Why does my baby spit up milk?

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Why does my baby spit up milk

 

My baby would spit up a mouthful of milk just after the feed and I feel like he threw up half of the milk he had. As parents, we are always sensitive about the health of our babies, especially whether they are eating enough and gaining weight. These regular spit-ups of milk can worry you but it is completely normal for healthy babies to do that. But there are some situations where spitting up milk can be a symptom of another health problem and you need to be concerned. Keep reading to know why babies spit up, how to prevent it and when to be concerned about spit-ups.

CONTENT

1.   Is it normal for babies to spit up milk?

2.   Why does my baby spit up milk?

2.1 Overfeeding

2.2 Failing to burp properly

2.3 Poor Latch / Tongue-tie

2.4 Food intolerances / Food allergy

2.5 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

3.   Normal baby spit up or Reflux – When to be concerned about baby spit-ups?

4.   Is it normal for babies to spit up during sleep?

5.   How to prevent babies from spitting up?

5.1 Do not overfeed your baby

5.2 Burp sufficiently

5.3 Identify and fix tongue-ties / poor latching

5.4 Diagnose and treat GERD.

5.5 Avoid food allergens.

6.   When will babies stop spitting up?

1.   Is it normal for babies to spit up milk?

Yes. It is totally normal for young babies to spit up. Gastroesophageal reflux, which is commonly called spit-ups can be observed in babies aging from 0 – 3 months. A spit-up happens when the milk in the stomach of the baby passes back to the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) of an adult keeps the food from coming back to the esophagus and opens only when we swallow. But babies have a developing digestive system and the lower esophageal sphincter tends to open at unnecessary times making them prone to frequent spit-ups.

You might notice that your baby spit-ups mostly when they are laid down after the feeds. Laying down is not the only cause of spit ups but they take away the benefit of gravity keeping the milk inside the stomach. The digestive process also may slow down when the babies are laying increasing the chances for reflux. Spit-ups sometimes can be a symptom of a food allergy or GERD but it is not a cause of SIDS or any other serious health condition.

2.   Why does my baby spit up milk?

Although spit-ups are not a symptom of an underlying health problem, many reasons can cause them. If you try to avoid these reasons, your baby will not spit up frequently or might even stop spitting up milk.

2.1 Overfeeding

How do you feel when you overstuff yourself with a yummy meal? We have mature digestive systems yet we feel nauseated when overeaten. The same happens to babies when they eat too much and their undeveloped digestive system will make it easier for the excess milk to come out. Formula-fed babies tend to be mostly overfed as milk flows out quicker with less effort and they are encouraged to finish the bottle even though they are actually full in the tummy. The followings are the signs that you are overfeeding your baby.

  • Spitting up larger amounts frequently
  • More wet diapers than the normal count
  • Diarrhea
  • Being fussy
  • Abnormal weight gain than expected for the age

2.2 Failing to burp properly

While being fed, babies swallow air. When this air collects in the tummy, it can turn into an uncomfortable bubble of gas causing reflux. Burping your baby properly can reduce the spit-ups caused by air accumulation in the stomach.

If your baby is

  • Spitting up frequently
  • Bloated all the time
  • Lifting and throwing up legs
  • Arching his back
  • Fussy for no reason, It can be a sign that you are not burping him enough or not burping him properly. Burping a baby needs practice so be patient with yourself and experiment with the burping techniques to find out which work for your baby and easy for you to perform.
Why does my baby spit up milk?

2.3 Poor Latch / Tongue-tie

When the baby’s frenulum which is the membrane underneath the tongue weakens the movement of the tongue, it is called a tongue tie. A tongue-tie can affect both breastfed and formula-fed babies. Breastfed babies cannot latch properly with a tongue tie. Tongue ties also make the babies swallow more air during feeds increasing the rate of refluxes.

There is a learning curve for both the baby and mother in breastfeeding. If the baby is latching shallow, they cannot eat effectively and tends to swallow more air causing frequent spit-ups. If your baby is spitting frequently and shows no signs of bloating or overfeeding, check for any problems in latching or a tongue tie.

2.4 Food intolerances / Food allergy

Babies might show allergic reactions to the food that they eat, breastmilk, or baby formula. These allergic reactions can be diagnosed by severe inflammation of the esophagus which is called Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Allergies will make the esophagus inflamed, swollen, and irritated, making it difficult for the baby to swallow.

