Health
Infant Reflux and Breastfeeding: How to Feed a Baby With Reflux Comfortably
Bringing your new baby home sparks joy, yet it can be tough, too. Lack of sleep and new meal modes make it hard. A big worry for many is when the baby spits up or shows signs of reflux. A little spit-up is normal, but if there’s a lot of pain, moms may wonder how to ease their baby’s feeding. Learning about baby reflux and how it ties to breastfeeding helps parents soothe their baby and ease feed times. Plus, just as helpful tools like a feeding bottle washer make things clean and simple, having good plans can ease feeding with reflux.
What Is Infant Reflux and How Common Is It?
Baby reflux means food from the belly moves back up to the throat, and it might come out as spit-up after eating. This happens because a baby’s inside parts are still growing, such as the muscle that keeps food down. Many babies deal with this, and in fact, studies show that nearly half of all babies under three months spit up at least once daily. The good news is, most babies get better from it by 12 to 18 months as their bodies grow.
Signs Your Breastfed Baby Might Have Reflux
Now and then, babies may spit up, which is normal. But those with reflux might also show signs like:
- Lots of spit-up or throwing up post-meals.
- Being cranky or upset, mostly when eating.
- Bending their back during or after feeding.
- Gagging, coughing, or hiccupping.
- Not putting on weight or growing slowly if it’s bad.
We need to know that light reflux, not messing with a baby’s weight or ease, is often called “happy spitting.” Yet, if your baby looks in pain or isn’t doing well, they might need changes or doctor help.
Why Reflux Happens in Young Babies
The main cause of acid reflux in babies is that their food pipes are not yet fully grown. The muscle that stops food from going back up is not strong enough to hold milk down all the time.
Other things may play a part too:
- Giving too much food or feeding too fast.
- Taking in air while feeding.
- Not taking well to some foods the mom eats (but this is rare).
- How the baby sits or lies during or after feeds.
The big problem is growth, and time can be the best help. But for now, there are some ways to ease the signs and help both the baby and mom feel good.
Breastfeeding Positions That Can Help With Reflux
The way you feed your baby can cut down on reflux. Keeping the baby up a bit when feeding helps since gravity keeps milk down. Here are a few ways you can try:
- Laid-back breastfeeding: Mom reclines slightly with baby lying tummy-down across her chest, which slows milk flow and uses gravity to help digestion.
- Upright cradle hold: Holding the baby more vertically in the cradle position allows milk to go down smoothly.
- Football hold: Tucking the baby under the arm, while keeping them elevated, can also help babies with reflux.
Trying out different ways can show what is best for your baby.
Feeding Tips to Reduce Spit-Up and Discomfort
Making a few tiny shifts in how you feed can also cut down on spit-up:
- Give less food, but more often, instead of long feed times.
- Let the baby stop and gulp down each bit to keep air out.
- Keep the baby cool and still before and during feeds — crying makes them suck in more air.
- Don’t shake, jump, or lay the baby down flat just after feeding.
These little acts can help keep feeding easy for both baby and mom.
How Milk Supply and Letdown Might Affect Reflux
For some moms who feed from the breast, too much milk or a fast milk flow can cause reflux. When milk comes too fast, babies might gulp, take in air, and feel too much, which can make them spit up or get fussy. If you think this is true, try:
- Let out some milk before feeding to make the first flow slower.
- Feed while leaning back so gravity can slow the milk down.
- Give milk from just one side each time to cut down on too much milk.
Handling the amount of milk doesn’t cut back on the nutrition—it just makes feeding better for babies.
Burping and Post-Feeding Routines That Support Digestion
After feeding, it’s key to burp babies who have reflux. Air in the belly adds to the pressure, so letting it out helps ease pain. Good ways to burp are:
- Hold the baby up close to your chest and softly pat the back
- Sit the baby on your lap, keep the head and chest up, and rub the back
- Try to burp when halfway done with the feed, not just after
After feeding, hold the baby up for 20 to 30 minutes to cut down on spit-up. Many parents hold their little ones in carriers to keep them up and use their hands for other things.
