Foods cause reflux breastfed babies

Acid Reflux in Infants: Causes

Immature lower esophageal sphincter

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a ring of muscle at the bottom of baby’s esophagus that opens to allow food into the stomach and closes to keep it there.

This muscle may not be fully matured in your baby, especially if they’re premature. When the LES opens, the contents of the stomach can flow back into the esophagus, causing baby to spit up or vomit. As you can imagine, it can cause discomfort.

This is very common and does not usually cause other symptoms. However, constant regurgitation from acid reflux can sometimes cause damage to the esophageal lining. This is much less common.

If spitting up is accompanied by other symptoms, it may then be called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

Short or narrow esophagus

Refluxed stomach contents have a shorter distance to travel if the esophagus is shorter than normal. And if the esophagus is narrower than normal, the lining might more easily become irritated.

Diet

Changing the foods baby eats may help reduce the chances of acid reflux. And if you breastfeed, making changes to your diet might help your baby.

Some studies have shown that reducing intake of milk and eggs may help, though more research is needed to determine how much this affects the condition.

Certain foods may be causing acid reflux, depending on your infant’s age. For example, citrus fruits and tomato products increase acid production in the stomach.

Foods like chocolate, peppermint, and high fat foods can keep the LES open longer, causing the contents of the stomach to reflux.

Gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach)

Gastroparesis is a disorder that causes the stomach to take longer to empty.

The stomach normally contracts to move food down into the small intestine for digestion. However, stomach muscles don’t work properly if there is damage to the vagus nerve because this nerve controls the movement of food from the stomach through the digestive tract.

In gastroparesis, the stomach contents remain in the stomach longer than they’re supposed to, encouraging reflux. It’s rare in healthy infants.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach sticks through an opening in the diaphragm. A small hiatal hernia doesn’t cause problems, but a larger one can cause acid reflux and heartburn.

Hiatal hernias are very common, especially in people over the age of 50, but they are rare in infants. However, the causes are unknown.

A hiatal hernia in children is usually congenital (present at birth) and may cause gastric acid to reflux from the stomach into the esophagus.

Position while feeding

Positioning — especially during and after feeding — is a frequently overlooked cause of acid reflux in infants.

A horizontal position makes it easier for the stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus. Simply keeping baby in an upright position while you’re feeding them and for 20 to 30 minutes afterward may reduce acid reflux.

Sleep positioners and wedges, however, are not recommended while feeding or sleeping. These padded risers are intended to keep your baby’s head and body in one position, but are not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration due to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Angle of His

The angle at which the base of the esophagus joins the stomach is known as the “angle of His.” Differences in this angle may contribute to acid reflux.

This angle most likely affects the ability of the LES to keep the contents of the stomach from refluxing. If the angle is too sharp or too steep, it may make it difficult to keep the stomach contents down.

Overfeeding

Feeding your little one too much at once can cause acid reflux. Feeding your infant too frequently can also cause acid reflux. It’s more common for bottle-fed babies to overfeed than breastfed infants.

An oversupply of food can put too much pressure on the LES, which will cause your infant to spit up. That unnecessary pressure is taken off the LES and reflux decreases when you feed baby less food more often.

However, if your baby spits up often, but is otherwise happy and growing well, you may not need to change your feeding routine at all. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns that you are overfeeding your baby.

Your infant will usually grow out of acid reflux. However, call your child’s doctor immediately if you notice that your child:

isn’t gaining weight
has feeding difficulties
is projectile vomiting
has blood in their stool
has pain signs such as arching of the back
has unusual irritability
has trouble sleeping

While it isn’t easy to determine the exact cause of acid reflux in infants, lifestyle and diet changes may help eliminate some of the factors.

If the acid reflux doesn’t go away with these changes and your baby has other symptoms, a doctor may want to perform tests to rule out a gastrointestinal disorder or other problems with the esophagus.

A Guide to Foods to Avoid for Acid Reflux While Breastfeeding

"The content below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition."

Your baby is dealing with acid reflux after breastfeeding and will not stop crying.

Don’t worry, you can help avoid acid reflux episodes like these in the future.

The main way to prevent acid reflux while breastfeeding is to avoid consuming foods that can cause acid reflux.

But what foods cause acid reflux in babies?

