Your newborn baby is up screaming half the night in pain and you’re desperate to help him and finally get some sleep. Your pediatrician may have suggested an acid reflux drug called a proton pump inhibitor to quell the symptoms but this approach can cause permanent damage.
Acid Reflux Drugs May Prove Extremely Harmful to Infants
According to a commentary published in The Journal of Pediatrics, the use of acid reflux drugs in infants has increased 16-fold between the years of 1999 to 2004. Ironically, this number seems to coincide somewhat to rising incidents of birth by cesarean section. This is unfortunate because proton pump inhibitors prevent the production of stomach acid. This can set your child up for a lifetime of digestive problems, nutritional deficiencies, and dependence on proton pump inhibitors.
Reports published in the Archives of Internal Medicine state that proton pump inhibitors are associated with a 74 percent increase in an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile); a bacterium responsible for life-threatening diarrhea and intestinal inflammation.
The gastric acid in your infant’s developing digestive system is an early line of defense against infection and is vital for the absorption of essential nutrients. Using proton pump inhibitors to artificially suppress its production can lead to the development of pneumonia and nutrient deficiencies, namely that of magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B12.
Furthermore, infants given proton pump inhibitors may also experience extreme allergic reaction including hives, welts, bumps, and anaphylactic shock.
Colic May be Caused by Abnormal Gut Bacteria and Sensory Issues
Research has found that colicky babies have higher numbers of bacteria from a colony group called Proteobacteria compared to infants without colic. This particular bacteria has been shown to produce gas, which may lead to frequent bouts of crying. Colicky babies also appear to have lower numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which may result in chronic digestive pain.
Furthermore, the study showed that colicky babies have digestive systems that are slower to colonize with healthy gut bacteria than infants without colic.
Another study revealed that, in addition to gut bacteria abnormalities, colic may also be due to sensory integration difficulties. A group of 28 infants, who presented with colic and excessive crying at the ages of 4 to 12 weeks, showed marked sensory processing, coping, and behavioral difficulties between the ages of 3 to 8.
Fussing for hours on end seemed to be more closely linked to less efficient sensory function than crying for the same amount of time.
Try Treating Your Infant’s Colic Through Natural Means First
Before you talk with your doctor about a prescription drug to treat your child’s distress, try these natural means first:
- ·Infant Probiotics
Abnormal gut bacteria, gas, and constipation can often be corrected naturally with an infant probiotic containing bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Add a smaller amount than the recommended dose on the packaging to your infant’s formula or pumped breast milk. Increase the dosage slowly over a few days to figure out what works best for your little one.
- ·White Noise
If your infant’s colic is caused by a sensory processing issue, using a fan turned away from the crib may be helpful in calming it. Try completely darkening the room and leaving the fan on throughout the day and night.
- ·Baby Massage
Tummy issues can also be eased by diaphragmatic massage. Position your hands just under baby’s rib cage and, softly and slowly, push down. Then, move out from the center with both hands. You can also gently massage baby’s tummy clockwise to relieve pressure build-up. Bicycling your baby’s legs and pushing them gently up to her chest can also help expel trapped gas.
- ·Keep Baby Upright
Sometimes, acid reflux really is the problem. Not because of excess acid in your infant’s system but because of a weak or under-developed esophageal sphincter; the part of the digestive system that prevents food from backing up into the throat. This can often be a problem for premature babies but can happen to typical-term babies as well.
To correct this, keep your little one upright during feeding and for at least 30 minutes afterward. This can be done in your arms, in a car seat, or in a baby jumper.
Proton pump inhibitors given very early in child development could set your little one up for a lifetime of health problems, up to and including behavioral problems and even psychosis. Severe nutritional deficiencies can do that type of damage.
Do your own research and try natural methods first. Talk with a naturopathic physician for further guidance on how to treat child health problems naturally. The more your child is allowed to develop without unnecessary medical intervention, the less he’ll need it when he gets older.
*****Recommended Research*****
Do You Suffer From Acid Reflux?
While acid reflux drugs clearly aren’t good for infants… They’re not great for adults either.
If you suffer from acid reflux and would like a natural, safe solution for treating it without proton pump inhibitors, I highly recommend you check out: The Reflux Remedy
In this presentation you’ll learn about a man who cured his acid reflux after almost dying from stomach surgery. You’ll also discover the three common grocery store items you can use to cure acid reflux today.
Resources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/what-causes-colic_n_2472452.html
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/imhj.20025/abstract;jsessionid=3D4C2928C42D5DE5C3116648E8E7D078.f04t01?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false
