Frequent regurgitation in a newborn baby after feeding

If a baby returns part of the portion after eating, then you should not worry too much about this - doctors believe that frequent regurgitation is usually normal for newborns, not a disorder. But in any case, this issue should not be left unresolved. It is necessary to choose the right baby food, as well as think over a suitable diet - in this case, you can get rid of the problem quite quickly.

Since the baby's digestive system is just beginning to function, it is natural that it sometimes experiences problems, manifesting itself in the form of frequent regurgitation.

If this happens rarely, there is no need to worry, but excessively frequent regurgitation can provoke a slowdown in the baby's development, as well as poor weight gain. If such a problem occurs, it is recommended to consult a doctor - he will prescribe a suitable diet, as well as an anti-reflux mixture. Following all medical recommendations will allow you to quickly eliminate the disorder.

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Epidemiology

Pediatric statistics show that approximately ¾ of all infants aged 3-6 months regurgitate before and after feeding.

In children over 9 months old, this phenomenon is usually almost never observed (only in isolated cases).

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Causes frequent regurgitation

Frequent regurgitation in infants can occur for several reasons. One of them is the immaturity of the sphincter located in the lower part of the esophagus. Because of this, food is thrown from the stomach back into the digestive tract. After some time, the digestive system improves, so this disorder disappears already at the age of 4-5 months. But in some cases, this problem can be caused by other factors:

• premature babies - the bodies of such children are simply not yet prepared for this type of food intake;
• hypoxia that occurs during childbirth – due to oxygen deficiency, the newborn may develop nervous system disorders;
• the cause of such a disorder may also be overfeeding the child (larger portions or more frequent feeding). This is especially evident in actively sucking infants with abundant amounts of mother's milk. In the case of mixed feeding, this is due to a change in the feeding regimen or frequent changes in formulas. In such situations, regurgitation occurs after portions of 5-10 ml. But in this case, the baby's well-being, appetite and stool are preserved;
• aerophagia or swallowing excess air. This is mainly observed in infants who drink too greedily with a small amount of mother's milk. In this case, the baby is unable to grasp the area near the nipple or takes it incorrectly (if the nipple is flat, inverted). This phenomenon can also occur during bottle feeding - if the nipple has an excessively large hole, the bottle is horizontal, or it is not completely filled with liquid. Regurgitation is also caused by general muscle weakness, and along with this, the immaturity of the internal organs. Aerophagia is usually observed in babies with an excessively large or, conversely, small birth weight;
• the disorder may be caused by flatulence, and also by intestinal spasms or constipation. In this case, there is an increase in pressure in the peritoneum, which disrupts the movement of fluid through the digestive tract;
• the digestive tract has a pathological structure. Among the pathologies: abnormal location of the diaphragm (part of the peritoneal organs moves into the sternum - this is called a diaphragmatic hernia), gastric anomaly (the stomach narrows at the point of transition to the duodenum, which complicates the process of its emptying), as well as an anomaly in the structure of the esophagus (these include achalasia (the esophagus narrows at the point of transition to the stomach) and chalazia (weak lower section of the esophageal sphincter)). Such disorders, as a rule, go away on their own, after some time, but in some cases it is still necessary to perform surgery.

Symptoms frequent regurgitation

To find out if there is a reason for concern, parents need to determine whether this process is natural physiological regurgitation, or whether we are talking about vomiting, which, as a rule, is a sign of some kind of illness.

Symptoms of regurgitation - the process occurs without contraction, as well as tension of the abdominal muscles. The liquid flows out in small quantities, and the child does not make any effort to release it. Regurgitation mainly occurs after the feeding procedure or as a result of a change in the position of the baby's body after eating.

Vomiting is quite easy to recognize - there is a profuse release of food, and in the process, spasms and tension of the muscles of the peritoneum, diaphragm, and along with this, the press are observed. At the same time, the child becomes restless and cries. Before vomiting, the child's skin becomes noticeably pale, and there is strong sweating and salivation. If the baby vomits, you must immediately call a doctor.

Frequent regurgitation after feeding

When regurgitating, a small (usually) amount of previously consumed milk/formula is released from the baby's stomach through the oral cavity. Basically, such processes are a variant of the physiological norm - they help remove air from the esophagus and stomach that was swallowed by the baby along with food. In addition, regurgitation after feeding shows that the gastrointestinal tract is functioning normally.

But, when assessing the nature of such regurgitation, you need to pay attention to the general condition of the baby. If he is cheerful, happy and does not react to regurgitation in any way, there is no need to worry. But if the baby is restless, constantly cries, has problems with sleep, there is abundant regular regurgitation in a fountain - this is most likely a consequence of some disease. In such a situation, you should immediately contact a pediatrician, since the disease can be life-threatening for the baby.

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Frequent regurgitation in premature babies

Regurgitation is often observed in premature babies, and also in children with intrauterine developmental delays. Their swallowing, breathing and sucking functions also mature much more slowly, but as the body develops, this disorder disappears on its own.

