The child spits up at 6 months reasons Komarovsky

About the problem

In medicine, regurgitation has a scientific name - gasesophageal reflux. It was first described as a medical phenomenon in the 19th century. Reflux develops mainly after eating. It manifests itself in the fact that part of the stomach contents is passively thrown back into the esophagus, enters the pharynx and mouth. As a result, the baby “pleases” the mother by giving back what was recently eaten, sometimes quite generously.

In an adult, food most often cannot come back out, since the whole barrier mechanism of different sphincters of the esophagus is triggered. In newborns, especially premature babies, these “locking devices” are poorly developed. As they improve, episodes of regurgitation occur less frequently and then disappear altogether. Underdevelopment of the digestive organs is considered the main cause of gasesophageal reflux.

In the first months of life, this phenomenon is considered physiologically justified and normal. In a third of children, digestion returns to normal at the age of 4 months; most toddlers stop regurgitating at 5-6 months. Only in a small proportion of babies this is observed after 7 months, but by the age of one year such a “late” child completely stops spitting up.

If the child’s general condition is normal: the baby is gaining weight well, the pediatrician does not see any abnormalities, and the neurologist has not made a serious neurological diagnosis, then regurgitation does not cause any harm to babies.

Treatment

There is no magic pill for this phenomenon, says Evgeny Komarovsky. Therefore, treatment of reflux always represents a complex of psychological and pedagogical measures aimed, first of all, at parents. They, who are alarmed and panicking, need to be explained in an accessible and understandable way that there is nothing pathological in this process, the child is not sick, is not starving, is not suffering and does not need hospitalization.

If this is successful, then another important point is explained to mom and dad. Regurgitation is not vomiting. You should immediately consult a doctor if you are vomiting, because this symptom is very dangerous for infants. When vomiting, in addition to food expelled from the stomach (a large amount of it), the baby will have other symptoms. With reflux, nothing else happens to the baby except a small amount of milk or formula that comes out.

There are children with increased activity of the vomiting center who can react by vomiting even to slight overeating. Such babies need to be underfed, says Evgeny Komarovsky, that is, limit the time they spend at the breast. And if the baby eats an adapted milk formula, then dilute it in smaller quantities than the age norm requires.

The main treatment for any regurgitation should be aimed at ensuring that the child does not overeat, because he will still “throw away” the excess. In especially severe cases, drugs are prescribed to reduce gas formation - Diflatil or Espumisan . For a baby who spits up frequently and profusely, especially if reflux does not appear immediately, but half an hour or even an hour after eating, Komarovsky advises swaddling and putting him to sleep on his side so that the baby does not choke in his sleep.

If the baby is outraged by the need to sleep on his side (and this is not at all uncommon!), then you can put an adult pillow under the crib mattress. The baby's back, but not the baby's head, should be on this elevation. It can be laid on its back at an angle of about 30 degrees, in this position the danger of choking is minimized.

Why does a child spit up: reasons, when to see a doctor and preventive measures

Digestive problems, symptoms and treatment

Regurgitation or regurgitation in a baby is a condition in which passive reflux of gastric contents occurs outward and into the oral cavity.

It is a functional digestive disorder. However, with it, even if the child often spits up, the functions of any systems and organs are not disrupted, and his health does not suffer.

More often, the baby may burp towards the end of the first month of life.

Authors: candidate of medical sciences, associate professor Pakulova-Trotskaya Yu.V.,

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Nyankovsky S.L.

An infant spits up a lot, as this is facilitated by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the digestive system.

This condition occurs in babies who eat greedily, swallowing a lot of air during feeding.

A newborn also spits up in cases where the composition and volume of food do not correspond to the functionality of the baby, when the diet is disrupted and the breastfeeding technique is incorrect.

Causes of baby spitting up

In newborns, regurgitation is promoted by the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract and its general immaturity. But sometimes infant regurgitation can be a symptom of a serious illness. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor to determine the reason why your newborn is burping.

It is important not to forget that in rare cases, regurgitation can provoke dangerous complications: esophagitis (inflammation of the esophageal mucosa), aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia), anemia (lack of hemoglobin), and sometimes sudden infant death syndrome.

Once the reason why the child is spitting up has been determined and serious illnesses have been ruled out, we can talk about the diagnosis of infant regurgitation. The following criteria are taken into account:

Spitting up two or more times a day for more than three weeks, with milk or formula coming out through both the mouth and nose.
The baby's general condition is not disturbed, he swallows normally, there are no attacks of apnea (stopping breathing), there is no vomiting or aspiration, there are no blood impurities in the contents.

