It is not uncommon for a baby to spit up curdled milk. Sometimes a month-old baby spits up water. It happens that a 5-month-old baby spits up bile. Also, parents may not understand why the newborn spits up like a fountain after each feeding. Babies can be very difficult to understand, and this can increase the already high stress levels of new parents. If your baby is spitting up curd, there is probably no need to worry. But there are symptoms that indicate more serious conditions, and they require attention.
What is regurgitation?
Spitting up in newborns, sometimes called physiologic or uncomplicated reflux, is common in infants and is usually (but not always) normal.
Most young children occasionally spit up because their digestive systems are immature, allowing stomach contents to return to the esophagus.
Many newborns and infants regurgitate some of their breast milk or formula during or shortly after feeding. Some crumbs spit up only occasionally, while others - after each feeding.
While the child is growing, gains weight well, and regurgitation is not accompanied by pain or discomfort, there is no reason for concern.
The baby often spits up after feeding when he is receiving a lot of milk in a short period of time. This happens when the baby is sucking very fast and forcefully or when the mother's breasts are full.
When a child is often distracted (pulls the breast to look around) or fusses about the breast, he swallows air and therefore will spit up more often. Some babies spit up more when their teeth are teething, crawling, or eating solid food.
Several statistics
- the child spits up curdled milk immediately after eating. But it happens that the baby spits up and an hour after feeding;
- half of all children under 3 months spit up at least once a day;
- regurgitation usually peaks at 2 to 4 months;
- many children outgrow this condition by 7 to 8 months;
- most babies stop spitting up at 12 months.
When a baby spits up milk, this is not yet a cause for concern. The fact that the crumb spits up a curdled mass is explained by the action of an enzyme that is contained in the juice of the stomach. The enzyme is responsible for preparing food for the next stages of digestion.
Why does the child often spit up?
Drinking a lot of "front" milk
This is a common reason why a baby spits up. Mother's milk changes in consistency and composition during feeding.
Milk is more watery and lactose-rich at first. Later, the milk becomes fatter and more nutritious. Accordingly, while the baby is eating, the amount of fat in breast milk also increases.
It is possible that the baby is constantly spitting up as it receives more front milk.
This can happen if a nursing mother takes too long a break between feedings and the amount of foremilk in the mammary glands increases.
Milk flow too fast
Children's stomachs are small and fill up quickly. If breast milk is coming in too quickly, the baby should be weaned almost every 5 minutes to get rid of the air that has been absorbed during the rushed suckling.
Immature digestive system
A newborn often spits up because the esophageal sphincter does not close completely after the stomach is full. This is due to the infant's immature digestive system. Because of this, the child spits up.
Allergic reaction
If the baby spits up frequently, the baby may be allergic to the presence of wheat or cow protein in the mother's milk. The baby will also have symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, frequent gas, and a rash around the anus.
Features of the character of the baby
A fussy baby at the breast swallows a lot of air, which is why the baby spits up breast milk.
Development periods
At certain times, for example, when teeth are teething, children learn to crawl or start eating solid food, the child spits up a lot after feeding.
Incorrectly selected mixture
This is a possible reason why a baby spits up after formula feeding. It may happen that the chosen artificial formula is not suitable for your baby.
It is recommended to consider options for special mixtures to reduce colic.
Why does a child vomit like a fountain?
If a child vomits a lot and often with a fountain, he may have the following conditions that require medical supervision.
GERD
If a child spits up like a fountain, they may have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Symptoms:
- frequent regurgitation or vomiting;
- discomfort with regurgitation.
It happens that the child does not spit up in the full sense of the word, but a quiet reflux occurs. This is a phenomenon in which the contents of the stomach only reach the esophagus and then swallowed again, causing pain.
Signs of severe reflux:
- the child cries a lot during feeding, it is impossible to calm him down;
- poor weight gain or loss;
- refusal to eat;
- difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, chronic nasal congestion, chronic ear infections;
- spitting up yellow or mixed with blood.
Research has shown that breastfed babies have less severe reflux episodes than formula-fed babies. The baby spits up the formula more often than the mother's milk, since human milk is easier to digest and leaves the baby's stomach twice as fast. The less time milk spends in the stomach, the less chance it has to get back into the esophagus. Any delay in emptying the stomach can worsen reflux.
Pyloric stenosis
A condition in which the muscles at the bottom of the stomach thicken and obstruct the passage of food into the small intestine. Fountain regurgitation in newborns in combination with underweight are clear signs of pyloric stenosis.
And it affects more boys than girls. This usually occurs in babies at about 1 month of age. Pyloric stenosis requires surgical correction.
