This article is written by Dr. Le Thu Phuong from the Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology at Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Aside from pathological reasons, newborns often experience spitting up and vomiting milk, which can usually be alleviated by adjusting a few simple habits during breastfeeding.
Newborns have a delicate digestive system, and the valves in their stomachs do not work in harmony. As a result, babies can easily swallow air while breastfeeding. This excess air can cause discomfort and lead to spitting up and vomiting after feeding, which is quite common. To help reduce this issue, mothers should consider changing their breastfeeding techniques and addressing certain aspects of their baby's and family's daily routines.
Divide the baby's portion.
Compared to older babies, the immature digestive system of newborns has a much smaller capacity. To avoid "spitting up", instead of feeding your baby too much at once, you should feed him more often, with a reduced amount of milk each time, helping him digest faster and easier.
Do not let your baby lie down immediately after breastfeeding.
Newborns are very likely to swallow air while breastfeeding. If you let your baby lie down immediately, spitting up and vomiting is very likely to occur. Therefore, after feeding your baby, you should keep him from lying down immediately. You should find a way to burp your baby to "release" excess air, avoiding bloating and indigestion.
Feed your baby properly.
You may not realize that the way you feed your baby can contribute to spitting up and vomiting. For breastfed babies, if you give them more milk than they can swallow at one time, it can lead to food flowing back up from their stomach, causing them to vomit. Similarly, babies who do not drink from a bottle properly may suck in a significant amount of excess air, which can negatively affect their digestion.
To avoid this situation, when breastfeeding, you should only let your baby drink slowly, avoiding letting your baby eat too much at a time. For babies who drink from a bottle, mothers should keep the bottle tilted at a 45-degree angle, so that the milk always covers the neck of the bottle, preventing air from “seeping” into the baby’s stomach.
Correct sleeping position for babies
A correct sleeping position not only helps your baby sleep better but can also improve the risk of reflux. Mothers can raise the baby’s head to a 30-degree angle, this angle will help prevent food in the stomach from refluxing while the baby sleeps.
Say “no” to cigarette smoke.
Cigarette smoke can have a detrimental effect on the development and health of infants and young children. Frequent exposure to smoke can cause your baby to produce more stomach acid. Therefore, mothers should take steps to limit their children's exposure to cigarette smoke.
Calcium supplements for children
Spitting up and vomiting accompanied by symptoms of writhing and difficulty sleeping every night can be a sign that the child's daily diet does not have enough calcium. In this case, adequate calcium supplementation is the way to help the child.
When should you take your child to see a doctor?
If you have tried all of the above methods, but your child's spitting up and vomiting still shows no signs of improvement, you should take your child to see a doctor.
In some cases, spitting up and vomiting accompanied by some unusual signs such as the child not gaining weight, fever, persistent cough, crying spells, bloody stools, or 3-5 days without defecation accompanied by bloating may be due to a certain pathological cause, such as digestive disorders, intestinal obstruction, intussusception... then going to the doctor immediately is extremely necessary to find a solution, ensuring the safety of the child.
You should take your baby to a reputable medical facility for an early examination to protect your baby's health. As a key area of the Vinmec Healthcare system, the Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by experts in the industry with:
- Gathering a team of pediatricians: including highly qualified experts (professors, associate professors, doctors, masters), rich in experience, having worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, dedicated, and knowledgeable about children's psychology. In addition to domestic pediatricians, the Pediatrics Department also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens.
- Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatrics and Vaccines,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their children's health from birth to adulthood
- Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to help treat difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effectively: neurosurgery - skull, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment.
- Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them play comfortably and get used to the hospital environment, cooperate in treatment, and improve the effectiveness of medical examination and treatment.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