There are the following reasons why a baby spits up formula or breast milk:

More food comes in than the baby’s stomach can “hold” and digest. There is an opinion that the main reason why a child spits up like a fountain is feeding “on demand”. During the first 6 months of life, the cardiac part of the stomach is not perfect; the cardiac sphincter is poorly developed, which prevents food from being thrown into the esophagus. Liquid food quickly enters the intestines, peristalsis occurs, which increases pressure in the fundus of the stomach. This causes food to be thrown out.
Flatulence - air bubbles put pressure on the walls of the stomach, causing regurgitation.
Excessive activity of the nervous system of newborns.
Constipation.

When regurgitating, it is important to monitor how the baby gains weight. If it is normal, the baby sleeps well and is smiling, then regurgitation is not a health problem. But do not forget that the reasons why a child often regurgitates may be congenital malformations of the esophagus, a foreign body in it, a diaphragmatic hernia, pathologies of the nervous system, lactase deficiency, and infectious diseases.

How often does a baby spit up?

Anatomical and physiological characteristics contribute to the fact that the child regurgitates a lot at an early age. The tone of the lower esophageal sphincter is reduced, therefore, as soon as intragastric pressure increases for one reason or another, food is thrown out.

Regurgitation often occurs at 2 weeks of a child’s life. The frequency and intensity of infant regurgitation increases in the second month and persists until approximately six months. After 6 months, the baby spits up less. In some children (about 10% of cases), this condition can persist for up to 1 year.

A child often spits up during the first 3 months of life - this happens in almost 100% of children. At 4-6 months, regurgitation can persist in about 60% of cases, from 6 to 12 months - 20%, very rarely - after 1 year (about 2% of cases). Each baby burps at different frequencies after feeding.

Sometimes even completely healthy babies can burp 20-30 times a day.

If a newborn spits up a lot, this is a normal reaction of his body. Regurgitation can occur in completely healthy children, but in a small volume (up to 3 ml) and not too often. Often such a condition goes away on its own before the end of the first year of life, but sometimes, if the child spits up heavily, an examination may be necessary.

You should be wary of the following points:

the presence of bile, blood in the masses;
baby loses weight;
progression of regurgitation;
crown pulsation;
the child spits up like a fountain, the situation is repeated many times;
deterioration of general condition;
delayed physical development;
hepatosplenomegaly.

Regurgitation contents

The main indicator of a child’s health in the first months of life is his physical development. What to do if a baby spits up breast milk while breastfed? If he systematically gains weight, height, and behaves normally, there is no need to worry. When the baby grows a little and switches to more solid food, regurgitation will disappear over time.

Sometimes a newborn spits up curds. Such content does not indicate disease or developmental defects. Most often, this situation occurs if during feeding the baby swallows a lot of air, he has bloating or regular overfeeding. If a child spits up cottage cheese, the following actions will help eliminate it:

The baby should be fed often, but in small portions;
after feeding, hold it at a 45-degree angle for a while so that the baby burps air;
apply correctly to the chest;
Give a remedy for excessive gas formation.

Sometimes a baby spits up formula while being bottle-fed because it may not be suitable for him in composition. In this case, by choosing a different diet, you can get rid of regurgitation. Or you can simply make a smaller hole in the nipple - this way you can prevent a large amount of air from entering.

Regurgitation is considered physiological if its volume is no more than 2 tablespoons, it occurs an hour after feeding and disappears at about 9 months. In this case, the child regurgitates milk, slightly curdled or unchanged, and recovers and grows normally.

We can talk about a pathological character in cases where:

regurgitation occurs later than an hour after eating;
more often occur at night;
frequency of regurgitation - more than 7 times a day;
food in quantities of 3-5 ml or more is rejected;
turns into vomiting that does not stop;
poor weight gain;
regurgitation with blood, bile;
The process does not go away by the age of one year.

All this may indicate the possible presence of some disease. If you notice at least one of the listed signs or a combination of them, you should immediately contact a gastroenterologist or pediatrician.

What is the difference between spitting up and vomiting?

The main difference between regurgitation and vomiting is that in the first case it is more often a physiological act, and in the second it is the result of one or another pathology.

Vomiting is a reflex of the nervous system, which involves the skeletal and smooth muscles of the digestive system (when regurgitating, only smooth muscles). In this case, the contents of the stomach are emptied through the mouth due to the coordinated work of organs such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines and diaphragm. During vomiting, much more fluid is lost compared to regurgitation, which can result in dehydration and the baby’s condition is impaired. Vomiting can occur at any time, regardless of whether the child has just eaten. Often occurs in copious amounts and can be repeated several times in a row. In older children, before vomiting, complaints of nausea and abdominal pain may appear.
There is no discomfort during regurgitation, the baby is calm. There is no need to worry if your baby spits up water. During feeding, milk that enters the stomach coagulates. Thus, it is divided into curd and whey, which looks like water. It is what comes out when regurgitating. This is normal. Another reason is excessive salivation, then the regurgitated water is drool that the baby recently swallowed.

