Reguritation – a reason to worry?

Most babies are happy and healthy even if they frequently spit up. It can be quite concerning for parents, but it is part of the natural development process and usually nothing to worry about. A baby’s stomach has to learn to empty properly. It can take weeks or months to get it right.

Reguritation, also known as spitting up, is very common in infants and often occurs after feeding. The symptom occurs quite often after a feeding. The spit up is fluid and may look just like the formula or milk that was just fed. In infants, the esophageal sphincter that prevents food from flowing back up towards the mouth, is not completely formed. Furthermore, the gastric motility is not fully developed either. The regurgitations gradually disappear during the child’s first year as the digestive tract matures and the child begins to be in an upright position more often.

How to help

A healthy balance of bacteria in our gut is es- sential for a properly functioning digestive sys- tem. However, the bacteria do not only help to digest our food, but also affect gastrointestinal motility.

Gastrointestinal motility is the movement that “leads” food through the digestive tract and out of the body. When the gastrointestinal motility is disrupted, it may take longer for food to move through the digestive tract and to the small intestine, which can cause regurgitation. Disruptive factors while feeding should be avoided. The goal is to soothe the infant, and provide comfort – a quiet room with dimmed lighting and pleasant, soft sounds are factors that make feel the baby comfortable.
BioGaia probiotic products containing L. reuteri Protectis can help to promote healthy gastrointestinal tract motility by reinforcing the good bacteria in the baby’s gut, and by this reducing the frequency of regurgitation.

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