I wonder daily where all of the GERD is coming from.  I have worked in
lactation for 33 years and truly *never* saw it until about 10 years ago.
There was colic, but I can certainly tell the difference.  I do not believe
that it was occurring at  today's record high and just not being diagnosed.
I have talked with numerous Peds who have been around a long time and they
all say that this is "new."

I think that 1/3 of the infants in the greater Milwaukee area are on Zantac
by their second month of life and they remain on it for at least till their
6th month and some well beyond.  This antacid wash cannot be good for
nutrient absorption and the severe pain that these babies experience, along
with the emotional pain of the rest of the family, cannot be a good
beginning to life.

Is anyone asking "Why?"  We are doing something very wrong.  Just treating
the symptoms with Zantac, or Pepsid, or Reglan as if this were just a
normal part of being an infant is not the answer.

I have a few "loose" ideas and would like to hear from some others of
you--those who are not already off to OZ or off Lactnet while preparing to go.

Is this illness as epidemic in countries other than the US?

I read everything that I run into on the infant gut and its proper
functioning. Below are a few of those "loose" ideas that I have gleaned:

Sleeping on the back.
Ibuprophen use in the first 2 weeks
Ultrasounds in-utero
Caffeine use by mother
Car seat use throughout the day
High parental stress/fear

What are your ideas?

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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