In this guide, we will break down all the foods to avoid for acid reflux while breastfeeding and show you how your nutrition can not only prevent acid reflux attacks but benefit your baby’s health even more.

How Can a Mother’s Diet Affect a Breastfed Baby?
What Are Common Signs of Acid Reflux in Breastfed Babies?
7 Foods to Avoid When Breastfeeding a Baby With Reflux
How Can I Soothe Acid Reflux in a Breastfed Baby? 2 Methods to Consider
Start Treating Your Baby’s Acid Reflux With Holistic Nutrition Today

How Can a Mother’s Diet Affect a Breastfed Baby?

The female body does some miraculous things, and breastfeeding is no exception.

A mother’s diet is directly related to the diet of their breastfeeding baby, as what you eat can impact the nutrition, composition, and even taste of your breast milk.

You may be wondering, how long does it take for ingested foods to influence your breast milk?

The answer? It varies depending on the type of food you ingest.

Let’s take a look at some examples of time it takes for certain foods to influence your breast milk:

Coffee: 15-60 minutes
Garlic: 2 hours
Carrots: 2-3 hours
Mint 4-6 hours

Some foods that influence your breast milk can affect your baby in different ways. For example, it’s possible for your child to have a food allergy in response to something you ate.

One of the most common reactions linked to a mother’s diet and breastfeeding is acid reflux .

What Are Common Signs of Acid Reflux in Breastfed Babies?

You probably already know that it’s common and normal for infants to spit up after a meal. You’ve cleaned it up dozens of times, likely.

This little phenomenon is known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

However, frequent vomiting, irritation, and a slew of other symptoms can hint to a more serious problem, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux.

Common acid reflux symptoms to look out for include:

Frequent vomiting and regurgitation
Persistent coughing or wheezing
Difficulty eating
Irritability associated with feeding or following feedings
Gassiness

7 Foods to Avoid When Breastfeeding a Baby With Reflux

It can seem overwhelming trying to figure out which foods to avoid when breastfeeding a baby with reflux, especially when you have an already fussy baby.

Below, we will discuss what foods cause reflux in breastfed babies. A good rule of thumb is that if certain foods cause acid reflux for you, they could also cause acid reflux for your baby.

#1: Fruit and Fruit Juice

Fruit and fruit juices with high acidity can trigger acid reflux in infants, causing discomfort.

Some acidic fruit and fruit juices you’ll want to avoid consuming are:

Apples
Oranges
Lemons
Other citrus fruits

#2: Tomatoes and Tomato Sauce

You may be surprised to hear that tomatoes and tomato-based sauces are included in this list of foods to avoid for acid reflux while breastfeeding.

While tomatoes can be an excellent source of vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient for healthy breastfeeding, they are also very acidic— which can lead to a very gassy, uncomfortable, and irritable baby.

#3: Spicy Foods

Have you ever eaten a spicy meal only to get a dose of heartburn afterward? The same can happen to your baby when you breastfeed after eating spicy food.

Spicy foods can irritate the lining of the stomach, which can trigger acid reflux.

#4: Caffeine

While your daily cup of coffee isn’t enough to cause problems for your infant, experts advise breastfeeding mothers to not consume more than 750mL of caffeine per day (the equivalent of 5 cups of coffee).

If your infant takes in too much caffeine from your breast milk, they can experience acid reflux as well as other caffeine stimulation symptoms, such as irritability.

#5: Foods High in Fat

It is best to only consume foods with high fat content in moderation while breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding your baby after consuming foods high in fat can cause the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to stay open longer, which causes the contents of the stomach to reflux.

#6: Seafood with High Mercury Levels

While seafood can be a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids that are wonderful building blocks for proper nutrition, some seafood can do more harm than good.

Avoid consuming seafood that is high in mercury. The mercury from these foods can find its way into your breast milk supply. Excessive amounts of mercury in breast milk can have adverse effects on your baby’s developing nervous system.

Some kinds of seafood that are high in mercury include:

Swordfish
King mackerel
Tilefish

#7: Alcohol

No level of alcohol in breastmilk is considered safe for your child to consume.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a glass of wine every once in a while.

