Breastfeeding:Spit up

Is spitting up common in breastfed babies?

Spitting up is not uncommon and although it occurs less frequently in breastfed babies, nursing mothers still may experience spit up in their babies. Babies are prone to spitting up because of their immature digestive systems, which allows milk and other foods to come back into the espohagus and out of the mouth. Most often, spitting up takes places right after a feeding, but it can happen a few hours after feeding as well.

There are many reasons for babies to spit up. Most of the reasons are common and not harmful. The most common reason for a baby to spit up is when they consume too much milk in too short of a time. An overly hungry baby or an aggressive feeder may drink too much milk too fast, leading to spit up. When a nursing mother's breasts are engorged, the baby may also receive too much milk too fast, which can cause spit up. Other common reasons for spit up include excessive air intake during nursing, teething, cow's milk in the baby or mother's diet and when starting solid foods, including cereal.

Tips to try for breastfed babies experiencing spit up and reflux:

Nurse frequently. Smaller feedings are easier for immature digestive systems to digest, which can decrease spitting up.
Good latch. Make sure that your baby is latched on properly to avoid excessive air intake, which leads to spit up.
Burp often. Even breaastfed babies swallow air while nursing, so make sure to burp your baby often to decrease the chances of spit up.
Nurse in an upright position. Nurse your baby in an upright position to avoid the chances of spitting up. After your baby has nursed, keep them sitting up and avoid any unnecessary movement for atleast 30 minutes.
Evaluate mother's diet. Breastfeeding mother's can evaulate their diet and eliminate foods which commonly cause babies to spit up. Common foods include chocolate, tomato products, cow's milk, dairy products, citrus foods, fried and fatty foods and spicy foods.
Avoid second-hand tobacco smoke. Avoid any kinds of tobacco smoke since it has been linked to reflux.

If your baby does not appear to be in pain while spitting up, is having enough wet/soiled diapers each day and is gaining weight at a steady and acceptable rate, there is likely no reason to worry about spit up. Spitting up is usually worst around 2-4 months and most babies have stopped spitting up by their first birthday. However, projectile vomiting in a baby can be a sign of a more serious stomach condition, known as pyloric stenosis. Pyloric stenosis requires surgery and the symptoms of the condition can be seen between 3 and 5 weeks after birth. If your baby projectile vomits once or more each day, a call to the pediatrician is recommended to rule pyloric stenosis out.

Comments: Breastfeeding - Spit-up

Comments 1 to 5 of about 5.

NatashaMc - 72 days ago.
msmeli - my son spits up a lot too and his dr. said not to worry coz he's gaining weight and has enough wet diapers, etc. Why do you think he's always hungry? How mony feedings do you give him? Three ounces @ eight feedings sounds about right. I pump too and think that's about what he took, maybe a little less, at that age. Maybe he's not hungry and something else is bothering him, sounds like he just likes to suck. If he won't take a pacifier maybe he'll take your finger to suck on to get to sleep.

msmeli81 - 73 days ago.
my lil boy is 22 days old and he is always wanting to eat...he eats 3 oz already...it seems like after everytime he eats, i'll burp him but then he'll spit up...sometimes he'll spit up 2 times after a feeding..but he's always hungry...so maybe he's eating too much??i pump so ill feed him every 2-3 hours..but there are times ill give him formula if im not pumping enough breast milk... he'll even sometimes want to eat every hour...or he needs a bottle just to go to sleep..he'll take a pacifire sometimes...but like most of the time he wants a bottle and he wont finish, he'll fall asleep after drinking half...should i be worried? or could it be nothing..he's next appt is in october...please help!

jfer - 215 days ago.
haha i eat everything that causes spitting up... if i cut these out what would i eat... lol no wonder she spits up!

luvbeingamom - 237 days ago.
mich - Have you tried different formulas? Cutting certain things out of your diet if you are bf/pumping? My son would throw up/vomit after everything and i found out later it was b/c he was allergic to dairy. changing him to soy was like a day/night difference.

mich - 237 days ago.
my son is 5 months and always spits up after feeding ..right after an hour after! not whole bottle ...but a large enough amount to change my clothes or his!! helpppppppppppppppppppp