Infants who cannot keep food down can be helped.
An infant formula is available which, according to Mead Johnson Nutritionals, significantly reduces the impact of the condition known as persistent infant reflux.
Medical research, the company says, shows the formula - called Enfalac - can also decrease episodes of crying and
increase infant sleep time in babies with reflux.
Of the more than 50,000 babies born in New Zealand each year half will suffer from recurrent regurgitation at some point, research has shown. "Infant reflux is very common in young babies," says Dr Michael Watt, an Auckland paediatrician.
He says the potential impact of recurrent infant reflux on parents is profound. "Parents are often at their wits end when faced with a child that is screaming, crying and regurgitating - particularly in the middle of the night."
There is a link between regurgitation and post-natal depression, he adds. Recurrent vomiting at night leads to sleepless nights for both parents and "is a strong factor in producing an immense amount of stress in the parent's relationship."
He says that the historical approach to treating simple reflux includes adjusting a baby's posture so that the infant is held and sleeps upright. But positioning techniques can be difficult to apply correctly and are often uncomfortable for babies, he says.
The new product is said to be the only formula available in New Zealand which incorporates a thickener. This acts to keep it in the stomach and prevent it from rising into the oesophagus.
"I believe this kind of formula is a very useful addition to the range of measures we have to treat simple infant reflux," Dr Watt says. Mead Johnson advises that breast feeding is naturally the superior feeding method and should be continued for as long as possible.
Mothers who are interested in the new formula as a means of reducing reflux are encouraged to consult their general practitioner or Plunket nurse. The formula is available in pharmacies and supermarkets.