It also happens that the child burps through the nose. This happens when the baby is not fed correctly. If regurgitation through the nose is repeated frequently, you should consult a doctor, as this damages the integrity of the nasal mucosa and polyps may appear over time.

If a newborn spits up yellow, this is definitely not normal. This is possible with various infectious diseases, intestinal obstruction, lactose intolerance, food allergies to the mixture, and the adverse effects of antibiotics on the intestines.

In some diseases, the newborn spits up like a fountain. These are pylorospasm and pyloric stenosis. In the first case, drug treatment is sufficient, but in the second, the baby needs emergency surgery. It is especially important to act quickly if the child does not gain weight and his general condition is impaired.

When should you consult a doctor?

If a newborn spits up a small amount, this is a common functional disorder that often occurs in young children. But sometimes it happens that such a condition may indicate certain diseases and developmental abnormalities.

Cases in which you need to see a doctor:

regurgitation is more abundant than before;
the general condition of the child is impaired;
if the child spits up more often than before;
there is severe weight loss;
body temperature rises;
regurgitation suddenly began in the second half of the year;
profuse regurgitation “fountain”;
signs of dehydration;
yellow regurgitation with blood;
bulging crown;
feeling of hunger after regurgitation in large quantities;
Regurgitation continues after 1 year of age.

When do you need a doctor?

If a child is not gaining weight well and is noticeably lagging behind in development, then regurgitation needs correction, which will be thought out by a specialist after an examination. You should also consult a doctor if, after an episode of reflux, the baby behaves restlessly - begins to cry piercingly, draws in its legs, and squirms. This can occur when the esophagus is irritated by gastric juice. As a rule, this becomes possible with certain pathologies of the digestive organs and with neurological problems.

The mother needs to see a doctor as soon as possible if the baby regurgitates not just milk or formula, but a brownish or greenish liquid, as this may be a sign of a serious pathology - intestinal obstruction. Yellow masses from the stomach should also be grounds for a visit to the doctor, as they may indicate problems with the functioning of the stomach or pancreas.

Mothers whose babies did not burp until six months ago should definitely visit a pediatrician, and after 6 months this problem has just begun. Regurgitation like a fountain is also a reason to seek help from a qualified specialist.

Advice from Dr. Komarovsky

If a child often spits up, parents should listen to a few simple tips:

During feeding, babies can swallow air - this is also one of the reasons for regurgitation. After eating, you need to hold the baby upright, leaning it against your shoulder and lightly tapping the back with your palm until the excess air escapes;
if the child is bottle-fed , after preliminary consultation with a doctor, you should buy him not just an adapted formula, but a product marked “anti-reflux”. It contains special safe thickeners such as rice starch;
after regurgitation, you should not try to feed the baby , his digestive tract should be given a little rest;
if the baby burps through the mouth and nose , it is imperative to clear the nasal passages of remnants of stomach contents in order to prevent the development of bacterial inflammation;
You should not entertain your baby immediately after eating , but you should leave him alone - this way the likelihood of regurgitation is reduced.

Regurgitation is a problem that affects all nursing mothers and their babies. What should a mother do and how should she behave in this situation? Tips from Dr. Komarovsky from the video below will help you figure this out.

medical reviewer, psychosomatics specialist, mother of 4 children

Types of regurgitation

There are several of them. All of them are caused by different reasons, some indicate the danger of diseases, and some are natural for the baby’s body. It is better to learn more about each of them, because an infant can change from one type to another. Such a transition can be caused by both natural and dangerous changes in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Regurgitation "fountain"

This type of regurgitation is very dangerous. If a mother notices this in her baby, she should immediately consult a doctor. It is believed that the baby may suffer, even death (he may simply choke). By the way, Komarovsky denies the danger of even these types of regurgitation, arguing that a child can choke only if he lies on his back. One way or another, only a specialist can help in such cases. Causes of fountain regurgitation include:

serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
birth injuries;
poisoning or infection.
dysphagia (digestive disorders).

Spitting up like a fountain is dangerous for your baby

Burping through the nose

It also happens that a newborn burps through the nose. This is also not the norm. This type of regurgitation leads to the development of polyps. The integrity of the nasal mucous membranes is compromised. In order to help a newborn, you need to consult a doctor.

? The reason for regurgitation through the nose often lies in improper feeding. It is necessary to ensure that the child eats in the correct position and exactly on time, and clasps the pacifier correctly. In order to help the baby, you can put him on your stomach, or give him a special massage. This will help your child stop hiccupping.

How to reduce burping in a child after eating

The simplest thing you can do is just wait. A newborn should stop burping by the age of six months. There is no way to stop this process artificially - there are no universal cures for regurgitation. All a mother can do for her child is to try to reduce this process and make it painless. To achieve this, there are a number of specific measures, especially those that should be taken into account by mothers whose children behave restlessly both day and night.

