. When you strengthen this muscle, it stops leaking and your baby gets better. |
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Doc Explains:
Acid reflux and colic
Acid Reflux is frequently discussed and treated, however, there seems to be much confusion as to what to do about it and when to treat it. As with most conditions or health problems that to affect people of all ages, acid reflux seems to be one of the most frequent conditions that affect people from birth to death. Similar to colic, I believe there is much confusion about the cause and treatment of Acid Reflux. With the power of the internet, it is becoming very quick and simple to find an abundance of information about any condition, which would have seemed impossible twenty years ago.
Do people really understand what gastro esophageal reflux is? I find that when it comes to health issues, fear plays a major role in how much people decide to learn about their particular issues. Fear comes from ignorance of the facts. It is impossible to know everything, so in turn, we are all ignorant about quite a few things. I believe one of the major reasons humans are so uninformed about health issues is because we have a notion that the human body is far too complex for us to ever understand and we decide not to try.
Do people really understand what gastro esophageal reflux is? I find that when it comes to health issues, fear plays a major role in how much people decide to learn about their particular issues. Fear comes from ignorance of the facts. It is impossible to know everything, so in turn, we are all ignorant about quite a few things. I believe one of the major reasons humans are so uninformed about health issues is because we have a notion that the human body is far too complex for us to ever understand and we decide not to try.
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This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical care. Always talk with your pediatrician about your baby’s health.
