Breastfeeding Sessions Vary More In Comparison To Bottle
If youve been exclusively breastfeeding while only using bottles for formula feedings, this might also be the cause of your babys digestive problems.
The shape of a breast can vary a lot more than a baby bottle.
While a mothers breast is a wonderful tool for providing all-natural nourishment to the child, while also ensuring he stays in the warmth of his mothers body and gets to listen to the familiar sound of her heart beating, it can also be a real nuisance at times.
Breasts are prone to many issues, which can be a real pain, both figuratively and literally.
Clogged milk ducts and mastitis come to mind first as the two most annoying things a mom has to deal with when she breastfeeds.
After that, you have nipple soreness and nipple cracking, which are more of an issue for you than a factor in your childs spit-up frequency.
The potential problems for your baby are foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, which throws off the feeding balance in breastfed babies, resulting in them not feeling full despite the fact they are, and spitting up more often as a result.
This happens if they get a bit too much of the non-fatty foremilk because the hindmilk is stuck in the back and never gets to the baby to satisfy its hunger, often leading to spit-ups or vomiting.
Forceful let-down is another big factor for women who are going through a milk abundance problem, something that usually comes as a surprise to the baby when he gets used to the normal milk flow.
My Baby Spits Up Is This A Problem
Spitting up, sometimes called physiological or uncomplicated reflux, is common in babies and is usually normal. Most young babies spit up sometimes, since their digestive systems are immature, making it easier for the stomach contents to flow back up into the esophagus .
Babies often spit up when they get too much milk too fast. This may happen when baby feeds very quickly or aggressively, or when moms breasts are overfull. The amount of spitup typically appears to be much more than it really is. If baby is very distractible or fussy at the breast, he may swallow air and spit up more often. Some babies spit up more when they are teething, starting to crawl, or starting solid foods.
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A few statistics :
- Spitting up usually occurs right after baby eats, but it may also occur 1-2 hours after a feeding.
- Half of all 0-3 month old babies spit up at least once per day.
- Spitting up usually peaks at 2-4 months.
- Many babies outgrow spitting up by 7-8 months.
- Most babies have stopped spitting up by 12 months.
If your baby is a Happy Spitter gaining weight well, spitting up without discomfort and content most of the time spitting up is a laundry & social problem rather than a medical issue.
Baby Spit Up Vs Vomit: How Can You Tell The Difference
Spitting up and vomiting might seem similar. Theyre both messy, and both involve your babys stomach contents ending up on your clothing.
But unlike spit up, vomit is forceful . It is also caused by a virus, bacteria, food poisoning or some other kind of specific health issue. Sometimes, vomit can be green or red . Other causes of baby vomit might be motion sickness, certain prescription medications, or disturbing sights or sounds.
In rare cases, true vomiting might indicate that your baby has something called pyloric stenosis, which is when a muscle in the stomach thickens, preventing food from moving to the small intestine. This can cause projectile vomiting and dehydration, and needs to be treated immediately. Symptoms typically start when baby is between 2 weeks and 2 months old.
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Should You Give Your Baby Water To Help
When theyre spitting up lots of clear liquid you may think that your baby needs water to avoid dehydration. However, you shouldnt give water to babies under 6 months of age.
Drinking plenty of water every day may be good for you, but it definitely isnt good for your baby. Thats because babies have tiny tummies and their kidneys are still developing.
If you fill your babys tummy with water, their hunger mechanism is dulled, and they may not get the nutrients they need. In addition, if your babys water intake is too high, theres a risk of water intoxication.
Sounds far-fetched? Not really when you consider the size of that tiny tummy. Too much water will lower the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium in the blood. So hold the water until your baby is about 6 months old and stick to formula or breast milk.
Your Baby Has Infant Acid Reflux Or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Around 50% of newborns around the world experience infant acid reflux or GERD during their first 3 months. This is because their stomach contents come back up the esophagus.
But why does it happen?
Well, it takes time for babies stomachs to mature and work properly.
So, until they develop a muscle known as the lower esophageal sphincter to keep food down, yellow spit up can be expected when children are full.
Infant acid reflux or GERD symptoms can be treated easily and prevented by ensuring that children sit upright after eating. This aids food in going down MORE easily and prevents its backflow.
Theres also a chance that youre feeding your baby too frequently or too much.
Overfeeding can lead to the stuffing of their little tummies, so allow the stomach contents of your little one to settle down first to avoid infant reflux.
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Causes Of Spitting Up
Some babies are greedy feeders and take in more than their stomachs can handle. Even a breastfed baby spits up when she’s had more to eat than she can hold in her stomach.
Burping or drooling can also trigger spitting up, as can jostling the baby or putting her down quickly. The immaturity of an infant’s digestive tract makes spitting up more common in the early months, but some illnesses can cause spitting up or vomiting.
What Is Breast Milk Oversupply
Breast milk oversupply is also known as hyperlactation or hypergalactia. Breast milk oversupply occurs when the breasts produce more milk than is required for the normal growth of the breastfeeding infant.
During the first few weeks of breastfeeding, its normal to experience an overabundant supply of breast milk. If you have oversupply, that abundance continues beyond those initial weeks.
People with oversupply usually notice that their baby coughs and chokes during feedings. Babies also tend to bob on and off the breast as they struggle to nurse and breathe. They may clamp down or bite while breastfeeding to try to stop the forceful flow.
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Ways You Can Reduce Your Babys Spit
- Burp your baby after every feed and during the feed when you change breast sides.
- Avoid playing actively with the baby for 30 minutes after feeding.
- Avoid placing her on a rocking or a bouncy chair for 30 minutes after feeding.
- Because the let-down milk varies in different rates at different times- try to give smaller feedings multiple times, instead of large feedings with an increased gap in between.
