Q&A
Reflux and Bottlefeeding
Question:
My six-week-old son burps back milk and cries after a bottle feed. What am I doing wrong?
Almost all babies burp back milk (or posset) a little after a good feed. But if your little one seems to vomit up more than just a mouthful or two, and does so during or after most feeds, he could be suffering from reflux.
Reflux is quite common, and affects up to 50% of all babies under 12 months. The condition is usually caused by a weakness in the muscle between the baby's throat and stomach that opens and closes after swallowing. If it doesn't close effectively, milk can come back up again almost immediately. And because the milk that comes back up brings stomach acid with it, it can cause a burning sensation.
The good news is that reflux generally sorts itself out by 12 months. Meanwhile, here are some ways to minimize the chances of reflux during feeding:
For starters, replace the teat with a slow-flow teat (your baby could be getting much milk too fast), and try giving smaller, more frequent feeds instead. You may also find that it helps to feed your baby in a more upright position so that gravity keeps the milk down, or lying side-by-side with you, propped on your arm.
Following the feed, let him remain in an upright position (a baby sling is perfect for this) for about 20 minutes, taking care to avoid sudden physical movements which can make milk bounce. While burping well can reduce colic, overdoing it can bring up more than wind – so don't jiggle!
Your doctor might also prescribe milk thickeners to help your baby's reflux problem. Milk thickeners are added to the milk to keep it down. Some formula is pre-thickened, so check beforehand, and don't add another product on top. If in doubt, always check with your doctor or health practitioner first.
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