When it comes to breastfeeding and consuming alcohol, you have two options to ensure your child’s safety:

Pump before consuming alcohol. If you plan on enjoying an alcoholic beverage, you can pump breast milk before drinking alcohol so you have a clean supply to feed your baby later.
Wait it out. If you drink alcohol, wait for it to completely clear your breast milk before breastfeeding. Depending on your body weight, you’ll want to wait at least 2-3 hours after consuming:
- 12 oz. of 5% beer
- 5 oz. of 11% wine
- 1.5 oz. of 40% liquor

How Can I Soothe Acid Reflux in a Breastfed Baby? 2 Methods to Consider

Neither your heart nor sanity can put up with your baby crying in discomfort for hours due to acid reflux, but it can be difficult to know exactly how to help soothe acid reflux in a breastfed baby or avoid it altogether for that matter.

After all, motherhood doesn’t come with an instruction manual.

There are two ways you can handle acid reflux in babies:

Treat the symptoms of acid reflux to soothe your baby’s discomfort.
Treat the root of the cause and avoid acid reflux altogether

#1: Help Baby’s Physical Discomfort

There are a number of ways that you can decrease your baby’s discomfort caused by acid reflux.

If your baby is dealing with acid reflux, you can try to treat their symptoms by:

Doing smaller, more frequent feeds
Feeding your baby upright
Thickening breast milk
Burping your baby more frequently

Try Smaller, More Frequent Feedings

When your baby’s stomach is too full, they are at greater risk of having acid reflux after feedings.

Feeding your baby more frequently in small amounts can help avoid irritating acid reflux symptoms.

This is because a less-full stomach decreases the amount of pressure put on the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a muscle that prevents food from going back into the esophagus from the stomach.

The lower esophageal sphincter takes about a year to strengthen, which is why babies spit up often.

Feed Your Baby Upright

Feeding your baby in an upright position can help reduce the risk of acid reflux in babies.

Additionally, keeping your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after feeding is also believed to have the same acid reflux prevention effect.

Thicken Breast Milk

With your doctor’s approval, you can thicken your breast milk by adding a small amount of infant rice cereal. Thickening the breast milk can help lessen spit-ups and acid reflux symptoms.

Thickening your breast milk may help reduce the risk of your baby’s stomach contents sloshing up into the esophagus. Always consult your doctor before trying this alternative.

Burp Your Baby More Frequently

It’s important to burp your baby often—both during and after feedings.

Frequently burping your baby can help reduce acid reflux symptoms. Anytime your baby pulls off the nipple during breastfeeding, be sure to give them a little burp.

#2: Acid Reflux in Babies: Mother’s Diet Can Help with Holistic Nutrition

Now that we have discussed how to treat acid reflux symptoms , let’s talk about a better option— preventing acid reflux episodes before they happen.

Holistic nutrition is an excellent tool to help avoid acid reflux in infants caused by breastfeeding.

You may be wondering, “what is holistic nutrition and how is it related to foods to avoid for acid reflux while breastfeeding?”.

Holistic nutrition is based on the idea that your nutrition is related to all aspects of your health.

Holistic nutrition is a lifestyle that involves eating healthy foods that are:

Whole
Un-refined
Un-processed
Organic
Locally grown

Let’s talk about how holistic nutrition benefits both the breastfeeding mother and child.

How Does Holistic Nutrition Benefit the Breastfeeding Mother and Baby?

Holistic nutrition focuses on providing your body with nutrient-dense foods that will only have a positive impact on your health.

If your diet is not having a positive impact on your health, chances are that it is not positively impacting the health of your breastfed baby either.

Think about it: if certain foods give you acid reflux, why wouldn’t your baby be susceptible to the same kind of reaction by consuming that food composition through your breast milk?

Holistic nutrition involves eliminating refined and processed foods, which are known to cause acid reflux.

By not consuming these foods or strictly limiting the consumption, you are stopping the problem at the source instead of simply treating symptoms.

However, healthy and whole foods can also be culprits of acid reflux attacks.

If your breastfeeding child is experiencing acid reflux and you are unable to pinpoint what food is causing it, using the elimination diet can help uncover which foods are resulting in episodes of acid reflux in your child.

Start Treating Your Baby’s Acid Reflux With Holistic Nutrition Today

Holistic nutrition goes beyond simply what foods to avoid for acid reflux while breastfeeding.

Not only does holistic nutrition help avoid acid reflux episodes for you and your breastfeeding child, but it provides both of you with the best nutrition possible for optimal health.

Learn more about how holistic nutrition can benefit you and your child today by scheduling a free consultation.

