Gaviscon To The Rescue

It's not unusual for the Wilson-Barnes family to encounter digestion difficulties. It's kind of a trademark if you like. For the past few days Amelia has been suffering from Gastroesophageal Reflux (also called GER or reflux) to some degree which manifests itself as vomiting after feeds. Refluxing occurs when the stomach acid and partially digested food flow back up through the Lower Aesophageal Sphincter or LES into the aesophagus. All children and adults will naturally reflux throughout the day, especially after eating. However, if the muscle opens too frequently and refluxing occurs too often, complications can develop.

Premature infants have an increased risk of developing GER. There are several medical conditions that can cause reflux, but in preterm infants, the most common causes are immature muscles and abnormal breathing from chronic lung disease. If the lower aesophageal sphincter is weak or underdeveloped, it can remain open when it should be closed, letting the stomach contents flow back up the esophagus. When an infant or child breathes abnormally because of chronic lung disease, the muscles used for breathing work harder. As these muscles work hard to breathe, they can pull on the muscles near the top of the stomach, stretching the sphincter and causing it to remain open.

Over the years various remedies have been employed in our household but when Gaviscon became available without a prescription, the world changed for us. It was with great hilarity therefore that we learned this wonderful substance was to be added to Amelia's feeds to combat her reflux problems. At the moment this does seem to have helped somewhat but we'll have to see how she copes over the next couple of days.