Symptoms of food allergies/ intolerance

  • frequent spit-ups
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Gagging and choking
  • Signs of pain such as the arching of the back
  • Refusal to eat
  • Difficulty sleeping

2.5 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

As I mentioned earlier, spit-ups are not a reason to worry about. They are a result of the immature digestive system of the baby and do not impact the baby’s health. But if your baby shows signs of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, you need to seek medical help.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is painful as it causes heartburns from the acids coming up from the stomach. Difficulties swallowing also is a symptom of GERD. You have to identify GERD from normal spit-ups to seek medical help on time.

3.   Normal baby spit up or Reflux – When to be concerned about baby spit ups?

Normal reflexes are not uncomfortable for the baby. It will happen effortlessly and the baby will show no signs of pain. GERD can be painful and the baby will vomit forcefully showing signs of pain.

  • Babies with GERD will refuse to eat and be fussier than usual. Normal spit-ups have no impact on the appetite.
  • GERD will make babies spit when burped and in hiccups. This does not happen usually if your baby is a happy spitter (Experience normal spit ups)
  • Normal spit-up does not affect the growth of the babies. If your baby struggles to gain weight or is losing weight and spits up a lot, it can be GERD.
  • Coughing and difficulty in breathing are also signs of GERD. Gagging and choking while spit-ups are also not normal and signal about GERD.
  • Normal reflux never disturbs the sleep of the baby. If this happens, that is GERD and you have to consult your pediatrician.

4.   Is it normal for babies to spit up during sleep?

Spitting up is normal and so it spitting up while sleeping. Babies spend more than half of the day sleeping in the first few months of their life and it is common for spit-ups to happen in this period. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH) states that babies have a protective reflex that causes them to cough up or swallow spit up or vomit. Hence, your baby will not be choked in case of a spit-up during sleep. Keep your baby on their back during sleep and it will help to protect his airways from blocking.

Spit-ups are not identified as a cause of SIDS, so there is nothing to worry about if you find your baby has spitted up again in the crib. But the babies with GERD may experience complications that will require medical treatments.

5.   How to prevent babies from spitting up?

5.1 Do not overfeed your baby

Bottle-fed babies are often overfed. Follow these steps to make sure that your baby is not eating too much leading to unnecessary spit-ups.

  • Select the correct nipple size for your baby. When milk flows quickly and effortlessly, the baby eats more than he needs, so the nipple size important. Dr. Brown has seven nipple sizes to choose from depending on the flow rate. 
  • Know when your baby is full and stop feeding. The baby will take breaks from sucking milk and may even fall asleep when he is full.
  • There will not be a fixed number of ounces of milk that your baby will drink every day. Do not try to force your baby to eat the same amount each day. Just watch his cues and stop feeding when he is full.
  • Do not add other food items such as fruit juices or cereal to the baby’s bottle at least until he turns six months. Excessive calorie intake can make the baby uncomfortable.

5.2 Burp sufficiently

Burp your baby properly when you switch the breasts or after 2-3 ounces of milk. There are many burping techniques and below are a few you can select from.

  • The baby against your chest – Hold your baby with his chin against your shoulder and gently pat his back. Rocking slowly will also help with burping.
  • Sitting up the baby on your lap or across your knees – Hold your baby in a sitting position across your lap or knees and rest their chin in your palm to support his neck and head. Gently pat on the back.
  • Lay the baby across your lap – Keep the head supported while holding it higher than his chest. Gently pat on the back.
Why does my baby spit up milk?

5.3 Identify and fix tongue-ties / poor latching

When you are confirmed that your baby has a tongue-tie, he will have to go through a tongue-tie division. Tongue-tie division is a procedure performed to fix tongue ties. The frenulum will be cut allowing the tongue to move freely. This can improve the latch and reduce feeding complications.

If you experience latching problems, try the below solutions.

  • Find the most comfortable position for your baby.
  • Shape the breast, using the C-hold method.
  • Call a lactation consultant or midwife for assistance.
  • Supplement your baby with pumped milk or formula if needed.

5.4 Diagnose and treat GERD.

If you suspect your baby has GERD, consult your pediatrician as it can make a clear negative impact on your baby’s overall health. Depending on the severity of the condition, GERD will be treated with medications, surgery, or even simple lifestyle changes.

5.5 Avoid food allergens.

Consult your pediatrician if you notice that your baby is experiencing an allergy to breastmilk or baby formula. Remove the allergen from the baby’s diet to prevent further health complications.

6.   When will babies stop spitting up?

Spit-ups will increase during the age of two to four months when they start eating more breastmilk or formula. But when they reach about six months of age, the digestive systems will mature decreasing the number of spit-ups. By the time your baby becomes one, spit-ups will be infrequent or even be eliminated

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