Why does a baby spit up after formula feeding?

Is spitting up normal?

Regurgitation is a normal physiological phenomenon.

Doctors believe that this is a normal physiological phenomenon that is easy to explain. But it also happens that after feeding with formula, the child does not just spit up, but spits up like a fountain. Why is this happening?

Why does a newborn spit up like a fountain?

When a baby burps after formula feeding, the volume of the escaping mass is approximately three tablespoons, and the food is more like vomiting. In this case, the mother should pay attention to the following facts:

1. The mixture was of poor quality, and the child was poisoned by it.
2. Viral diseases are present.
3. Intolerance to cow's milk protein, thus the body reacts to it.
4. The microflora in the intestines is disturbed.
5. If the color of the regurgitation is green or brown, then we can talk about intestinal obstruction, in which case doctors should intervene as soon as possible.

These are rather physiological reasons, but there are others that can also lead to fountain regurgitation, among them the following can be concluded:

1. It is possible that the mother is severely overfeeding the baby . In order to prevent this, you need to strictly calculate the rate of dry mixture.
2. The baby swallows air along with the mixture . This happens extremely rarely during breastfeeding. In medicine, the phenomenon has its own name - aerophia. Air bubbles enter the stomach, after which they are released out along with the eaten mixture.
3. For some reason, the formula is not suitable for the child , perhaps the mother changes it often, and the body simply does not have time to get used to it.
4. Many mothers, out of ignorance, shake the baby after feeding , and then lay it on the stomach - spitting up like a fountain in this case is a response.

It is important not to overfeed your newborn.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

Only a doctor can solve a child’s gastrointestinal problems.

Organic causes can also lead to regurgitation, that is, problems with the gastrointestinal tract:

1. The area where the esophagus meets the stomach is very narrow.
2. The lower sphincter in the esophagus is not fully developed.
3. Presence of a diaphragmatic hernia.

These problems can only be solved by a doctor.

When to see a doctor

When the baby is eating well and his general condition is good, health problems are unlikely, even if he spits up from time to time. Parents should be wary and consult a doctor in the following cases:

• regurgitation occurs with great frequency, the baby’s skin is noticeably pale, he does not recover and grows poorly;
• there is abdominal pain, the baby is worried, cries and arches his back;
• the child coughs and has problems breathing, in which case the esophagus may be irritated by acid from the stomach;
• belching is not associated with food and can occur voluntarily;
• instead of regurgitation, vomiting occurs, sometimes in a fountain;
• Frequent belching is accompanied by diarrhea; children lose a lot of fluid and dehydration may occur.

Important! In all cases, you need to figure out why the baby spits up curds after feeding, whether this is related to the physiological characteristics of his body and is normal, or whether pathology may develop.

Most often, parents do not need to worry about regurgitation of curdled matter. As the baby grows and his gastrointestinal tract develops, they will decrease. By 10-12 months, only 5 children out of 100 have such problems. However, it is still better to keep these manifestations under control and contact your pediatrician if alarming signs appear.

How to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation?

Regurgitation is not as profuse as vomiting.

How can a mother understand that the fountain is regurgitation and not vomiting? In fact, there are quite specific facts, symptoms and statements on this matter:

1. Regurgitation and feeding are directly related . As for vomiting, it can start at any minute, even if you did not feed the baby.
2. When vomiting and regurgitation, a fountain may be observed; if you have just fed and observe such symptoms, you can consult a doctor. If you did not feed the child, but the mixture is still released like a fountain, then vomiting is most likely.
3. Regurgitation is not so profuse , which cannot be said about vomit.
4. In a child, regurgitation does not cause any concern or discomfort ; when vomiting, the body tenses, the baby may cry.
5. After vomiting, a child most often loses weight.

Possible complications

Frequent regurgitation is a reason to consult a doctor

One of the dangerous consequences of vomiting water is the fact that a baby who is in a horizontal position may choke. This phenomenon can cause the airways to become blocked, resulting in pneumonia.

Read: Proper nutrition during early pregnancy: expert advice

In the presence of other dangerous symptoms and untimely treatment of diseases, pathological processes in the digestive organs (for example, pyloric stenosis) and diseases associated with metabolic disorders are possible.

