Baby vomiting after drinking breast milk (breast milk) is a common complaint. Some babies even experience it almost every time they finish feeding. Although generally normal, this condition can also be caused by dangerous disorders to watch out for.
Babies vomiting after drinking breast milk is known as spitting up. Spitting up is said to be normal if it does not cause the baby to be fussy or short of breath. Although preventable, this condition does not require special treatment, and is normal.
Causes of Baby Vomiting After Drinking Breast Milk
Spitting up is caused by the milk or milk swallowed by the baby back into the esophagus, because the muscles in the baby's digestive tract, namely the esophagus and stomach, are still weak. This condition is known as reflux.
Babies may experience reflux because the size of the stomach is still very small so it fills up quickly. Reflux also occurs because the valve in the esophagus is not perfect, so it has not worked optimally to hold stomach contents.
Generally, babies vomit after drinking breast milk will last until the age of 4-5 months. After that, the spitting will stop on its own.
Another cause of vomiting after drinking breast milk is gastroenteritis. However, infections in the baby's digestive tract are usually accompanied by diarrhea. In addition to gastoenteritis, there are various other causes of babies vomiting after drinking breast milk, ranging from allergies, colds, ear infections, urinary tract infections, to narrowing of the stomach (pylorus stenosis).
Even if a baby vomits after drinking breast milk it is often the result of normal spitting up. However, parents should remain vigilant if the baby vomits accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Fever.
- Lack of or not wanting to breastfeed at all.
- A rash appears.
- Difficulty sleeping and fussy.
- The crown stands out.
- Swollen belly.
- Hard to breathe.
- Vomiting with blood or green discharge.
- Vomiting continuously for more than a day or two.
- Experiencing dehydration, which is characterized by dry lips, crying without tears, sunken fontanelle, and infrequent urination.
Tips to Relieve Vomiting in Babies
Baby spit up is usually nothing to worry about and will subside on its own as the baby gets older. However, there are several ways that can be done to relieve the baby's complaints of vomiting after drinking breast milk:
- Try to position the baby's head higher than his body, while feeding.
- Keep the body upright after feeding, so that the baby can more easily burp.
- Let the baby suckle in a calm state. This will prevent the baby from sucking in too much air along with the milk.
- Get used to the baby to breastfeed sparingly, but more often. Breastfeeding too much can make the baby's stomach stretch because it is full, thus triggering the baby to vomit after drinking breast milk.
- Make your baby burp after every feeding. Let the baby burp before changing breasts.
- Make sure the baby's clothes or diaper are not too tight, and avoid carrying the baby to burp with the baby's stomach right on your shoulder. This is to reduce the pressure on the stomach.
- Avoid rocking the baby or making the baby active immediately after feeding. It's also best not to travel in a vehicle shortly after the baby has breastfed.
- If the baby is old enough, position him so that he sits about 30 minutes after feeding.
- Position the baby's head slightly higher while sleeping. You can place a blanket or rolled up towel under her shoulders and head. It's best to avoid using pillows on babies.
- Research the possibility of the baby vomiting after drinking breast milk due to food or drinks consumed by the mother, such as cow's milk.
If your baby vomits after drinking breast milk with any of the above danger signs, or if you are concerned about this condition, consult your pediatrician immediately. Record how many times or how much the baby vomited, and if there were any other symptoms.