Frequent regurgitation and cold hands in a child

Frequent regurgitation and cold hands in a baby can be observed with grade 2 hypotrophy. In addition, he has a growth retardation (approximately 2-4 cm) and underweight (20-30%). Lethargy, sadness and low mobility are also noted, as well as refusal to eat. The child's motor and mental development lags behind the norm, poor sleep is observed. The skin is pale and dry, inelastic, gathers into folds and peels. Along with this, you can notice the baby's thinness in the limbs and abdomen, the outlines of the ribs are noticeable. Sharp fluctuations in stool are observed - constipation alternates with diarrhea.

Complications and consequences

Regurgitation can be dangerous because it can provoke the appearance of various complications in the child, such as weight deficiency, metabolic disorders, and inflammation in the esophagus (esophagitis). Persistent vomiting can lead to severe dehydration of the child's body.

The stomach contents can irritate the baby's skin, which can later cause dermatitis. Diaper rash may occur due to regurgitated food flowing into the skin folds (behind the ears, on the neck).

The most dangerous consequence of this disorder is aspiration (penetration of vomit into the respiratory tract), which can lead to asphyxia with sudden infant death syndrome or aspiration pneumonia (pulmonary inflammation due to aspiration).

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Diagnostics frequent regurgitation

If any type of reflux develops, you should consult a pediatrician or gastroenterologist as soon as possible to diagnose a possible disease.

In the process of determining the cause of the disorder, the baby's stool is analyzed for the presence of dysbacteriosis.

To diagnose the cause of reflux, the following instrumental examination methods may be required:

• Ultrasound of the digestive system, as well as the brain;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
• coprogram;
• MRI and CT procedures of the brain.

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Treatment frequent regurgitation

There are quite a few ways to help get rid of regurgitation. All of them are quite simple - you just need to carefully monitor the baby to determine the cause of this phenomenon. Usually, pediatricians give mothers the following recommendations:

• the best option before feeding is for the mother and baby to be calm. Regurgitation sometimes occurs due to psychosomatic factors - an excited or nervous baby will swallow air more often when sucking. You can lay the baby on his stomach before feeding and perform a small massage - to release gases. During feeding, you cannot throw the baby's head back, and his nose should breathe without obstruction, since with a runny nose he will swallow air more than usual;
• if feeding is done by breastfeeding, it is necessary to ensure that the baby takes the breast correctly - by the nipple and a small part of the areola. His lower lip should be slightly turned out during sucking;
• if the baby is fed with formula through a bottle, it is necessary to select the right container. Anti-colic bottles are the most preferable, as they prevent the risk of swallowing excess air. It is also very important to hold the bottle correctly during feeding - in the correct position, the milk flows under the base of the nipple;
• You cannot "shake" the baby immediately after eating. You should also avoid tight swaddling - to prevent increased intra-abdominal pressure. It is allowed to help the baby burp - by gently patting him on the back;
• if the baby tends to spit up frequently, it should be placed in the crib on its side - this will prevent food from getting into the respiratory tract. But if this still happens, the baby should be lifted and held face down;
• Although weighing does not provide comprehensive information, it does allow you to understand whether the food intake was sufficient. This should be determined in order to avoid overfeeding. Another way to prevent overeating is to reduce the time spent on the feeding procedure.

In cases where regurgitation occurs due to illness, etiotropic treatment of the pathology that caused the disorder is performed. For example, diseases of the nervous system are treated by a neurologist, and congenital anomalies of the baby are cured by performing a surgical operation.

To eliminate the disorder, you can use medicinal antireflux mixtures. Nowadays, there are many products that help get rid of regurgitation. Among them are Semper Lamolak, Humana and Frisovom, as well as Nutrilon AR and Enfamil AR.

Another way to prevent regurgitation is a folk method - adding rice powder to breast milk or a mixture (in a ratio of 1 tablespoon of powder per 60 ml). This method allows you to make the liquid for feeding thicker. It is allowed for use by infants from 3 months.

Mixtures for frequent regurgitation

Frequent regurgitation can be effectively eliminated with the help of special anti-reflux mixtures, which have a thickening effect on the gastric contents due to changes in the amount of special additives in their composition:

• casein - such mixtures have a high casein content relative to whey proteins. This is due to the fact that under the influence of gastric secretion, casein curdles much faster, transforming into a viscous mixture;
• fat – high fat content in food inhibits the function of the lower sphincter, which can cause regurgitation to become more frequent. This is why their content in special anti-reflux mixtures is slightly reduced;
• thickeners - such mixtures contain corn or rice starch, which has the property of quickly thickening inside the stomach, which prevents regurgitation. Starch can also be replaced with gum.

Prevention

To reduce the frequency of regurgitation, you should adhere to the correct technique when feeding your baby, as well as follow a daily routine and avoid overeating. If this phenomenon becomes a cause for concern, you should consult a pediatrician to find out the possible cause of regurgitation.

If regurgitation occurs frequently at night, the head of the baby's crib should be slightly raised - the elevation will prevent food from leaking out of the stomach.

Before feeding, you need to lay the baby on his stomach for 5-10 minutes, or instead carry him in an upright position for a little while - in order to remove air from the stomach.

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Forecast

Frequent regurgitation has a favorable prognosis. Often this disorder occurs due to non-pathological causes, so the problem is solved by changing the feeding scheme or disappears on its own with age. If there is a pathological cause, timely adequate treatment is necessary - under this condition, the prognosis is also good.

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