Infant Reflux: Symptoms and Treatment

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Signs and what to do

Post-feed regurgitation is a common occurrence in the first few months of life. This is usually harmless and completely normal, but parents should read about gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in infants and how long it lasts to give them peace of mind.

We look at signs of reflux in babies, symptoms of different types of reflux, and how to help a child with signs of reflux. If you require further information, always contact your healthcare provider.

What is reflux in babies?

So we know reflux is common, but what causes reflux in babies? Because young children have not yet fully developed the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), that is, the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that opens and closes to let food into the stomach and keep it there, food can easily pass back up the esophagus.

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), is a normal reflux that occurs in babies. This type of reflux is considered normal and occurs in 40-65% of babies.

How do I know if my child has acid (gastroesophageal) reflux?

If a baby is spitting up milk after a feed, it is most likely acid reflux. As babies get older, GER usually goes away on its own without any intervention. If a baby has complications beyond just spitting up a small amount of milk (such as feeding difficulties and discomfort), they may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Symptoms of GERD include:

baby arching during or after feeding;
crying more than three hours a day for no apparent reason;
cough;
gag reflex or difficulty swallowing;
irritability, restlessness after eating;
eating little or not eating;
poor weight gain or loss;
difficult breathing;
severe or frequent vomiting.

GERD usually occurs when LES muscles are not toned in time, causing stomach contents to back up into the esophagus.

How do I know if my child has Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?

Another type of reflux, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also called silent reflux, is when the contents of the baby's stomach leak back into the larynx, the back of the nasopharynx. This type of reflux does not always cause external symptoms, which is why it is called "silent". Babies can have GERD and silent reflux at the same time, but their symptoms are somewhat different.

The following are some of the symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux:

breathing problems;
gag reflex;
chronic cough;
swallowing problems;
hoarseness;
regurgitation;
poor weight gain or weight loss.

We have looked at the signs of reflux in infants, now we will move on to the treatment and duration of silent reflux in children, as well as the treatment of GERD.

How to deal with laryngopharyngeal reflux in babies while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding mothers may need to review their diet if their babies show signs of reflux. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding mothers cut eggs and milk from their diet for two to four weeks to see if their baby's reflux symptoms improve or disappear. It may be worth eliminating acidic foods from your diet.

In most cases, GER and laryngopharyngeal reflux go away on their own. Typically, children outgrow reflux in the first year of life. If a child has persistent symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux, parents should consult a doctor. If your baby has severe vomiting, blood in the stool, or any of the symptoms of GERD listed above, parents should contact their pediatrician as soon as possible.

How can I help my child with reflux or GERD?

Reflux symptoms in babies usually go away on their own, but the following tips can help relieve symptoms:

Thicken food with rice or a special milk thickener.
Hold the bottle at an angle that fills the nipple completely with milk to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows. This can help prevent colic, gas, and reflux.
Try the AirFree anti-colic bottle, designed to reduce air swallowing during feeding.

4. Let the baby burp during and after feeding. If the baby is bottle fed, parents can let him burp after every 30-60 ml. If the mother is breastfeeding, she may let the baby burp when changing breasts.

5. Hold baby upright after feeding. As a rule, in order for the milk to remain in the stomach, after feeding the baby, it is necessary to hold it in an upright position for 10-15 minutes. But, if the child has reflux, parents should keep him upright a little longer.

These tips may help relieve symptoms, but they do not replace a doctor's advice.

Parents should not change their infant formula formula without first talking to their healthcare provider.

Don't panic! Reflux is very common in babies during the first three months of life, and most babies outgrow it without any consequences. Although GERD is a slightly more serious condition, there are many treatments, ways to manage it, and help newborns. Feel free to contact your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have.

⁴ Seattle Children’s Hospital

⁵ The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - Treatment for GER & GERD in Infants

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How can I help a baby who is spitting up food? – Aptaclub.ee

What is gastroesophageal reflux, or regurgitation of food?

During meals, food passes through the esophagus into the stomach. In the wall of the esophagus are layers of muscles that contract and relax to help move food into the stomach through the esophagus (this undulating movement is called peristalsis). At the junction of the esophagus with the stomach is a round muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter. The lower esophageal sphincter relaxes when food enters, allowing food to enter the stomach and then contracting to prevent food and gastric juice from flowing back up the esophagus.
If the lower sphincter does not close completely, from time to time the contents of the stomach may leak back into the esophagus.

