Baby Reflux Treatment in London at our practices in East London Moorgate Monument EC3, Belgravia Westminster SW1 and Clapham SW4 or at your home in London – Information about Digestive Osteopathy and Physiotherapy
Baby reflux
A baby with reflux will often reject milk after feeding and will often cry more often after feeding and during thenight than a baby without reflux.
Baby reflux is common in babies, but is also very uncomfortable for baby and can lead to inflammation of the upper airways which increases the secretion of mucus, leading to more intense cold or bronchiolitis during the winter. If the upper airways are inflamed then you will hear noises when your baby is breathing.
If you are an Axa or Bupa patient, you cannot book online. Please call our office with your authorisation number.
If you cannot find an appointment that suits you, call us or send us a message: we will do our best to find you a slot.
Baby reflux treatment in London at home or at the practice
Baby Physio is a paediatric physiotherapy and osteopathy practice in London, specialised in the treatment of babies and mothers at home or in at the clinics.
Our team of highly trained physiotherapists & osteopaths provide treatments at our practices in London:
- Light Centre Belgravia near Victoria Station: 9 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LX
- Light Centre Monument near Moorgate, London Bridge & Bank: 36 St Mary at Hill, EC3R 8DU
- Make Me Feel Pharmacy Clapham between Clapham South & Clapham Common: 25 Abbeville Road, SW4 9LA
- Light Centre Clapham, right next to Clapham Common Station: 151-153 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7SS
Our physiotherapists and osteopaths will use soft techniques (visceral and cranial), teach you the good routines with your baby and will give you all the necessary advises.
Our physiotherapy and osteopathy treatments are covered by most health insurances and are Bupa registered & recognised (BUPA Global and BUPA UK), Axa registered & recognised (AXA International, AXA PPP), Cigna registered & recognised and WPA registered & recognised
To book a session for baby reflux treatment in London: 0207 125 0262 / 0782 455 3765
More Information about Baby Reflux and Baby Reflux treatment
What is baby reflux?
Baby reflux is a digestive symptom, which can appear in babies both formula-fed and breast-fed. It is a small quantity of swallowed milk mixed with stomach acid, which comes back up into baby’s food pipe or into his mouth. Baby reflux is a common condition and it affects 50% of babies during the first 3 months. Some baby reflux symptoms are not obvious, but the signs below can give you a hint that your baby has reflux
What are the signs that baby has reflux?
Baby may have typical symptoms as:
- Posseting
- Vomiting
- Hiccups & cough
- Splutter
- Irritable, cries or arches his back during/after feed
What causes baby reflux?
At the entrance of the stomach you can find a ring of muscles called « valve ». This valve is a door that opens, and lets the milk your baby has swallowed into the stomach, and closes to keep the milk in the tummy.
But during the first months, if baby’s digestive system is still immature or has been subject to tensions due to the position of the baby during the pregnancy or the delivery, the valve might not close properly. When baby’s tummy is full, milk and acid can come back up into the oesophagus causing discomfort.
Information on how osteopathy understands baby reflux?
What is osteopathy ?
Osteopathy technique works with the structure and function of the body, and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together. Ref: Gosc
How do osteopaths understand the underlying cause of baby reflux?
Osteopaths believe a difficult, very short or very long delivery, which needed the use of instruments or a caesarean, can create tensions on baby’s back especially on the upper and middle back, which can disturb the digestive system. You will often observe that a baby with reflux has an arched back. Osteopaths believe that this tension can cause baby reflux.
How to manage baby reflux?
Tips for parents on how to manage baby reflux; all these tips are important and are part of baby reflux treatment:
- If the baby is breastfed, the mum should try to go dairy free (soy free and ideally wheat free) for a couple of days (roughly 2 weeks) and see if that helps. You’ll then be able to reintroduce slowly these foods in your diet.
- Gentle tummy massage (1-3hrs post feed) can help with the baby’s digestion
- Considering seeing a lactation consultant for an eventual tongue tie (especially if mum feels that the baby’s latch isn’t strong, and therefore swallows a lot of air)
- Thinking of feeding position (mum and baby)
- If mixed food (formula and breast milk), thinking of using Colief drops
- After being fed, burping/winding the baby and holding them upright for a couple of minutes before laying them down on their back
- Spacing the feeding time by adding 30mins to 1hr more between the feeds (avoiding overfeeding the baby will help)
- If your baby spits up a lot, try to reduce the length of the feed
- Looking for other signs such as any respiratory symptoms associated, skin condition (red spots all over the body), loose stools may highlight cow’s milk protein allergy (different from intolerance)
Article by James Turgis, Chartered Physiotherapist
If you are an Axa or Bupa patient, you cannot book online. Please call our office with your authorisation number.
If you cannot find an appointment that suits you, call us or send us a message: we will do our best to find you a slot.