When to Talk to a Pediatrician About Persistent Symptoms
Most of the time, acid reflux is not bad and gets better as kids grow. But it can mean a bigger issue called GERD (stomach acid reflux disease) in some cases. You should talk to a child doctor if your little one:
- Does not put on weight or loses weight.
- Cries a lot after or while they feed.
- Does not want to eat or seems hurt when eating.
- Throw up spit that is green, yellow, or has blood.
- Finds it hard to breathe, chokes, or coughs a lot.
Doctors might say to change how you feed them, give medicine, or, not often, do more tests.
Practical Tools That Can Help Parents
Handling reflux is not just about how a baby sits or when they burp. It’s also about keeping the feeding tools clean and safe. Many moms and dads choose to use a bottle washer to clean each day, more so if they use both direct feeding and pumped milk. To make sure bottles, nipples, and pump parts are well washed and free of germs can reduce germs and help a baby’s soft tummy.
Using the right feeding methods with clean tools leads to better health habits overall.
Conclusion
Baby spit-up is a thing many moms who feed with milk know well. It can be tough to deal with the mess or the baby crying often, but understanding what it is and making small tweaks can help a lot. From holding the baby right while feeding and taking it slow, to burping them more and keeping them upright, moms can make their little one feel better while still having good feed times. If the problems stay or get worse, a chat with a baby doctor ensures the baby gets the care they need. Over time, trying new things and using tools like a strong bottle washer, handling baby spit-up gets simpler. As the baby grows, and their belly gets used to food, most spit-up issues end — this leads to happier feed times and peaceful times for both mom and baby.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has risen to more than 22 million.
The Director-General of NHIA, Mr Kelechi Ohiri, said this resulted from the implementation of the mandatory health insurance, which has gained momentum nationwide.
He said this on Wednesday at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.
Mr Ohiri said enrolment had increased to 22.03 million, representing a 35 per cent year-on-year growth, attributing this to stronger collaboration with state social health insurance agencies, ministries, departments and agencies, organised labour, employers, the private sector, and the gradual implementation of the mandatory health insurance provisions of the NHIA Act.
He said that the country had moved beyond policy formulation to delivering measurable improvements in healthcare access, service quality and consumer protection in line with the federal government’s health sector reform agenda.
According to him, Nigeria already has the necessary policies and legislation to achieve Universal Health Coverage, positing that the key challenge was effective implementation.
“The decisive variable is now implementation- consistent, rigorous and accountable execution that converts political commitment into healthcare access for real Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Ohiri said that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Scheme to the NHIA had strengthened regulation, consumer protection, accountability and strategic purchasing, while providing the legal and operational framework for achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He added that improving the experience of enrollees remained central to the Authority’s reform agenda.
According to him, NHIA has strengthened its complaints management system, introduced faster resolution timelines, and intensified compliance monitoring of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers.
He further added that NHIA had sanctioned facilities that failed to meet the required standards, adding that his organisation had resolved 3,878 complaints, representing an 87 per cent resolution rate, while 95 per cent of the cases were concluded within prescribed timelines.
Mr Ohiri noted that more than N14.2 million had been refunded to enrollees, while non-compliant healthcare facilities had been sanctioned.
He said NHIA had also introduced service standards, including a one-hour treatment commencement target for enrollees requiring urgent care, to improve access to timely and quality healthcare services.
The NHIA boss further disclosed that capitation payments to healthcare providers had been increased by 93 per cent.
He said fee-for-service reimbursements rose by 378 per cent to enable providers to invest more in personnel, equipment and infrastructure.
According to him, 7,592 healthcare facilities have been assessed under the SafeCare quality framework as part of efforts to institutionalise continuous quality improvement across the country.
