Gastro-esophageal Reflux in Breastfed Babies: What's Missing?

Abstract

Breast milk is the food of choice for babies under six months. However, babies experiencing gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) are often prematurely weaned from the breast. A discursive literature review method was used to identify how research available to health care professionals considers the place of breast milk and breastfeeding (BF) in the presence of GER. Searching PubMed and CINAHL for the terms "gastroesophageal reflux" OR "gastroesophageal reflux" in healthy babies, and in articles that discuss non-pharmacological management of babies with GER, 54 articles were located and 27 articles related to babies with GER met the inclusion criteria. The articles are divided into three groups: those that make frequent reference to breastfeeding/breast milk, those that mention breastfeeding/breast milk briefly, and those that make no mention at all-resorting to management strategies that focus on the formula-fed baby. This discursive literature review demonstrates that breast milk and breastfeeding are not widely considered in publications about GER. Formula milk would appear to be the default food for babies who have GER. There is a need for more research, new recommendations and support for breastfeeding mothers who have babies experiencing GER.