Breastfeeding & Reflux
When your baby has reflux, breastfeeding can feel stressful and often turns feeding into a battleground
Reflux happens when your baby’s stomach contents move into their esophagus causing pain and discomfort (heartburn). Reflux is often associated with feeding, but can also occur when a baby burps, moves, hiccups, coughs, sneezes, or strains.
Babies with reflux often become fussy when it’s time to eat because they learn to anticipate the discomfort associated with feeding.
I receive lots of calls from mamas wanting lactation support for a ‘fussy’ breastfeeder. When I conduct a breastfeeding consult for a potentially refluxy baby, I often observe the following:
A poor latch, shorter, frequent feeds, arching or refusing to latch, more spit up than usual, slowed weight gain, hoarse cry, dry swallowing, and better feeding when baby is sleepy
As a Lactation Consultant, witnessing a baby with reflux breastfeed is difficult because the stress to the family is palpable! We need to find the right balance between relaxed, comfortable feeding in order to protect the breastfeeding relationship and avoid aversion
I like to recommend conservative measures first before resorting to medications.
Some things you can do to help your baby’s reflux are:
Ensure a head above hips feeding position
Ensure a deep latch while breastfeeding
External pacing and frequent burp breaks if milk flow is brisk
Burp well at the end of feeding
Hold your baby upright for 20 minutes after feeding
Avoid having your baby slouch or bend forward
Change your baby’s diaper at the start or middle of the feed vs the end when the belly is full
Change your baby’s diaper on an incline or on their side
Keep the diaper loose to avoid extra pressure on the belly
Short frequent feeds are ok!
Don’t let feeding turn into a battle- be respectful of feeding cues and take a break when your baby refuses to latch
If conservative measures aren’t helping, then visit your Family Doctor or Pediatrician to discuss trialling an anti-reflux medication.