This process is observed in all people, but especially in children. For the most part, it is impossible to observe this process, because it occurs in the lower part of the esophagus

The retrograde movement of stomach contents into the esophagus is called gastroesophageal reflux.

When does regurgitation occur?

During the first months of life, babies regurgitate milk with air after eating. This is called regurgitation of food. The reason is the anatomical features of babies (short esophagus, small stomach). Regurgitation of food is observed in infants, whether they drink milk from a bottle or are fed breast milk.

Most often, regurgitation of food occurs in infants before they reach 4 - 6 months of age

At this age, a similar phenomenon is observed in every second child at least once a day. Starting from six months, regurgitation of food decreases. As the child grows, the angle between the stomach and esophagus changes, resulting in less frequent reflux. More than 50% of babies stop spitting up food by 10 months, 80% by 18 months, and 98% - by two years.

How does food regurgitate?

If spitting up food is observed in a child who has a good appetite and weight gain, and he does not have symptoms of other diseases, this is a simple form of reflux (the manifestation of which is just spitting up food). The frequency of regurgitation and its abundance can reduce more frequent regurgitation during meals and low activity after meals.
Gastroesophageal reflux can develop into gastroesophageal reflux disease, which in severe cases can cause inflammation of the esophagus. It only happens in a small number of babies. Symptoms of the disease are refusal to eat, crying, active contortion of the back and neck (as if the infant were in pain), coughing and coughing while eating and spitting up, vomiting or gushing violently, frequent coughing, and very low weight gain.

Most often, reflux disease occurs in patients with neurological disorders. This causes persistent spitting up after eating, which may result in growth and nutrition problems, dislike for food and eating it through the mouth, inflammation in the esophagus, pneumonia, shortness of breath and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

During the first months of life, regurgitation of food (gastroesophageal reflux) can also be a sign of a food allergy or food intolerance

In this case, your family doctor and pediatrician (gastroenterologist or allergist) will be able to provide you with the most qualified assistance.
Breastfed babies have been shown to have less severe cases of reflux than formula fed babies. Mother's milk is perfectly digested, and the baby's stomach is emptied from it twice as fast as from formula. This is very important, because slow gastric emptying is more likely to promote regurgitation of stomach contents. Mother's milk is less irritating to the esophagus than formula milk.

How can I help my baby reduce spitting up?

For a simple form of reflux, which manifests itself in the form of spitting up food, you do not need to use special thick milk formulas.

Breastfed babies should continue to be breastfed because such food reduces regurgitation, as well as the risk of its occurrence in the future.
Try to reduce the amount of irritants and maintain a calm atmosphere during feeding. The child's room should be quiet and calm, without bright light. You can turn on soothing music in the room.
Try feeding your baby when he is asleep.
Wake up your baby more often to feed him small portions. in this way it will be easier for him to digest food. There should be 2-3 hours between meals.
At night, the child may be close to the parents.
Caress and hug your baby more often.
Bathe your child regularly in warm water.
Keep your baby upright during and after feeding. After every 30 - 60 ml of milk, make him burp. After feeding, the child should be in an upright position on the chest or on the parent's shoulder for about half an hour. Do not put the child on a chair at this moment, because. concomitant pressure on the abdomen can aggravate regurgitation.
Do not overfeed the baby and stop feeding the baby as soon as he has lost interest in food.
If you suspect food regurgitation may be due to a food allergy or intolerance, try to determine which foods on the mother's and baby's menu may be causing reflux/regurgitation. One of the most common triggers for reflux is dairy in the mother's diet. If your baby is not breastfed and you suspect that formula may be causing the reaction, check with your pediatrician. Parents are advised not to experiment with different milk formulas without consulting a doctor. The cause of the reaction can be identified more easily and more accurately if the mother keeps a diary of her diet.
The frequency of regurgitation can be reduced by thick milk formula. Be sure to check with your pediatrician before making any changes to your baby's menu. The nipples on bottles for infants who drink solid milk formula should have holes large enough, but not so large that the food could suddenly spill into the child's mouth and the child could choke. For children with frequent spitting up, the doctor may advise the use of special mixtures (these are indicated by the letters AR (antireflux)). Parents should check with a doctor before giving formula to a child to determine if the child needs it.