A newborn undeniably a wonderful gift, as indeed is any child; but when they scream non-stop in obvious pain for hours on end, you start to feel the tether unwind! (In fact, I’m quite surprised I still have hair…)
After 6 months of this, 23 trips to the emergency room, various GPs and numerous times of being told -it’s just colic-, you need to switch to formula because you don’t have enough breast milk, or there’s nothing wrong, he’s just a baby, I don’t have a magic cure for you, we have recently been told our son was and still is suffering from various allergies, and the big killer – SILENT REFLUX.
When I went to most doctors, they mistook my 4’11 petite appearance to mean that I was a teenager, and let this effect their judgement (which gives me great sympathy for teen mums, I mean it is hard enough being a parent at the best of times – right?) and my concern for my child’s pain to mean that I simply could not cope with the normal crying process of babies, which led them to the completely erroneous conclusion that our little man was not really in pain.
Although I am by no means an expert on reflux or silent reflux, and I’m not going to include the same list of symptoms featured on almost any parenting website, I can list the symptoms that my son went through. Hopefully it will spare others from experiencing a similar debacle!:
* Arching back coupled with constant high pitched screaming
* Needing to be held upright on shoulder, preferably while walking
* Screaming in pain, whilst still asleep! (then waking up in pain)
* Wanting to feed every hour or so
* Having trouble with wind and the process that creates the poo-ey nappy
* General fussiness and restlessness, especially after feeds
As a first time mom, I had no idea what was “normal” for a baby and what wasn’t. When my son started exhibiting these symptoms, I thought it was just part of the process of having a newborn. However, as the weeks went on and his symptoms only seemed to get worse, I began to question if something else was going on.
I turned to Google for answers and came across the term “silent reflux.” After reading about other parents’ experiences with this condition, I knew that’s what my son had. Yet when I brought it up to our pediatrician, she brushed it off as normal baby behavior.
But as a mother knows best, I persisted and eventually got a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist. After some tests and trials, it was confirmed that my son did indeed have silent reflux. One of the main symptoms? The poo-ey nappy.
Silent reflux, also known as laryngopharyngeal reflux or infant acid reflux, is when stomach contents flow back up into the esophagus. Unlike gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where babies will spit up often, silent reflux can be harder to diagnose because there’s no visible regurgitation.
One of the ways this condition manifests is through irritability and discomfort in babies. They may cry more than usual, have difficulty sleeping, and exhibit signs of restlessness after feeding. And yes, the poo-ey nappy is also a common symptom. This is because the acid from the stomach can irritate and inflame the lining of the digestive tract, leading to changes in bowel movements.
Treatment for silent reflux may include medication to reduce acid production, changing feeding routines or positions, and avoiding trigger foods that can aggravate symptoms. It’s important to work closely with your pediatrician to find the best solution for your baby.