Why Infant Reflux Matters

Why It Matters Series

by Carol Smyth

Many babies are fussy and spit up milk, and in recent years it has become common for them to be diagnosed with reflux and medicated with antacids, thickeners and acid suppressants. However, research tells us that reflux is normal in young babies and that many of the symptoms associated with it may in fact be misunderstood baby behaviours rather than clinical symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
In Why Infant Reflux Matters Carol Smyth provides a simple and practical guide to understanding reflux that will help you avoid unnecessary medication if a simple change in feeding technique or care can help reduce your baby's symptoms. She explains what reflux is, why it happens, the difference between reflux and GORD, the role of stomach acid, and what research tells us about treatment. The book also explores the symptoms commonly attributed to reflux and looks at whether they might have other causes, and includes a plan you can work through for your individual baby to help you make informed decisions about their care.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2021

About the author

Carol Smyth is an IBCLC working in a busy private practice in Northern Ireland. She became interested in babies and reflux when her first son was diagnosed and treated for reflux in his early weeks. After receiving breastfeeding support and learning more about brain development, she realised that many of the symptoms that had been diagnosed as reflux had either been misinterpreted or were resolved by small changes in care. This revelation inspired her to change career and retrain as an IBCLC. Within her private practice she is driven by a passion to minimise the gap between our understanding of normal baby behaviours and societal norms through education and supporting parents. Understanding the level of anxious distress parents can feel when they have an unsettled baby, and with a background in psychology, she uses CBT techniques and education to lower anxiety alongside practical strategies to reduce reflux.

Reviews

[Grace Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Pinter & Martin ‘Why it matters’ collection.

Short, informative book about reflux which would be useful for new parents or parents to be!

[Lydia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can watch my full review for this book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/9cXRW9CqmlY
This is a great little book to give parents more information about reflux, to understand what it is and what isn’t. There are methods to try at home and information about medication. This book can empower parents to understand what may be causing their baby to be sick/distressed.
Smyth breaks down precisely what reflux is and what the more serious GORD is. Reflux is as simple as babies being sick, which is completely normal for many babies, reflux generally decreases after about 6 months which is also when babies can usually sit up on their own.
GORD is when babies are more distressed when they’re being sick and this can be for a variety of reasons, although it is not clearly understood. Symptoms of GORD are wide ranging and can often also be attributed to other causes. Smyth points out that many of the explanations for GORD, such as the acid hypothesis, have not been convincingly backed up by science. However many babies do cry a lot and do seem to be in pain and this can be linked to them being bringing up milk. There are many variables with each baby though, so each case should be taken individually.
GORD is over diagnosed, this means that babies are being given medication for a condition that they often don’t have. It is important to understand that GORD is over-diagnosed and that there may be other things parents can do to help relieve the symptoms in their baby, it is particularly important because the medications that are often prescribed for GORD have side effects of their own, and most parents would like to know for sure that the risks of those side effects are necessary risks to take. Smyth explains the side effects of the medications, which parents may not be made aware of when they get a prescription, she also gives other options that can be worked through to relieve the symptoms.
Some of the things Smyth discusses to help with a baby who is being sick and/or is distressed are; looking at the frequency and volume of feeds, positioning, keeping baby upright, as well as how and where baby sleeps. Smyth covered all areas in an easy to understand way with recognition that people do these things in different ways. Smyth also goes through some of the other symptoms attributed to GORD and discusses what else could be causing them and what could be done to ease the symptoms. All the information is laid out in an easy to navigate way. This book was easy to read and it can help parents manage their expectations and help them to understand their baby’s behaviour.
This was not the most exciting book I’ve ever read but there was a lot of good information in it, although there were some things I didn’t agree with and at times Smyth could come across as lecturing. Overall, this was a useful book for parents or healthcare workers that was well laid out to allow relevant information to be easily accessed.
You can watch my full review for this book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/9cXRW9CqmlY

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was excellent. This series tends to pack a lot into its little volumes and they can be literally and figuratively dense. This one, having some quite technical elements, was always likely to be one of those.

There are babies who have gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder and there's a lot of information here on helping parents (and professionals) to understand the disorder and how to manage it. I felt I learned a lot here.

Before that comes a long examination of whether perceptions of 'infant reflux' as the problem are always correct and the book describes the problems with misdiagnosis of normality and other infant needs. It remains compassionate and practical throughout.

I'd say this was a must read for anyone working with or caring for young babies and their families.

[Heather Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful addition to a wonderful series of books. I wish all families with unsettled babies had this book. She has such great sections on overcoming difficulties. A really useful and interesting little book.