If regurgitation is profuse, this condition can lead to the following consequences:

• Poor weight gain
• Dehydration
• Esophagitis is an inflammatory process of the esophageal mucosa

Apart from this problem, regurgitation of water is not complicated by pathological conditions.

In the video - information for mothers:

18 Dec 2021 Yuki 1054

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Reasons and rules

If a child is crying, then you should not feed him.

In order to prevent the baby from burping in this way after feeding, it is necessary to exclude some causes, and parents should follow simple rules:

1. Formula-fed parents often overfeed their children ; this should never be done. A certain amount of time must pass between meals; it is calculated individually for each baby.
2. If the child is crying or in an excited state, then you should not feed him . Wait until he calms down and only then can you give him the bottle.
3. The nipple on the bottle should be selected in such a way that the mixture does not come out very quickly .
4. It is not recommended to swaddle your baby tightly , and especially do not wrap him immediately before feeding.
5. After a meal, under no circumstances should you disturb the child ; it is better to hold him in an upright position for several minutes.
6. For feeding, you should choose a half-sitting position .
7. Remember that the baby should be placed on his tummy several times a day .

By following these simple recommendations, your child will be able to eat properly, and you will not encounter the fact that he spits up like a fountain.

baby spits up clear liquid

Thank you everyone for your words of support and good wishes:*

Here we are at home! Everything went very well! my baby decided to be born at 37 weeks, but that’s no big deal. he was born on his own, he didn’t tear me apart, weight 2950, ​​height 50 cm. Quite an average baby like that, not big, but not tiny either)))

I’ll tell you about everything in order, maybe someone will find it useful or just interesting !

WATER. They come off without any pain. It's different for everyone, though. For some, it’s all at once, while for others it’s in small portions, like me. the color is transparent, or with a bit of milkiness, the smell...almost no, just the smell of liquid, they don’t have any unpleasant odor. After your water breaks, you will most likely have time before labor begins, so without panic, calmly call an ambulance or a taxi and pack your purse, or just wait calmly. this is the very beginning)))

IN THE RECEPTION. They will ask a lot of formal questions. a doctor will examine you. It doesn't hurt yet. you will have an enema. it doesn’t hurt, it’s just a little unpleasant, then you run to the toilet, everything comes out and then take a shower. By this time I had not had any labor activity, so I was calm) the doctors liked everything and it calmed me down.

IN PRENATURE. it’s more interesting there)) when I arrived, three out of four beds were occupied by women. someone was screaming, someone was walking, someone was just lying down... I was told to walk, to actively induce contractions, because there was no labor... while I was walking, three women gave birth. Don’t let this bother you, that you are lying down or walking, and someone is giving birth, this is normal, everyone has their own time) then another doctor examined me and it was already very painful. after the examination, they decided to stimulate labor with oxytocin, because the cervix not only did not dilate, it did not even smooth out... what to do, they put on an IV, I’m lying there waiting for contractions...

CONTRACTS. I’ll say right away that for me it was so that neither breathing, the dog take him, nor any other manipulations, postures, activities, thoughts, etc. helped me... I was all in myself. Doctors rarely came, so they didn’t bother me too much. Only later, after giving birth, the girls will tell me that they didn’t understand at all whether I was having contractions or not and how often, because I seemed to be very calm. it actually hurt a lot. I have never experienced such pain. as if all the periods in my entire life decided to come with pain at precisely those moments. horror. Then I felt that my lips were going numb, and then my hands. I realized that I might faint. I called the doctor, they said that it was a painful shock and that they would now call an anesthesiologist and give me epitural anesthesia and I would feel better. so it was)))

ANASTHESIA. Do not refuse under any circumstances! be sure to agree. this will give you time to rest. the main thing is to take your time. They’ll do it sooner, they’ll release it sooner, and you’ll have to feel the strongest contractions to the fullest. I was lucky, I pushed and gave birth with the remains of the epitural, so it probably wasn’t as painful as it would have been without it.