You don't need to feed your baby too much. Meals should be balanced and consistent with the schedule.
It is not recommended to feed the baby in a horizontal position. The ideal position would be at an angle of sixty degrees.
You need to make sure that the baby completely clasps the nipple. With IV, it is important to monitor the quality of the mixture and the correct filling of the bottle.
While eating, it is necessary to monitor the baby's posture; its head should be located above the body.
Before feeding, you can give your baby a light abdominal massage. You can let your baby lie on his stomach for a while, this will reduce gas and colic.
After feeding, the baby is carried in his arms in an upright position until he burps.
You can place several diapers under the baby's head while sleeping, thereby elevating his head and making burping easier.
The milk mixture should be warm. You need to feed your baby at the same time. You need to make sure that the mixture does not curdle and do not heat it for too long.
You should not feed a crying baby. You should refrain from activity after eating.
You can give your baby a pacifier before bed; this will ease colic a little by stimulating bowel function.

Correct position during feeding

Belching, regurgitation, vomiting

Often these 3 processes are confused. Despite the fact that each case is the release of milk or formula through the mouth, physiologically all 3 processes differ from each other.

During feeding, the infant swallows air, which can enter the stomach and intestines and linger there, causing spasms and bloating, causing discomfort to the baby and causing regurgitation. To avoid this, before placing the baby in the crib, after feeding, he is held upright until he burps air. Usually you have to wait no longer than 20 minutes. When burping, air may escape from the stomach, trapping a small amount of milk.

If, during belching, the food is released with air in a stream - this is regurgitation. The contents of the stomach are expelled passively, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles do not tense. Regurgitation does not affect the baby's well-being. Vomiting occurs when the abdominal muscles are activated, and the baby’s facial features are distorted. The milk comes out curdled and with a sour odor. With real vomiting, the child turns pale, his pulse quickens, and his limbs become cold.

Why does a baby spit up after breastfeeding or formula feeding?

During the first few months of life, babies tend to regurgitate food. There are several definitions for this process: belching, regurgitation and vomiting. Physiologically, all three phenomena are different from each other. Let's take a closer look at what the difference is and what are the causes of regurgitation in newborns.

Concepts of belching, regurgitation and vomiting

What unites all three phenomena is the fact that mother’s milk or formula is released through the mouth like a fountain. But the process happens differently. Belching is an involuntary release of air from the stomach and esophagus. In this case, in newborns, breast milk can be captured and thrown out along with air.

Regurgitation is the belching of food along with air in a fountain, which occurs either immediately after feeding or within a few minutes. Milk seems to flow out of the mouth in a stream. This phenomenon occurs only in newborns and children in the first months of life. In this case, the child is active, smiles and does not show anxiety. The muscles of the stomach are not involved in this process. Regurgitation can persist for a long time, it can be profuse. As you get older, the intensity decreases.

Don't panic

Regurgitation is observed in children from birth or begins at the age of 1-4 months. Food may rise from the stomach immediately after feeding or after 1-2 hours. In some children this happens occasionally, in others several times after one meal. It happens that a baby spits up 10-20 minutes after he starts sucking. Sometimes, when milk gets into his nose, the baby breathes with difficulty, but does not let go of the breast. Mothers are especially frightened at the sight of liquid pouring out of the child’s mouth like a fountain. How dangerous is regurgitation for a baby's health? Maybe the baby is sick and needs urgent treatment?

What is regurgitation

It is necessary to distinguish regurgitation from other types of food elimination, in particular vomiting. When regurgitating, a small amount of food, within 30 ml, comes back out of the mouth. Typically, children experience regurgitation after eating for an hour. The formula or milk flows out slowly, without pressure.

The natural process does not lead to a deterioration in well-being and does not negatively affect the baby’s behavior.

When vomiting, a large amount of food is released, it comes out under pressure, and can flow like a fountain. This is definitely a pathological condition.

When is a doctor urgently needed?

The cause of regurgitation may be replacing the formula to which the baby is accustomed to another, as well as feeding the newborn ahead of time. In some cases, stroking the baby clockwise around the navel before eating or if he lies on his tummy can help prevent vomiting. You can interrupt the feeding and hold the baby upright so that the food settles inside him. After the air comes out, continue. It is important that the tone of the muscles of the baby’s esophagus and stomach is strongly influenced by passive smoking. It can cause vomiting in the baby.

Dr. Komarovsky claims that regurgitation, during which the child feels well and gains weight, is a normal phenomenon that goes away by the age of 1 year. You should immediately consult a doctor if milk return is accompanied by the following factors:

the baby spits up or vomits from birth and after each feeding;
there is slow weight gain;
there are disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
severe vomiting every day;
when regurgitating, the child behaves restlessly and cries;
The vomit contains green bile.