Bowel obstruction
If there are green bile in the baby's regurgitation, this is one sign of a blockage in the intestines that will require an emergency room visit, a scan, and possibly emergency surgery.
Disorders of the central nervous system
Disorders of the central nervous system are also the answer to the question of why a newborn spits up a fountain.
Infection
After the first months of life, the most common cause of gushing regurgitation is a stomach or intestinal infection. Viruses are the most common infectious agents, but bacteria and even parasites can sometimes be the cause. The infection can cause fever, diarrhea, and sometimes nausea and abdominal pain.
Rotaviruses are the leading cause of gushing spitting up in infants and young children, whose symptoms often progress to diarrhea and fever.
Rotavirus is one of the viral causes of gastroenteritis, but other types of viruses such as noroviruses, enteroviruses, and adenoviruses can also cause this condition.
Sometimes infections outside the gastrointestinal tract cause gushing regurgitation. These are infections of the respiratory system, ear infections, and urinary tract infections.
Some of these conditions require immediate medical attention. Therefore, be vigilant regardless of your child's age and call your pediatrician if there are:
- blood or bile in vomit and regurgitated masses;
- severe abdominal pain;
- persistent repeated gushing regurgitation;
- bloated or visually enlarged belly;
- lethargy or severe irritability of the baby;
- convulsions;
- signs or symptoms of dehydration - dry mouth, lack of tears, retraction of the fontanelle, and decreased urination;
- prolonged vomiting for more than 24 hours in a row.
Sometimes regurgitation with a fountain does not mean the presence of pathology, but if a child regurgitates with a fountain every day after feeding, you should consult a specialist.
What if the baby spits up?
- If the baby spits up frequently, change the feeding position to a more upright position. Gravity will play a role in retaining milk in the stomach if the infant is held upright for about half an hour after feeding.
- Avoid any vigorous activity immediately after eating. This can lead to the baby spitting up.
- Provide a calm and relaxed atmosphere during feeding. Don't leave your baby very hungry before you feed him. A hungry and anxious baby can swallow a lot of air, increasing the chances of breast milk reflux.
- Feed your baby in small portions, but more often to avoid tummy overflow.
- Avoid overfeeding your baby.
- Have the child burp as often as possible to get rid of any air that might be absorbed with food. If you don't see a burp after a few minutes, don't be alarmed. Your baby may not need this.
- The child should be put to sleep on its side or on its back, not on its stomach. If your baby spits up during sleep, keep your head elevated.
- Don't put pressure on your stomach. Loosen any tight clothing, do not put the baby on your belly on your shoulder so that he can burp.
- Eliminate certain foods from your diet to see if frequent regurgitation is resolved.
When does the child stop spitting up?
Parents are often interested in the question, until how many months does the child vomit? When all the elements of the digestive system develop and become stronger, the crumb will be able to keep food in the stomach, regurgitation will stop.
Most babies stop spitting up at about 6 or 7 months or when they learn to sit up on their own. But some of them will regurgitate for up to a year.
If the baby spits up a lot, but generally feels well, no special treatment is required other than the feeding methods mentioned.
When is a doctor needed?
Frequent spitting up in newborns is a process that almost any mother can handle. But in some cases, treatment is necessary.
If the child is constantly spitting up or the amount, smell and color of spitting up has changed, contact a specialist. First of all, visit your pediatrician. Then he can refer to a gastroenterologist, neurologist, surgeon.
Do not delay a visit to the doctor if the child spits up heavily, and then screams or squirms. This behavior may mean that the baby's esophagus is irritated.
Heightened attention is required if regurgitation looks like a fountain, occurs after each feeding, or looks like vomiting and afterwards the body temperature rises.
Do not risk in vain, show your child to a specialist.
Spitting up after a year is an alarming signal. At this time, this unpleasant process should have already stopped. Otherwise, it indicates a pathology in the child's body, the nature of which can only be determined by doctors.
Sometimes regurgitation is so frequent that the child does not gain as much body weight as necessary. This is much more important and may require special tests and more active treatment. If testing confirms gastroesophageal reflux, treatment may include gentle feeding practices and possibly medications.
Certain medicines, such as Ranitidine, help neutralize stomach acids and protect the sensitive lining of the esophagus, which is exposed to stomach acid due to regurgitation. Others, such as Omeprazole or Lansoprazole, stimulate the stomach to move food to the intestines faster.
Spitting up in a child is one of the most important and sometimes confusing problems that you will face as a parent. The recommendations in this article are general and apply to infants in general. Remember that your child is unique and may have special needs. If you have questions, ask your pediatrician to help find answers that are specific to your baby.
