Silent Reflux Infant: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment – For most babies, mealtimes are her preferred time. When she starts breastfeeding, she can calm down and be engrossed in her own world. After breastfeeding, most babies will sleep well because they are full.
However, for some babies, mealtimes are actually a ‘scary’ time. After breastfeeding, it is not uncommon for her to become more restless, fussy, crying, and difficult to soothe. What’s wrong,? What happened to the child? It could be that she’s having silent reflux.
What is reflux in babies?
First of all, let’s get to know what reflux is in the babies first.
In younger babies, reflux occurs when food rises again from their stomachs. This condition usually makes the baby spit up or vomit.
Reflux in babies is also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). This condition occurs because in younger babies, the small ring of muscle between the stomach and esophagus is immature and not yet fully functional. The term, like a valve that doesn’t close properly.
When it does not close properly, the contents of the stomach will flow out. It’s the condition that causes vomiting. This condition certainly makes it very uncomfortable. In addition, stomach acid can also come out, accompanied by the exit of breast milk. In addition, sleeping on their back for too long can also increase the risk of the baby experiencing reflux.
But the good news is that reflux can heal and disappear when your baby is about 18 months old. This is because the muscle development between the abdomen and the baby’s esophagus is getting more perfect.
Silent Reflux Infant
Silent reflux, also called laryngopharyngeal reflux, is a condition in which stomach acid flows backwards into the larynx and nasal passages. Some people consider this condition an extension of GERD disease, in which stomach acid irritates the esophagus.
Read also:
How To Cure GERD Permanently
Why is it called silent reflux? Because the condition has no conspicuous signs and symptoms. The spewed stomach fluid eventually falls back into the stomach and usually the baby mostly undergoes this silent reflux.
Causes
The study said one in five babies has a reflux condition. This is normal for babies under one year old. The causative factors include:
- The cause, because the baby’s esophageal muscles / esophagus has not developed to the maximum. This makes the milk that enters the baby’s stomach attracted back to the esophagus and causes reflux..
- In addition, the condition is also affected by certain allergies, such as lactose intolerance that causes silent reflux. Neurological problems, defects in the esophagus, as well as sleeping on their back after eating are also the causes of this condition.
- Defects in the larynx, such as laryngomalacia, increase the likelihood of silent reflux.
- Sleep on their back after eating.
Silent reflux infant symptoms
Babies with this disorder usually do not show any particular pain. But you need to worry if the baby shows the following signs:
- Breathe with a wheezing / vibrating sound
- Sleep apnea
- Difficulty eating (staying away when breast-fed)
- Persistent coughing
- Choking and vomiting
- Ear infections / often holding his ears
- Crying / fussing after breastfeeding
Silent reflux infant treatment
Reflux in babies usually disappears by itself. However, there are some steps that doctors usually recommend for babies who experience this condition, including:
- Give breast milk more often in small amounts
- Improving how to breastfeed, such as making a baby belch after breastfeeding
- Holding the baby in an upright position for 20-30 minutes after he suckling
- Change the type of formula given to infants, according to the doctor’s recommendation
- Tries a diet of dairy, beef or egg products to test for possible allergies in babies
- Using different sizes of nipples on baby bottles because sometimes sizes that are too large or small, can make the baby swallow a lot of air.
