Prue DeAraugoThe Invisible Pain
May 27th 2008 02:01
My friend just had her second baby three weeks ago and she was looking tired. I know, I know hands up all mothers that looked fresh as a flower three weeks after giving birth! This was different though she was a walking zombie, the thing is her baby just wasn’t sleeping very well and every time she put him down he would scream and squirm and arch his back in obvious pain. Enough to break any mothers heart.
She took him to the doctor who told her it was too early to diagnose anything especially if it was a mental problem. What? A mental problem? Well done to my friend for being so persistent I wish I could be pushier at times. She kept taking him back to the doctor and she finally got the diagnosis of silent reflux.
Apparently, it is a hard diagnosis to give because unlike babies that have normal reflux these babies do not throw up. The acid contents of the stomach rise up into the oesophagus, causing an uncomfortable burning sensation. No wonder the poor darlings are constantly screaming with pain. As it is not visible, it can sometimes be mistaken for colic.
Some of the symptoms of silent reflux maybe:
• irritability and pain
• poor sleep habits
• grunting, squirming and wriggling during sleep
• arching their necks and back during or after eating
• gulping, coughing or re swallowing hours after a feed
• teary eyes when gulping
• constantly needing to suck
• swallowing problems, gagging, choking, coughing
• Constantly wanting to feed but only small amounts
If your baby shows any of the above, try sitting them up for half an hour after a feed either against your chest or in a bouncer. You need to get them to your GP to get a proper diagnosis of the problem.
When my friend finally got the problem diagnosed, it still took a week for his oesophagus to heal and the pain and discomfort to subside.
She took him to the doctor who told her it was too early to diagnose anything especially if it was a mental problem. What? A mental problem? Well done to my friend for being so persistent I wish I could be pushier at times. She kept taking him back to the doctor and she finally got the diagnosis of silent reflux.
Apparently, it is a hard diagnosis to give because unlike babies that have normal reflux these babies do not throw up. The acid contents of the stomach rise up into the oesophagus, causing an uncomfortable burning sensation. No wonder the poor darlings are constantly screaming with pain. As it is not visible, it can sometimes be mistaken for colic.
Some of the symptoms of silent reflux maybe:
• irritability and pain
• poor sleep habits
• grunting, squirming and wriggling during sleep
• arching their necks and back during or after eating
• gulping, coughing or re swallowing hours after a feed
• teary eyes when gulping
• constantly needing to suck
• swallowing problems, gagging, choking, coughing
• Constantly wanting to feed but only small amounts
If your baby shows any of the above, try sitting them up for half an hour after a feed either against your chest or in a bouncer. You need to get them to your GP to get a proper diagnosis of the problem.
When my friend finally got the problem diagnosed, it still took a week for his oesophagus to heal and the pain and discomfort to subside.
| 65 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog