Is it serious if a baby spits up milk? Should you hold the baby if he spits up milk?

Spitting up is a very common phenomenon. Many babies will experience this phenomenon soon after birth. Some new mothers will be very nervous and wonder if it is a big deal for the baby. So let's find out whether it is a big deal for the baby to spit up. Should you hold the baby if he spits up?

Is it serious if a baby spits up?

Because the stomach and throat of newborns are not yet fully developed, the stomach of newborns is lying horizontally and unstable from the front, and the cardia (entrance to the stomach) is relatively loose. Therefore, it is normal for newborns to spit up milk, and mothers don't need to worry too much. Most babies spit up milk several times a day in the first few months after birth. The most troublesome thing about spitting up milk for mothers is that they have to change clothes, so mothers should pay attention to not wearing clothes that are too dark when feeding, otherwise it will be obvious to be stained by spitting up milk. There are several reasons for newborns to spit up milk. Sometimes it is because they eat too much and the body has to vomit out excess milk; sometimes it is because they inhale air when feeding, but they cannot burp it out, and once the stomach contracts, they will spit up milk. When the baby grows up, the cardia grows stronger, and if they can burp themselves, they will not spit up milk anymore. However, when the baby spit up milk, mothers should still pay more attention to the baby's mental state and physical condition after spitting up milk. If the baby is depressed, wants to sleep, has a fever, etc. after spitting up milk, it may be sick.

Should I hold my baby if he spits up?

Don't rush to pick up the baby when he spits up milk. You should let the baby's head tilt to one side to prevent vomit from entering the trachea and causing suffocation. Then pick up the baby and clear the milk in the mouth, nose and outside to ensure safety. At the same time, pat the baby's back. When feeding, control the speed of the baby's feeding, avoid being too hasty and too fast, try not to eat air, and pat the baby's burp after feeding before putting him down, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of spitting up milk. Most of the baby's spitting up milk is caused by immature gastrointestinal tract development, small stomach capacity, and horizontal position, loose lower esophageal sphincter, or eating too hard and too fast, eating too much, etc. It is recommended that after feeding the baby, you can hold the baby upright on the mother's shoulder, and then pat the back until the hiccups, which can effectively prevent the baby from spitting up milk.

How long does it take for a baby to stop spitting up milk?

When the baby stops spitting up depends on the specific situation. If the spitting up is caused by physiological gastroesophageal reflux, the spitting up will gradually ease after three months, and physiological spitting up will generally not occur after six months. However, if some babies are caused by diseases, timely intervention and treatment of the disease are required to avoid serious complications, especially dehydration and electrolyte disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the mental state, urine volume and milk intake. If necessary, go to the hospital for treatment in time. At the same time, it is also necessary to observe whether the baby's development in all aspects is normal.

When will baby spit up get better?

The baby will stop spitting up milk after six months. It is recommended to pay attention to the correct feeding posture when feeding the baby to prevent the child from spitting up milk; do not let the child lie down immediately after feeding, which may cause spitting up milk, because the baby's appetite is small now and his gastrointestinal development is not yet complete. After the baby is fed, the mother can gently pat his back to help the baby digest food. When breastfeeding, pay attention to the baby's diet. Do not eat foods with high fat content or foods that cause internal heat, which may cause physical discomfort to the child. Do not let the child lie down immediately after feeding, but hold him upright and pat his burp.