BIRTH BLOCK. They bring you there to actually give birth. with full dilatation and strong contractions in anticipation of pushing. I was brought from heaven to hell, so to speak))) they turned off the epitural and gave me oxytocin again. and then it began. I wanted to poop, so much so that it was just terrifying. The main thing here is to listen to what the doctor and midwives say. I was told not to push, but to breathe, or grunt a little. then, when everything was ready for childbirth, and I myself, too, they gave me the go-ahead and I began to push: you take a deep breath with your mouth and push down without letting out the air. then a break, we breathe as usual and push again, we fill up the chest, push and the command from the midwife is to breathe like a dog often, I breathe and feel how it doesn’t hurt at all my baby is literally falling out of me))))) it’s even nice))) I gave birth in 11 hours and after two attempts)) he screamed like crazy, they took him out and put him on his stomach. blue and red, covered in white grease, warm, snot up to the navel, drooling - handsome!!! They wiped it, wrapped it up, let me kiss my mother’s boobs, let me kiss him on the cheek and took it away) and all I had to do was give birth to the placenta - it’s easy, I push and it comes in. they showed) on the mother’s side it looks like a liver - dark red, loose, and on the baby’s side it is smooth, blue, covered in thick veins; looks like a flatbread. Then they added epitural tubes to me and began to examine me, and I was in heaven again))))))) I gave birth at 0:35. was the last one. No one else was ever brought. and the kind midwives even gave me sweet tea and bread and butter, God bless them)

POSTPARTUM WARD. usually for two. They bring you in and tell you to lie on your stomach. you fall asleep, and in the morning they bring the baby)))) it’s not clear what to do with him, so the kind aunties from the children’s department tell you everything in detail. it's scary to touch him)))

COLOSTRUM AND MILK. Everyone has probably seen colostrum in their own home. such clear water. So the baby feeds on it until the milk comes. If there is little colostrum and the child is losing a lot of weight, then complementary foods are given. but in my limited experience, the more you apply, the more colostrum and the faster the milk comes. and from the bottle he spits up... because from hunger he begins to pull like a wild one and swallows air, as a result, everything he sucked flies away and is there any point? At first they brought me this same supplement, but he burped from it or did not take the bottle at all. then the milk came and it began. It’s good that an experienced young mother with experience in handling milkings was in the room with me) because the situation with her and I was similar, there was a lot of milk, stagnation began and we had to pump. This is painful! So, girls, be sure to pump the first time because the first 10-14 days are considered a lactation crisis and so much milk comes in that no child will drink that much. what happens if you don’t pump on time? chills, body aches, malaise, like a cold and wild pain in the milkings, it is impossible to touch, but you will need to press. Thank you for straightening me out, I wouldn’t have been able to cause such pain to myself...

DIAPERS. I highly recommend changing it more often than once every 3 hours. Doctors advise this, but in reality the butt still manages to leak. so as soon as you hear or see that the job is done, immediately wash and sprinkle, smear and clean dry on the bottom, otherwise he will scream in pain like a knife, it’s hard to calm down. I generally put mine on a disposable diaper for the whole day, almost breathing with my bare butt. as soon as he pees, I either turn it over the other way or throw it away, the butt is good, grateful)))

DREAM. If you do everything correctly, your child will sleep for up to four hours. naturally, if he is full and dry. so you can relax, chat and even wash))

