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What Is Reflux?
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A high number of babies that are newborn and in their early weeks can be born with or develop reflux. Reflux is also known as pediatric acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux, reflux disease, gerd.
Reflux is the regurgitation of acid stomach contents back into the oesophagus.
The wedge shape design of the babywedge® helps to keep the acid toward the bottom of the stomach, as laying a baby flat allows the contents to flow easily to the oesophagus. Many mums and dads experience the following signs of acid reflux below:
My baby is spilling or swallowing and my baby has signs of being uncomfortable. My baby is a fussy eater, and I experience fussy breast feeding, when the baby takes a small amount hungrily, then cries and refuses to continue feeeding. My baby feels very tense and has a stiff and arching back (however most babies will become stiff and arch when they are crying hard). My baby seems more comfortable if she is held upright.
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What Is Colic?
- Many reasons are given to explain why some babies cry a lot. Colic is a popular one.
However no one is sure what colic really means in babies. Colic is usually thought to be
caused by wind or gas in the bowel, but there is no proof of this. Certainly the baby
looks to be in pain, but we don't really know.
The word colic means spasm, or painful tightening of muscle. Crying due to infant 'colic' is often thought to be due to pain coming from the baby's tummy and bowel - but the bowel of babies with colic seems healthy. Many cries of the signs of colic are listed below:
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My baby cries or screams for some hours, often at the end of the day. My baby is hard to comfort. My baby seems more comfortable if she is held upright. The crying comes in waves. My baby seems to calm then suddenly starts screaming again. My baby may arch backwards and either draw the knees up or stretch the legs out stiffly.
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- Many reasons are given to explain why some babies cry a lot. Colic is a popular one.
However no one is sure what colic really means in babies. Colic is usually thought to be
caused by wind or gas in the bowel, but there is no proof of this. Certainly the baby
looks to be in pain, but we don't really know.
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What Are The
Current Solutions For Reflux And Colic?
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Reflux:
Medicine - Such as Losec, Zantac, Mylanta (antacids), Paracetamol. There may also be other medication but these are the common ones. Thickeners - You can use thickened baby formulas or AR Formula. It may help thicken the fluid in order to reduce spilling. Thickeners can be added to breast milk, boiled water or both. Elevation, a natural remedy.
Colic:
There are medications on the market but generally should only be used on babies over 6 months. Doctors should always be consulted before commencing any type of medication for any condition. Colic usually gets better very suddenly by itself, there is some suggestion that sleeping or resting your baby slightly elevated may assist in relief.
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Baby's Head Shape /
Flattening Of The Head
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It is common for a newborn baby to have an unusual head shape.
This can be caused by the position of the baby before birth, or by 'moulding' of the head during birth. Moulding happens when pressure in the birth canal shifts the skull bones a little so that the head moves through the birth canal more easily. A baby's head will become a more normal shape within about 6 weeks. By 6 weeks, a baby should also be able to turn his head from side to side.
Sometimes in the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth, a baby will develop a flattened spot on the back or side of her head rather than having a rounded shape. This is called plagiocephaly (play-gi-o-cef-a-ly).
Plagiocephaly does not affect growth of the baby's brain, but it can cause uneven growth of the baby's face as well as her head.
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Causes of Plagiocephaly
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The bones of a newborn baby's head are thin and flexible, so the skull can change shape if there is pressure on part of it for a long time. Flattening of the back or side of the head happens when the baby lies with his head in the same position for a long time (for example, lying on his back with his head always facing up or always turned to the same side). Pressure from the weight of the baby's head will cause the flattening. Sometimes one of the muscles in the neck is tight, so that the baby's head is turned to the same side most of the time. See 'Congenital torticollis'.
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What Does Plagiocephaly Look
Like?
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Normally the back of the head is rounded, the ear position is level and the face looks the same shape on each side.
With a misshapen head, there will be a flat spot on one side of the back of the head, one ear will be further forward than the other, and one side of the face will be further forward. Having a flat spot makes it harder for a baby to turn her head, because she has to lift it slightly as she turns it. You may notice that she keeps her head turned to the same side most of the time. A small flat spot on the back of the head is common, and this is not plagiocephaly unless the rest of the head is also becoming misshapen. However, this needs to be watched, as any flattening makes it a bit harder for a baby to turn her head by herself.
Sometimes in the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth, a baby will develop a flattened spot on the back or side of her head rather than having a rounded shape. This is called plagiocephaly (play-gi-o-cef-a-ly).
Plagiocephaly does not affect growth of the baby's brain, but it can cause uneven growth of the baby's face as well as her head.
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Preventing A Misshapen Head-
A baby's head position needs to be varied during times she is asleep and awake, particularly in the first 6 weeks.
During sleep:Babies should always sleep on their backs. This makes them much less likely to die from SIDS. Place your baby's head to the right side for some sleeps, and to the left for other sleeps.
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Cot position:
Place your baby at the other end of the cot for some sleeps, or move the cot around in his room. Babies like looking at windows or bright objects like murals, and by moving the cot you will encourage him to turn his head different ways to look at them.
Play time:
Put your baby on her tummy and on her side for some of the time while she is awake. Start small amounts of tummy time from birth. In the early weeks your baby may seem a little unhappy on her tummy, but as she gets used to it and her muscles get stronger she will enjoy this time and it is good for muscle development. When she is on her back, move toys that she likes to look at from side to side.
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Current Treatment Of
Plagiocephaly
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If, after your baby is about 6 weeks old, you are concerned about the shape of his head, or you notice that your baby only turns his head to one side, talk to your doctor or child health nurse. Plagiocephaly is the most common cause of a misshapen head, but there are other, rare causes which can cause problems with head growth.
- Sometimes a baby will hold his head turned to one side all the time because of a tight muscle in his neck (see the topic 'Torticollis'). This can be confused with plagiocephaly.
- If the baby's head is quite obviously quite misshapen, it is important to see a specialist (such as a plastic surgeon) early.Most children with plagiocephaly do not need to have any treatment. Their heads will become more rounded as they move more and begin to sit up. However, it is still worth placing the baby's head in different positions (as described above) and moving the baby or her toys around so that she wants to move her head to look at interesting things. Very gentle stretching of neck muscles may be useful, because the muscles may tighten if the baby's head is always in the same position. Get advice from a doctor, physiotherapist or child health nurse before starting this. Put your baby on her tummy and on her side for some of the time while she is awake. Start small amounts of tummy time from birth. In the early weeks your baby may seem a little unhappy on her tummy, but as she gets used to it and her muscles get stronger she will enjoy this time and it is good for muscle development. When she is on her back, move toys that she likes to look at from side to side.
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