Hundreds of UK mums are outraged that the NHS may soon stop offering “unnecessary” medical treatment for babies suffering from severe acid reflux.
 
Four in ten babies will “spit up” a small amount of milk soon after feeding. Most experience no discomfort, but for some the reflux can be a huge problem – causing distress for both babies and parents. However new draft guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state that most babies will grow out of acid reflux on their own and that hospital referrals and drug treatment should be discouraged.
 
West Yorkshire mum Haylee Edwards says that medical treatment was the only thing that helped her son Nathan. “My little boy had a testing time battling reflux and cows milk protein allergy,” said Haylee. Among Nathan’s symptoms were a “full body rash, explosive stools, projectile vomiting and choking episodes.”
 
After one particularly bad reflux episode, Nathan was rushed to hospital, where he finally began receiving proper treatment. “Nathan had turned blue in the face and lips with choking and was finding it difficult to breathe… The NHS only started listening to me once Nathan was admitted to hospital and we started getting somewhere.”
 
72 hours after receving treatment, Nathan was like a “new baby” and his symptoms disappeared within three weeks, said Haylee. She considers her son one of the lucky ones. “Some babies have been left too long without treatment... tube feeding has been the last option and permanent damage has been caused to their throats.”
 
Haylee has started an online petition protesting the new NICE guidelines. Since going live it has gained almost 2,000 signatures. Show your support by adding your name here

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