Why do babies spit up?
In children of the first months, the lower esophageal sphincter does not work at full strength, the esophagus is short, and the stomach is located more horizontally. The capacity of a newborn's stomach is very small, so even a small amount of overfeeding will overwhelm it. The baby spends a lot of time lying down, and while sucking, he swallows air, which then comes out along with some of the milk. All this makes regurgitation natural. As your baby sits more, eats thicker foods, and his digestive system matures, the episodes become less frequent and stop.
- Immature valve between the esophagus and stomach
- Small stomach volume
- Horizontal body position
- Swallowing air during feeding
- Liquid food
- The condition goes away on its own with age
Normal or disease
The main guideline is the well-being and growth of the child. With physiological reflux, the baby burps a small volume, often immediately after feeding, but remains calm, eats well, gains weight normally and develops. This condition is sometimes called happy burping. People think about reflux disease when there are consequences: insufficient weight gain, severe fussiness and crying during feeding, arching, refusal of the breast or bottle, repeated respiratory problems, blood in regurgitation. In this case, you need a doctor's examination and, possibly, an examination.
- Normal: good weight gain and calm child
- Normal: small amounts of regurgitation after eating
- Disease: poor weight gain
- Illness: screaming, arching, refusal to eat
- Illness: cough, repeated bronchitis
- Disease: blood impurity
What helps without drugs
The first thing the doctor evaluates is the volume and technique of feeding. Frequent overfeeding results in excessive regurgitation, so it is useful to feed more often, but in smaller portions. Correct attachment to the breast and a suitable nipple for the bottle are important so that the baby swallows less air. After feeding, the baby is held upright for 15–20 minutes, but is not shaken or tossed, does not do active gymnastics, and is not placed on the stomach immediately after eating. It is not recommended to raise the head of the crib: it is safest to sleep on your back on a flat surface.
- Feed more often and in smaller quantities
- Check attachment and select pacifier
- Hold upright for 15–20 minutes after eating
- Do not disturb the baby immediately after feeding
- Do not swaddle tightly and do not squeeze the stomach
- Place you to sleep on your back on a flat surface
When is an examination needed?
Not everyone needs testing. It is needed for poor weight gain, refusal to eat, blood in regurgitation, vomit with greens, repeated respiratory problems and when vomiting appears for the first time after six months. The pediatrician evaluates weight dynamics, examines the child, and if a narrowing of the gastric outlet is suspected, he prescribes an ultrasound. Sometimes a trial exclusion of cow's milk protein from the mother's diet or a switch to a special mixture is carried out: an allergy to milk protein is often disguised as reflux. Endoscopy and pH-metry are rarely used, as prescribed by a gastroenterologist.
- Weight gain control
- Ultrasound for suspected pyloric stenosis
- Trial Elimination of Cow's Milk Protein
- Endoscopy and pH-metry according to indications
- Consultation with a pediatric gastroenterologist
- Exclusion of neurological causes
What not to do
Acid-reducing drugs are not indicated for children with normal regurgitation and good weight gain: they do not reduce the number of episodes and have side effects. You should not switch your baby to an anti-reflux formula or stop breastfeeding without a doctor’s prescription. Thickening the diet is permissible only on the recommendation of a pediatrician. Traditional methods, dill water and herbal remedies do not solve the problem. And the most important thing: there is no need to compare your child with others - there is only one guideline, this is his well-being and weight gain curve.
- Do not give anti-acid medications unless prescribed.
- Don't stop breastfeeding
- Do not change the mixture yourself
- Do not thicken your diet without doctor's advice
- Do not use herbal preparations
- Keep a weight and feeding diary