Parents should be alarmed if regurgitation occurs after drinking or taking a small amount of milk and the child hardly gains any weight. This may be a sign of pyloric stenosis - a sharp narrowing of one of the sections of the stomach, as a result of which almost nothing enters the small intestine. This kind of anatomical defects are usually detected in the first days after birth and are immediately operated on. But sometimes pyloric stenosis is detected only at 3-10 weeks.

For atypical regurgitation, the doctor suggests choosing a mixture with an anti-reflux effect, which includes thickeners that prevent vomiting. It can only be used on the recommendation of a pediatrician.

Frequently weighing the child will help the doctor determine the diagnosis. It should always be carried out at home under the same conditions so that side factors do not affect the performance. The baby is weighed at the same time before feeding, naked, with a diaper placed under him, the weight of which is subtracted from the data obtained.

The difference between regurgitation and vomiting

How to distinguish excessive regurgitation from vomiting:

Vomiting happens suddenly. This process is not directly related to eating. Regurgitation occurs only after the baby has eaten.
The baby's mood does not change after regurgitation. He still remains cheerful and cheerful.
In most cases, after vomiting, babies develop a fever.
Vomit has a characteristic unpleasant odor and color.
When regurgitating, there is no gagging.
After vomiting, the child’s diaphragm becomes confused and he begins to actively hiccup.

Vomiting is a reflex act. When it appears, nausea occurs, the abdominal muscles and diaphragm contract, the color of the skin changes, and sweating appears. If your baby has these signs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Regurgitation per month

Regurgitation per month in a child is often a normal condition. It is caused by weakness of the gastroesophageal sphincter. Regurgitation can also be a symptom of pathology: pyloric stenosis, pylorospasm, malformations of the digestive system, hypoxia, intestinal obstruction and others.

Norm and deviations

Regurgitation in infants up to 1 month is a physiological condition.

It is also called uncomplicated reflux.

The baby's digestive system is not mature, so food remains in the stomach longer.

The baby lies down most of the time.

To ensure that food passes further and does not come back, there is an esophagogastric sphincter in the esophagus, which is still weak in infants.

This leads to the reflux of milk from the stomach.

A factor that increases regurgitation per month is aerophagia.

During feeding, the baby is in a hurry and swallows a lot of air. When lying down, the air pushes up the milk, which promotes reflux.

Other physiological causes of reflux include:

• Overfeeding the child, drinking large amounts of foremilk;

• Early transfer to formula, especially in the maternity hospital.

• Use of poor quality nutrition.

• Violation of feeding technique, when the mother does not release air after eating.

If all these factors are excluded, reflux will appear less frequently.

If a child develops well and gains weight in the presence of regurgitation, this is the norm.

In a healthy baby, the amount of milk or formula thrown through the esophagus is insignificant and does not cause discomfort or pain to the baby.

Useful tips for mothers: BABY HEALTH

Reflux is possible during meals or 5-15 minutes after.

Pathological causes of regurgitation

Regurgitation per month in newborns after feeding is sometimes caused by diseases.

At the same time, the child spits up like a fountain. Casting is possible an hour after feeding.

The main pathological conditions include:

• hiatal hernia;

• hypoxia, which provoked pathology of the central nervous system;

In these conditions, the child needs help.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

With this pathology, the patient experiences frequent regurgitation or vomiting. Milk may be ejected in a fountain.

After regurgitation, the baby cries a lot and feels discomfort or pain.

Sometimes the mother does not see complete reflux. The contents of the stomach reach only the esophagus, but do not enter the oral cavity.

The milk is swallowed again, causing pain.

In the presence of severe reflux disease, the following symptoms are noted:

crying a lot while breastfeeding;
weight loss;
breast or bottle refusal;
hoarseness of voice;
difficulty swallowing;
constant nasal congestion;
otitis.

In a child, yellow impurities or streaks of blood are visible in the reflux masses.

Pylorostenosis, pylorospasm

Pylorospasm is a contraction of the pyloric sphincter, which is located at the transition of the stomach to the duodenum.

With this pathology it is noted:

• repeated vomiting mixed with bile;

• sour smell of vomit;

• reducing the amount of urine, which has a bright yellowish tint and a strong odor;

• retraction of the fontanelle due to dehydration;

• bad mood, screaming, sleep disturbance;

• presence of dark stools.

The child's skin is dry and loses its elasticity.

With pylorospasm, regurgitation is less frequent, mild, and abdominal pain is less common.

Useful tips for mothers: BABY HEALTH

An infant with pyloric stenosis is indicated for surgery to restore patency of the sphincter.

Intestinal obstruction

The disease is characterized by complete or partial blockage of the large or small intestine.

A sign of obstruction is:

• the presence of green bile inclusions in the regurgitated masses, possible fecal impurities;

• blood in the stool, after strong crying;

• abdominal pain of a spastic nature, which is periodic;

• vomiting after pain.