- If you have a faster let-down, then feed your baby in a reclined position, so that shes taking the milk against gravity.
- If you have an engorgement, try relieving it by pumping or expressing your milk before breastfeeding, so that its easier for the baby to latch properly.
- You can also try using anti-colic feeding bottles to feed your breast milk to the baby.
- Make a note of your diet and if you feel certain foods you consume is making the babys stomach upset, then try cut them out from your diet for a while.
Mommy It Would Help If You Are Relaxed And Not Get Overstressed
Babies are complicated, and parenting is never easy. Keep yourself together and calm. It is possible that your baby may stop spitting up after you practice the techniques mentioned above, or it is also possible that he permanently hook up to formula because of some rare food allergy. Either way, your focus should be on the best for your baby. Never lose your cool while upbringing your children, and remember to enjoy the process.
Always remember, fed is the best, either it is breast milk or formula. So your main aim should be to fulfil the hunger of your baby.
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Signs Of Dehydration In Babies
The most common signs of dehydration in babies include:
- Concentrated urine that looks very dark yellow or orange
- Constipation
- Sunken fontanelle on their head
- Wrinkled skin
Babies can become dehydrated quickly. Be on the lookout for these signs, especially when your baby is sick, overheated, or having trouble feeding .
Note, however, that babies can become dehydrated even when none of these concerns are at play.
When To Call A Doctor
Rarely, babies can develop severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux or an intestinal blockage in their digestive system that will require professional medical assistance. Call a doctor immediately if:
- You notice milk coming from your babys nose after every feed.
- Your baby isnt gaining weight or is losing weight.
- Their spit-up is yellow or green.
- Your babys spit-up contains food or even blood.
- Your baby arches their back and neck after feeds .
- Your baby often seems uncomfortable or distressed after a feed, or they show frequent gagging, choking, burping or hiccuping, or bad breath.
- Theyre refusing to feed or cry every time they spit-up.
- Theyre still frequently spitting up after their first birthday.
- Your baby has difficulty breathing. If their face or lips change color, go to the emergency room or call 911.
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How To Burp Your Baby
Babies sometimes burp on their own without any help or special positioning. However, it’s natural to want to help the process along, and there are many ways to do that. You may want to place a burp cloth, bib, or cloth diaper under your child’s head before you start burping to protect your clothing and catch anything that comes up.
Then, try one of these three popular burping positions include:
- Lying on your lap: Place your baby on their belly across your lap and support their head with your lap, arm, or hand.
- Over your shoulder: Hold your baby upright with their head over your shoulder.
- Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap, facing away from you. Lean them forward and support their head, neck, and chest with your hand.
When your baby is in position, gently rub or pat them on the back. You don’t have to rub or pat hard. Pounding harder on your child’s back is not necessary and will not make them burp better or faster.
Complications Of Spitting Up
- Most infants are “happy spitters.” Normal spitting up occurs in half of babies. It does not cause crying or colic.
- Normal crying occurs in all babies. Frequent crying occurs in 15% of babies. Crying and colic are not helped by heartburn meds. These meds also have side effects.
- If they develop complications, it’s called GERD . This occurs in less than 1% of babies.
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Ensure Your Baby Has A Proper Latch
A proper latch is paramount in reducing the odds of your child regurgitating his food because it minimizes the amount of air he swallows.
Always make sure your nipple is right in front of the childs mouth to give him easier access to it, and keep your eyes peeled for any clicking sounds, which are a telltale sign hes having problems latching onto your breast.
What Does Curdled Spit
Your babys spit up milk looks just like the breastmilk or formula that your baby feeds. However, the spit up milk may appear less or more curdled based on the time it stays inside your babys tummy. This means that if milk comes out or the baby spits up soon as after his feed, the spit up milk may appear just like milk only, however, the milk that stays longer inside the tummy may appear more curdled because it gets mixed up with the stomach acids and appears chunky or curdled. Also, if the baby is only on breastmilk or formula, the curdled spit is likely of whitish hue. However, red spit up could indicate the presence of blood, and green or yellow spit up could indicate the presence of bile or phlegm, and if any such abnormal coloured spitting up is noticed, it should be reported to the doctor!
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Baby Formula Is Thicker In Comparison
You might not think this is a factor, but thicker foods are less likely to have your child swallowing air during a feed as theres less room for it to be trapped.
This reduces the chances of air bubble-based spitting up from happening and allows your little one to keep most of his food down with little issue.
Managing Spit Up After Breastfeeding: Why It Happens
Has spit-up become an everyday wardrobe accessory ? By understanding what causes spit-ups, you can learn how to stop them from happening too often.
Has spit-up become an everyday accessory to your mommy wardrobe? Rest assured that youre not alone. By understanding what causes spit-ups, you can learn how you can prevent them from happening too frequently.
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Tips To Minimize Spitting Up In Babies
Again, spit up is normal but to prevent it from happening as often, there are a few steps experts typically recommend.
- Dont overfeed. Babies stomachs are small, and its easy to overload them. Try feeding more often at smaller volumes if you notice that your baby often spits up during feedings.
- Hold baby upright for 30 minutes after feeding. Sitting chest-to-chest on you for at least a half hour after each feed might minimize the amount of spit up your baby experiences.
- Burp frequently. Burping gently during and after feeds for bottle-fed babies, at least once halfway through a feeding or after every 2 or 3 ounces, and when you switch from one breast to the other for breastfed babies can help reduce spit up.
- Limit post-feeding activity. Going straight from a feeding to playtime might cause milk to come back up, for example.
- Use a slow-flow nipple. If you bottle-feed, try using a slow-flow nipple. These are designed to slow down feeding and reduce the amount of air baby takes in while eating which may help reduce spit up risk.