Mr Ohiri also highlighted interventions targeted at vulnerable groups, including support for more than 48,500 pregnant women, expanded maternal and newborn healthcare services, the Vulnerable Group Fund, and improved access to healthcare for pensioners and retirees.
He said Universal Health Coverage could only be achieved if every Nigerian, regardless of income or location, had access to quality healthcare services.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new one-hour authorisation response time ultimatum policy introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received the full backing of SUNU Health Nigeria Limited.
This policy was introduced by the agency to ensure enrollees get prompt approval codes to access care.
Healthcare service providers have been urged to report any Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) that violates this initiative through an email, with the HMO in copy and a timestamp attached as evidence of the request. They may proceed to offer services to enrollees thereafter.
Speaking at the company’s second-quarter Providers’ Forum for the Lagos-Ogun region in Lagos recently, the chief executive of SUNU Health, Dr Moyosore Olomola, expressed optimism that this policy would improve healthcare delivery in the country, especially for enrollees, who crave quality service.
At the event themed Improving Quality and Access to Care Through Stronger Provider Network, and held at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba, Lagos, Mr Olomola reaffirmed the HMO’s commitment to operating within legal and operational frameworks to guarantee adequate care for enrollees.
“Access to care and quality of care remain key priorities in our healthcare systems. We know quite well that deliberate collaboration, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to excellence are required to achieve these priorities.
“A strong provider network is doubtless the backbone of any effective healthcare system. It ensures that our mutual enrollees receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price,” Mr Olomola, represented at the programme by the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr Faith Nwachi, stated.
He further assured that SUNU Health would strictly adhere to the one-hour authorisation limit, stressing that this aligns seamlessly with one of the organisation’s core values—promptness and its corporate slogan, Humanity is the centre of our initiatives.
In a bid to further improve access and quality of care, SUNU Health also demonstrated its new operational software and Mobile app, aptly named SUNU Legacy.
Also speaking at the event, the NHIA Lagos State Coordinator (Ikeja), Dr Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, noted that the forum’s expected outcome is to significantly reduce delays in accessing medical care.
Other key expectations include ensuring continuity of care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening accountability among HMOs.
Addressing specific pain points faced by enrollees, the NHIA Ogun State Coordinator, Mr Dare Adefeso, acknowledged that the agency had received complaints regarding out-of-stock drugs and the discrimination of enrollees by certain providers.
He affirmed that the NHIA is actively addressing these issues, stressing that moving forward, every facility must ensure enrollees are properly catered to regardless of their status, provided they have an active health insurance plan.
Corroborating the long-standing legacy of SUNU Health, the Ogun State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Aishat Tiamiyu, shared that her agency is responsible for public information dissemination and has been enrolled with SUNU Health for over 25 years.
Commending the HMO’s stellar service over two decades, she called for the immediate enrollment of new NOA staff into the scheme.
The Providers’ Forum remains one of the strategic channels employed by SUNU Health to consistently engage healthcare providers, understand their operational challenges, introduce new software updates, and solidify partnerships aimed at fostering premium healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the recall of a sexual enhancement product known as WAP Sensual Enhancement Capsules.
In a statement on Monday, the Nigerian agency disclosed that the recall is due to “undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients” in the product, whose country of origin is unknown, but is marketed and distributed online in the US through eBay.
It was emphasised that the recall is being “voluntarily” made by the manufacturer, Best Supplements Best Prices Company.
The detection of the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients was made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Laboratory analysis by the US FDA revealed that the product contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and flibanserin, which were not mentioned on the product label. Such substances may include phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors or related compounds commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the statement by NAFDAC stated.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are ingredients in FDA-approved prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It was noted that these undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
Flibanserin is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat low sexual desire in women. Flibanserin can cause drowsiness, sedation, dangerously low blood pressure, and fainting, especially when combined with alcohol.
Consumers have been encouraged to report compromised products (medicines or medical devices) to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to sf******@********ov.ng.