If these symptoms are present, the baby requires urgent help.

Pathologies of the central nervous system

Reflux often occurs in babies who have suffered hypoxia, birth trauma, or intrauterine infection.

In the presence of brain damage, a fountain ejection is detected.

The child sleeps poorly, often wakes up, cries, and does not gain weight.

If these symptoms are present, the baby requires examination and treatment.

When to see a doctor

You should consult a doctor when your baby's regurgitation per month is a symptom of a disease.

Symptoms to watch out for:

• blood and bile green inclusions in the masses after regurgitation;

• severe pain syndrome;

• spitting up like a fountain, persisting for more than 1 day;

• dehydration: dry mucous membranes, skin, sunken fontanel, decreased frequency of urination;

• vomiting for more than a day.

These manifestations cannot be ignored, as they lead to complications.

How to help your baby

If you have any alarming symptoms, you should contact your pediatrician.

The doctor will conduct an examination and refer you to specialized specialists: a neurologist, surgeon, gastroenterologist and others.

Regurgitation of infants from birth to one year: norm and deviations, what is the reason

For newborns, regurgitation of curdled milk or water is very rare. Even when a child regurgitates bile at 6 months, this is not something out of the ordinary.

Parents of infants, especially if it is their first baby, often do not understand why regurgitation ends every feeding. It is very difficult to study a child's body at this age.

It is for this reason that it is worth knowing when there is no need to worry and when you should see a doctor immediately.

Almost all babies regurgitate food from time to time.

What is regurgitation

The regurgitation of newborns has a very specific name - physiological reflux. So, if a month-old baby begins to regurgitate milk while on breastfeeding, this is the norm in most cases.

This is a proper and understandable process that should not be ignored. As time passes, water and food will begin to be well absorbed.

Even if an older child of 5 months sometimes spits up, this is also not a reason to panic.

Difference between regurgitation and vomiting

Vomiting and regurgitation are physiological phenomena that accompany babies in infancy especially often. Practice shows that parents cannot always distinguish one from the other. This is not difficult to do.

When a baby stops burping - reasons and timing

When regurgitating, mucus comes out in small quantities; it should not smell unpleasant. The child does not feel any discomfort; he can continue to lie quietly and smile happily.

As for vomiting, things are a little more complicated. With this problem, the child becomes restless and lethargic.

In this case, the liquid may come out of the baby’s mouth not in small quantities, but in a stream resembling a fountain.

If a child periodically spits up at six or seven months, this does not prevent him from gaining weight normally, growing and showing vigor. When vomiting, a previously strong and healthy baby becomes weak and has an unpleasant sour odor from his breath. He may even begin to lose weight and refuse to eat.

Important! Why the baby started vomiting should not be found out on your own. In the first hour after the symptom is detected, it is recommended to call emergency help. The fact is that dehydration occurs very quickly in babies. Any delay can have fatal consequences.

Vomiting and regurgitation are completely different things

Causes of regurgitation

Why a child does not crawl at 9 months - reasons

The reason why water or porridge is regurgitated may be different each time. This can happen due to swallowing air along with food, when complementary foods are introduced, or when the baby is teething. Most often we are talking about one of the following points.

Fast milk flow

The fact is that the children's digestive system is not yet developed, and the contents often return back to the esophagus. Don’t forget that the baby’s weight is light, and its stomach is small and fills up quickly.

If a breastfeeding baby begins to swallow milk too quickly and is not weaned from the breast for a long time, he will inevitably begin to hiccup and may burp.

In this case, you need to do the following: remove the baby from the breast every five minutes so that the absorbed air can escape.

Immature digestive system

A baby may also vomit due to the immaturity of the digestive system. After the baby's stomach is full, the esophageal sphincter does not close completely. As a result, food is not retained, and the baby has no choice but to regurgitate it.

Consuming foremilk

Mother's milk changes its consistency during feeding. Initially, it is more watery and rich in lactose. As the baby eats, the amount of fat in the milk becomes higher.

Frequent regurgitation is caused by receiving large amounts of foremilk.

Also, vomiting and regurgitation may occur if the interval between feedings is long and the amount of foremilk in the mammary glands increases.

Incorrect mixture

Another reason why a child may burp or do it constantly may be an incorrectly selected formula. In this case, to solve the problem, it is enough to simply change the feeding composition.

To prevent your baby from spitting up, you need to feed him correctly

Important! There are special mixtures for colic that help prevent regurgitation.

Infections

It’s hard to imagine how many different intestinal and gastric disorders the baby’s parents will have to endure until the baby grows up. At the same time, children often have a stomach ache, diarrhea, a sour smell from the mouth, and vomiting.

In most cases, there is no need to fight regurgitation

Is it possible to get rid of regurgitation?

