Treatments for Baby Acid Reflux

Desperation is a feeling that is often experienced by parents of babies with acid reflux. Often a parent feels conflicted about treatment of the child with medication because newborns are so little. However if a child is full of acid and gas there may be no other way to treat it but with chemicals that are known to work when it comes to dissolving gas breaking up gas.

If the colic is due to acid reflux then there are medications that can help your child recover.

The goals of treatment of acid reflux are to

· Relieve symptoms
· Promote normal weight gain
· Heal inflammation
· Prevent complications

The medical approach is very straightforward. It involves addressing the issue of stomach acid, which creates the pain of the reflux and stomach emptying which are the key initiators of reflux. If you can get these two problems in line you will have a happier baby.

Gas Drops are the first line of over the counter treatment for gas. Before prescribing you any medicine your doctor may suggest that you try gas drops. Gas drops are over the counter preparations that help break up gas. Most formulations contain simethicone.

Simethicone is a compound that does a great job of breaking up big gas bubbles in the intestine and breaking them down into smaller ones.

However if the baby is taking in a lot of air due to constantly screaming then these gas drops may simply not be enough to handle the problem. Unfortunately the baby's natural inclination is to gulp more air.

If stomach acid is the trigger that is making your baby scream then your doctor will prescribe an acid suppressant.

There are two classes of mediation that are used to suppress acid in babies. These include histamine receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibiters.

The histamine receptor antagonists are known to most of us as Zantac, Axid and Pepcid. They have been in use since 1981. For the baby with mild symptoms of reflux esopoghagitis these medications are a reasonable treatment option. However the drawback of using them is that they are a symptomatic treatment that loses its effectiveness with time.

Proton pump inhibiters actually stop the stomach from producing acid. This can help give the esophagus time to heal. The drug that is mainly used to treat children with reflux is called Prilosec. Children over the age of 11 can also take a similar drug called Nexium.

Prokinetic mediations are designed to improve your child's intestinal motility. They do this by —

· Helping the esophagus squeeze close and stay closed
· Increase the LES pressure so the child does not regurgitate as often
· Accelerate the emptying of the stomach contents

The two most popular of the prokinetic medications that are prescribed are called Reglan and Bethanechol. Both medications are given to a child four times a day.

Reglan has quite a few side effects including sleeplessness, jittery behavior, tongue thrusting, arching and head turning. This means the side effects of giving your kid this drug is just as bad as the colic itself.

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Working Mommy Burn Out

Depression and burnout can creep up on a busy mom especially if she is a busy professional like a lawyer as well.  Most working moms have that stubborn Type A overachiever style of personality very few are willing to admit a weakness, such as exhaustion or depression. This is because most professionals are trained to at least impervious to any outside stress as well as to not stop pursuing a matter until it is concluded.

 Some moms on the experience a gradual worsening of symptoms and others are felled by it seemingly overnight with no warning. It really does depend on the individual and the types of stress they are under.  

Yet another insidious fact of life when it comes to depression and burnout is that not everybody experiences all of these symptoms. Some people may only find one sphere of their daily existence affected, such as their physical wellness and not appear to have problems in other areas such as work. However usually depression begins with physical symptoms that include disturbances in sleep, extreme weight gain or loss, excess snacking or no appetite, fatigue, lack of energy, loss of libido, digestive problems, headaches, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, inability to make a decision, imagining suicide, sadness, shame, guilt, irritability, emotional withdrawal, crying spells, restlessness, neglect of personal hygiene, inability to keep up and substance abuse. 

Burnout is a type of depression but the symptoms of fatigue, apathy and negativity are extreme. The person may be so tired that they may not be able to focus at all on work. They become overwhelmed by a loss of control over circumstances in life (such as a spouse leaving) or by being unable to meet deadlines. Ironically the last thing that some working moms on the verge of burnout are exhausted. 

Many use their Type A personalities to keep plugging on against great odds of success. In fact many who are actually burnt out seem to be incapable of cutting back on the number of hours they spend at work. Many people can't get out bed when they are burnt out. It is often accompanied by illness and an abuse of recreational drugs.  By the time a person is burnt out he or she is usually also worthy of a diagnosis of clinical depression. Some doctors will also diagnose this as chronic fatigue symptom. This individual needs to come out of self-imposed isolation and talk about problems.

A life coach can also help a person suffering from depression cope with inappropriate feelings of shame and know the difference between how one feels about reality and what is really going on. This can really help a depressed or burnt out depression gain perspective and strength and move on to reorganize their lives so that they feel more health.  Sometimes what is needed is a regiment of psychological or psychiatric treatment that may or may not include drugs to treat the exhaustion or depressive aspects.

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