|
Most babies will bring up small amounts of milk along with air when they are burped. Some babies bring up so much that it may seem like an entire feed and they may also experience the unpleasant indigestion discomfort known as reflux, or heartburn, which occurs when acid from the stomach spills back up the oesophagus. This problem often causes much distress in children and anxiety for parents.
A small amount of vomiting is common in many babies after a feed. Provided the baby is not distressed and is gaining weight, this can be considered normal. Usually the food 'spills' out of the baby's mouth. This is due to delayed development of the valve between the lower end of the oesophagus and the stomach. As time goes by, this valve starts to function normally and food stays in the stomach, and carries on into the intestine. Although regurgitation is usually not a serious problem, your doctor should know about it. If your baby is distressed after feeds, vomits frequently and is slow to gain weight, talk to your doctor about reflux. Some simple measures may well solve the problem. Report to your doctor any definite change or decrease in bowel movements or urination, as well as any signs of discomfort or pain. In some babies and small children this 'normal' reflux can cause significant problems. The baby may fail to grow due to inadequate food remaining in the digestive system. Stomach acid can irritate the oesophagus to such an extent that the baby is in pain. This will often show up as crying after feeds, having 'colic' or a general tummy ache. Bleeding may occur, producing iron-deficiency anaemia. Regurgitated food may be inhaled (breathed in) into the lungs, causing chronic coughing, wheezing or even pneumonia. Fortunately these complications are all rare, but they are all potentially serious. HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO DECREASE REFLUX: - Always hold the baby in an upright position while feeding. If the baby is lying flat, air cannot rise to the top of the baby's stomach to be brought up as a burp. Instead, milk and air are mixed, and milk will be brought up with the burp. Other treatments are available. Thickening feeds is sometimes tried, but with limited success. Simple antacid medications such as those used by adults often help, as do stronger medications controlling muscular contractions of the stomach.
- Handle the baby gently after a feed. Bouncing the baby around, or tapping too roughly on the back to bring up a burp, can bring up milk, too.
- Feed the baby without delay. If the baby has cried a long time before a feeding, air may have been swallowed. With air in the stomach at the beginning of a feed, regurgitating milk during or after the feed is more likely to occur.
- Check the size of the opening in the nipple, if you are bottle-feeding. A hole that is too big will let the baby swallow formula too quickly. The overflow is likely to be brought up. A hole that is too small forces the baby to suck very hard and swallow air. The bottle should leak several drops of milk per second.
- Tilt the bottle when bottle-feeding so that the nipple is always covered with milk.
Regurgitation is different from vomiting. Vomiting usually happens an hour or more after a feed. The milk is mixed with digestive juices and has a sour smell. It may be that the baby just took some time to bring up air. It could also be a sign of illness. If the baby seems well and is eating normally, watch him for any other signs of illness. Article #4810 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