Baby spits up like a fountain

The constant process of regurgitation causes many unpleasant moments not only for parents, but also for the baby. He may get very scared. To prevent this from happening and reduce the likelihood of burping to a minimum, you can take some steps that will significantly alleviate the baby’s condition or even prevent the occurrence of an unpleasant phenomenon.

To prevent your baby from spitting up, it is often enough to follow these simple tips:

Organize the process of putting the baby to the breast correctly. This is a good way to avoid air getting into the stomach and reduce the likelihood of problems associated with imperfect digestive organs, to which a two- or three-month-old baby is so susceptible.
Do not allow your baby to overeat. Young mothers are strongly advised not to offer the breast to their baby as soon as they notice anxiety on his part. The reasons for whims may be different. The best option is to strictly adhere to a feeding schedule, regulating giving the baby breastfeeding no more than once every three to four hours.
Help the baby burp out excess air after feeding. To do this, you will need to press the baby to your stomach and carry it in an upright position for about ten minutes.
When artificially feeding, replace regular milk formula with medicinal formula.
Keep the baby in the correct position during feeding. The baby's head should be above shoulder level. It is allowed to use special pillows for feeding, which can be easily purchased at any baby goods store.

When you need a doctor

Regurgitation is not always harmless. In some cases, seeing a doctor is mandatory. Causes for concern should be an increase in the frequency or volume of regurgitation, the appearance of blood or bile in the mucus, and an increased temperature.

What examinations are needed

Diagnosis usually begins with an examination of the infant. Most often, an ultrasound examination is required to establish a more accurate diagnosis. In half of the cases, this examination allows us to understand the cause of the problem and prescribe adequate treatment. Most often, it comes down to recommendations to thoroughly rub the curd before feeding the baby or reduce their frequency.

For your information. In those rare cases when regurgitation is indeed a sign of pathology, additional diagnostic procedures may be prescribed, for example, abdominal tomography, x-ray or flexible gastroscopy.

Dr. Komarovsky about regurgitation

Dr. Komarovsky, like most experts, considers burping of infants to be a normal physiological process. It does not cause discomfort to the baby, despite the fact that it happens unexpectedly. This phenomenon can continue until the child reaches the seventh or even ninth month, when the formation of the muscular valve separating the esophagus and stomach is completed.

Features of prevention

Prevention of regurgitation in newborns should begin from the gestation stage. If the pregnancy is going well and there is a friendly atmosphere in the house, the risk of developing a problem is reduced.

If the baby feels good after burping, there is no reason to worry

When breastfeeding, you should carefully monitor how your baby takes the nipple. He must capture with his mouth not only himself, but also the areola. If the feeding process occurs using a bottle, the latter must be full. Under no circumstances should air enter it. The hole in the nipple should be small.

It will be equally effective to place the baby on his tummy before feeding and stroke him in the area around the navel clockwise for a while. This will relieve the baby of excess air.

Perhaps the listed measures will not help to completely avoid the development of regurgitation, but they will significantly reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.

Source: https://kpoxa.info/zdorovie-pitanie/rebenok-6-mes-srygivaet.html

We solve the problem of regurgitation in infants. Komarovsky advises

Small babies often burp after feeding. And everything would be fine, but it happens that they spit up regularly and in large quantities.

In fact, regurgitation in children of the first year of life who are breastfed is a natural process . But for parents who are nervous at the sight of a burped baby, some explanations need to be given about the causes, prevention and normality of regurgitation in infants.

Komarovsky E.O., a famous Ukrainian pediatrician, gives detailed explanations on this issue.

The concept and causes of regurgitation in infants

So what is regurgitation? Regurgitation is a type of vomiting in children of the first year of life. This happens due to undeveloped gastric muscles .

Normally, regurgitation occurs immediately after feeding , sometimes with belching, in small portions (no more than 20 ml). The milk or mixture comes out unchanged or curdled. Sometimes a child burps up to 7-8 times a day.

Komarovsky always says that if a baby is gaining weight well and behaves normally, then it is not he who is sick, but his caring parents.

So, we need to understand this issue in more detail.

Komarovsky clearly divides the reasons why infants regurgitate into natural causes and into causes due to pathologies.

If after feeding the baby is shaken sharply, tossed (which young dads really like to do), massaged, bathed, then the baby is 100% likely to burp.

Regurgitation may cause rejection of the selected formula. Well, this mixture is not suitable for a child. Or have allergic reactions to protein or lactose.

It happens that a child has a high tone of the vomiting center, which is also a variant of the norm.

In any case, you need to remember that when regurgitating for natural reasons, the baby does not lose weight, and the child’s well-being is excellent, and general health indicators are normal .

Komarovsky considers pathological causes of regurgitation in infants primarily as a pediatrician. The most important thing is that if regurgitation is pathological, you need to consult a doctor in time , he will prescribe adequate treatment.

