Twins with Reflux

Our Identical Twin girls were born prematurely at 35 weeks and they were small.  They both suffered from Reflux. They both vomited milk after a feed and were both fidgety sleepers. We were prescribed Infant Gavison to use with feeds and after several months and when the girls had chance to get bigger they grew out of the problem.

Reflux is the term used to describe what happens when your baby’s stomach contents come back up into the gullet or mouth.  The medical long name is gastro-oesophageal reflux.  Babies get reflux because the muscular valve at the end of the food pipe hasn’t developed properly so you quite frequently find premature babies suffering from Reflux.

When your baby’s tummy is full, food and acid can come back up causing your baby to vomit small amounts of milk or even food if an older baby.  As your baby or babies get older and the muscular valve as had chance to develop more and become stronger they will most likely grow out of the Reflux.

Babies with Reflux may show the following:

  • frequent vomiting after a feed
  • back arching due to reflux of the acidic stomach contents into the food tube (oesophagus)
  • crying
  • restlessness
  • failure to gain weight or weight loss, due to the constant vomiting of feeds

You can manage and cope with Reflux by using positioning methods when feeding, sleeping, sitting and even when on a car journey.

How to Help Twins With Reflux

Positioning with Feeds

By keeping your baby/babies upright  during feeding and for about 30 minutes after feeding can help reduce reflux by working with gravity to hold the feed down.  Keep your baby/babies as calm and still as possible so no jerky or bouncy movements after the feed.

Sitting & Sleeping

It is better to keep your baby/babies slightly elevated particularly after feeding.  You can do this using a Reflux Wedge or with a baby bean bag as shown below.


Car Journeys

Car journeys may be uncomfortable for your baby/babies because most car seats and travel systems have deep seats creating a slumped position.  This can also add pressure to the tummy and your baby/babies may feel the burning pain of the rising acid.  Ideally, you want to purchase a baby seat that allows for multiple positions for incline and recline.

Carrying

It is suggested that babies who are carried throughout the day cry less and as crying makes reflux worse, it is a good idea to carry your babies as much as you can.  Carrying keeps a baby upright which also helps with reflux.  Of course, in reality, if you are a parent of twins you are not going to be able to carry two babies around all day even if you take turns.  Slings are recommended for carrying babies and you can buy a twin sling which might just make it possible.

Clothing

Avoid tight clothing, particularly clothing that is tight around the tummy area.  Also ensure nappies are not too tight around the tummy either.

Here is a good website for further information on Baby Reflux.