As a new mother, I've experienced firsthand the anguish and frustration of a child suffering from reflux, with little assistance from those I thought could help. My son came into this world with this condition, a challenge that could have been more manageable with informed support from medical professionals. He also had tongue tie, which complicated breastfeeding. Despite intervention for the tongue tie, his reflux worsened over time, a common trajectory I was not warned about and unnecessarily amplified our distress.

Caring for a newborn is inherently nerve-racking. When your child is in pain and you feel helpless to aid them, it is heartbreaking. The lack of understanding and support from medical experts in handling infant reflux greatly intensified these feelings, and I firmly believe no parent should have to experience this. It is crucial for practitioners to receive adequate training about reflux in babies, from identifying symptoms to providing suitable referrals and support.

As a parent, the sleepless nights and endless worrying when your child is experiencing reflux is extremely overwhelming. I’m certain all parents who have experienced a reflux baby, have gone down a rabbit hole with researching reflux, seeing what support and help they can do to help their baby. I fully understand that reflux is caused by something, which from experience is always something which the medical professionals I have encountered try and mask and or cover up by either offering various formulas and or medications which can be exhausting in itself. I was offered omeprazole after 8 months of GP visits where I ended up seeking private healthcare support. But this wasn’t available from my local authority in liquid form meaning I had to crush up tablets every single day several times a day before a feed to my child. The liquid form was deemed “too expensive”.

According to a study published in the journal Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 20% of infants. Despite this, many parents report a lack of informed support and systematic tools to manage this condition (Journal of Clinical Epidemiology).

For the sake of countless other mothers and their babies, who are beginning their riveting journey of motherhood with the added challenge of reflux, we need to see a change. We require more comprehensive training for medical professionals about infant reflux, and a commitment to supporting affected parents.

No parent should feel alone and helpless when facing their child's medical condition. Let's ensure all mothers and fathers have access to the support and knowledge they need during their child's early years. Sign the petition to endorse better education and hands-on support for medical professionals dealing with infant reflux to ensure parents get the support they need and deserve.