When the causes of regurgitation are pathological, it causes many problems and unpleasant moments. It happens that a child spits up like a fountain, it already looks like vomiting. And if treatment is not started in time, the baby will begin to lose weight, dehydration may quickly occur, and the baby may choke on vomit, especially if he is premature.

But you still need to take a closer look at the pathologies that cause regurgitation:

The most common pathological cause remains perinatal encephalopathy . Encephalopathy usually occurs from lack of oxygen and various injuries during childbirth.
Congenital abnormalities in the development of the gastrointestinal tract or hernias of various origins.
Neurological problems caused by difficult childbirth and congenital birth defects (for example, intracranial pressure).
Various infectious diseases (meningitis, sepsis).
Congenital metabolic disorders.
Kidney disorders.
And, as a rule, poisoning with toxic substances .

Why does a one-month-old baby spit up after feeding?

Why does a baby burp often or a lot after feeding (as a newborn baby should burp)

Parents are always worried about the condition of their baby. If they encounter any problems or difficult issues, they get worried. It is necessary to consider in detail the point why the baby spits up? Is this normal and what can I do about it?

Dr. Komarovsky says that regurgitation in infants (infrequent, not profuse) is a normal condition. If the child feels good, cheerful, and is actively gaining weight, then there is no need to worry. You need to worry when the baby spits up frequently and loses weight.

your baby has not yet gained experience in eating properly, eat as much as he can fit. Vomiting in this case is a protective function of the body against excess food received;

high activity of the nervous system, it provokes a process when the gastric wall is stretched. This happens if the baby does not gain weight.

Thus, the process of throwing out food is a normal reaction of an infant to eating. It is only important to make sure that your child gains weight and feels good.

Regurgitation is a normal, natural process in a baby. There is no need to worry if your baby vomits after eating and gains weight. Doctors advise counting how often the baby regurgitates food. If you count 12 times a day or a little more, it means that the children have enough milk and are simply getting rid of excess food.

If the baby often burps, the reason may be due to improper breastfeeding. You should not hold your baby in an upright position after feeding; it is best if he lies quietly on his side.

A 4-month-old baby should regurgitate approximately 2 tablespoons of food after feeding.

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What to do when babies regurgitate: advises Dr. Komarovsky

But there are still general tips and recommendations for reducing regurgitation in infants. Komarovsky, like any experienced pediatrician, can help with advice to young parents who are faced with a similar phenomenon. So:

If the baby is breastfed, you just need to increase the frequency of feeding. You need to feed more often, but less in volume. It is important not to overfeed!
After feeding, you need to hold the baby in a column for about 15 minutes. In an upright position, the air that the little one swallowed while sucking escapes well.
Before feeding, you need to place the baby on the tummy. This stimulates proper digestion.
When breastfeeding, you need to ensure that your breastfeeding is correct to avoid swallowing air along with the milk.

Some parents are concerned about the fact that the child often spits up and then hiccups. Let's figure out why this happens. The fact is that the causes of hiccups are very similar to the causes of food rejection: overeating; excess air trapped in the stomach; stress and nervous condition.

In a situation where the baby begins to hiccup after regurgitation, you need to do the following: hold him briefly to the chest again and try to carefully place him on his side in the crib.

Prevention: how to reduce the number of regurgitations

If your baby spits up a lot, you can apply the following preventive measures:

To help food digest, after feeding the baby, you should carry it in a column (vertically), and not lay it on your stomach.
If a mother is breastfeeding, you need to make sure that the baby grasps not only the nipple, but also the areola. The baby should breathe through his nose, not his mouth.
For babies who are bottle-fed, you need to purchase special anti-colic bottles. They will help the baby not to catch air when feeding.
After feeding, you should not swaddle your baby tightly, thereby squeezing his stomach.
It is not advisable to feed a newborn just before bedtime.

If regurgitation suddenly begins, the baby must be secured in an upright position so that he does not choke or choke.

Parents are interested in the question: “What to do if the baby spits up like a fountain?” In most cases, the problem is physiological in nature and should not bother parents.

But if other symptoms are added to the regurgitation: the temperature rises, the baby becomes nervous, diarrhea or constipation occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

Dr. Komarovsky, known to many, does not see any problems for the baby in this physiological process. He considers it absolutely normal if the weight grows. When a baby spits up frequently, it may be a sign that he is overeating. The doctor reminds: the stomach has a certain capacity, and if the amount of milk consumed exceeds it, then the excess must come back out. Another circumstance that Komarovsky mentions is swallowed air and the predominantly recumbent position of the newborn. Since at the age of approximately 6-7 months the child begins to sit, the frequency of regurgitation decreases.

The doctor gives the standard advice: hold the baby in a column after feeding for about 10 minutes. He also advises reducing the amount of time spent at the breast if the baby is breastfed. That is, feed in small portions, but more often.