Spitting Vs Vomiting in newborns: with newborn babies, this is s very common problem of throwing up of feeds. New mothers have a lot of apprehension and concern that why my baby is throwing up a lot or sometimes less amount of feeds. Is my feed too heavy? Any issue with the child? Am I over feeding the child?
It is common for newborn babies to spit up feeds as they have weak muscle tone to hold mild and it comes out very often after feeds or while burping or lying down.
Spitting up:-
Many newborn babies or young infants are prone to spit up breastfeeds or formula feeds soon after feeding. Some spits more often, some spits up occasionally and sometimes comes out with burp.
It is also called as GERD or Reflux (Gastro-oesophageal reflux) as muscle at top of oesophagaus doses not close properly in newborns and young infants.
Spitting up decreases as child grows and starts on solids ie around 6 months to 1 year of age.
Points to remember:-
• No risk with spitting if child is gaining weight, passing urine and stools, no dehydration
• Burping between feeds, hold feeding and burp
• Small feeds
• Don’t overfeed
• Position child after feeds in inclined position to avoid reflux
• No cuddling, massage or handling soon after feeds
• Avoid tight clothes
• Burp regularly
When to see a doctor:-
• Spitting converts into vomiting
• Choking while spitting
• Spitting causes child blue
• Poor weight gain
• Blood streaks in spitting
• Can use digestive enzyme availableinmarket and proton pump inhibitors as recommended by pediatrician.
Vomiting is more forceful than spit and contains more amount of stomach content
• Due to viral infection or bacterial infection
• Anatomical disorders like pyloric stenosis
• Gastroenteritis
• Milk allergy or intolerance
• Food intolerance
• Medication
When to see a doctor:-
• When vomiting is projectile in nature
• Frequent vomiting
• Contains blood or greenish color
• Associated with fever, or loose motions
• Poor weight gain
• Dehydrated
• Malnutrition
• Refusal to feed etc.
Points to remember:-
• Treat the cause of vomiting, seeking advice of pediatrician
• Give small feeds
• Not every vomiting is suspicious and not every vomiting is normal
• Sometimes spitting up changes to vomit of feeds, cuddleschildclinic.com
Comments
Post a Comment