AND A COUPLE OF TIPS))) in some maternity hospitals you can leave things in the postpartum ward right in the reception area, they will be brought to you immediately after the birth. Don’t be afraid of anything, try to be calm, in the maternity hospital most likely everyone is determined to help you have a good birth. in the prenatal period, don’t think that they have forgotten about you, they remember about you, on the contrary, it’s better to focus on yourself, breathe, walk, cry, just don’t yell too much, it’s a waste of energy... as soon as you want to poop, immediately tell the doctor, then call and yell : I’M GIVING BIRTH))))) don’t look at anyone, because multiparous women give birth both in 3 hours and in 30 minutes, anything can happen. DURING CHILDREN, TRY TO HEAR THE MIDWIFE, SHE SAYS EVERYTHING CORRECTLY, TRY TO DO AS SHE TEACHES AND THEN EVERYTHING WILL GO FASTER AND EASIER, WITH LEAST LOSSES. after giving birth, listen carefully to how to treat the baby and see, it helps a lot later. apply it to your breast more often, the milk will come faster, even if he naps a couple of times, even if he just sleeps, but apply it more often, just hold him at your breast, you can naked, so that body to body, it’s nice)))) if he gnaws your nipples - it hurts, smear them with Actovegin, they literally heal in 2 days, but wash them before feeding (don’t think that you will wash your breasts before each feeding). I recommend MUNI or MERIS diapers, they are very soft for a baby, LIBERO is completely hard, like sandpaper, HAGIS too, PAMPERS seem soft, but smell strangely like plastic... Take pads for yourself in two sizes: thick for the first couple of days and thinner for later. don’t be alarmed if during feeding, especially long-term feeding, your stomach begins to ache wildly and blood flows, this is from stimulation of the nipples, oxytocin contracts the uterus, well, you understand. breasts are needed for feeding, 2 for sure. The bandage is bullshit, but the bandage panties are a thing!!! and be careful with food) otherwise I grabbed a watermelon, so the child then rushed every half hour for a day with very unchildish sounds, at least he didn’t yell. In principle, I don’t need a pacifier yet, well, mine certainly does. take a pack of disposable diapers and change the diaper on it, because you turned away, and you already have a fountain and the whole set is damp... the breast pump is debatable, my baby got so dirty with his nipples while he was getting used to it that I had so many tatters hanging and it was painful to express with a breast pump, it’s better with your hands , but in the next room the girl latched the baby less often, but more often worked with a breast pump, also without problems, so whatever you decide, it will be so. and don’t make sudden movements, otherwise your water will break

I wish everyone well and will answer any questions)))

PS: and remember, girls, these are the last carefree days, enjoy, then there will be no time for this at all))) with a bag in your hands there is no time for rest. I realized this at night in the postpartum ward, and in the morning they brought this same bag and away we go %))))))

How to choose a mixture to avoid regurgitation

You should be very careful when choosing formula for feeding your baby . The products differ not only in cost, but also in composition. A mother must know what is contained in baby food.

The choice of mixture should be approached carefully.

First of all, pay attention to the formula that is closest to breast milk. The calorie content should not be less than 64, there should be no casein proteins, the fat composition should be within 3-3.8.

Pay attention to the presence of amino acids, minerals and beneficial vitamins. There shouldn’t be any sugar; it doesn’t have the best effect on the child’s body. the same goes for glucose and fructose, they lead to gas formation.

What to do if a newborn spits up like a fountain after formula?

Only a doctor can find out the reasons for regurgitation.

No amount of advice helps many mothers, and no matter what they do, the baby still continues to spit up like a fountain after eating the formula. In this case, you simply cannot do without the help of your attending physician.

Only he can find out the reasons for what is happening and prescribe treatment. Sometimes a dietary adjustment is enough and everything returns to normal.

Antiemetic mixtures

Cerucal is an antiemetic drug for children.

Today, antiemetic mixtures and medications are often used:

1. Cerucal.
2. Motilium.
3. Medicinal mixtures – Nutrilak AR, Samper Lemolak and others.

If there are suspicions of pathological causes of regurgitation, the child must be examined . Identified disorders can be treated by surgeons, neurologists and other doctors.

Advice from experienced mothers

Experienced mothers can give some pretty good advice on how to avoid such regurgitation:

1. Before you start feeding, you need to place your baby on his stomach for a few minutes.
2. The transition to artificial nutrition will be much easier and simpler if antiemetic mixtures are used.

Before feeding the baby, you need to place him on his stomach.

It is recommended to add a spoonful of dry porridge to the mixture , without adding milk, then everything must be prepared according to the instructions. This way the mixture will be thicker and therefore more nutritious. A child who has eaten enough will gradually get used to regurgitation and will not do it.

conclusions

Pediatricians do not believe that regurgitation, even in a fountain, is a pathology, especially if the child is fully developing. But if the baby spits up every hour, his body temperature rises, he behaves capriciously and cries, then of course there is cause for concern.

It is necessary to closely monitor the condition of the newborn.

You need to carefully monitor the condition of your child, whether he spits up or not, and whether he is developing according to his age. If something worries you, then of course you need to visit a pediatrician and not self-medicate.