Patient's question:
After eating at night, the milk comes back up, but not during the day. Every time the baby finishes feeding, they are burped. Why does the baby spit up at night? Besides the baby's stool being green at night and yellow during the day, what could be the reason? Is there a good solution? What kind of coordination...Doctor's answer:
The phenomenon of spitting up is relatively common because a baby's stomach is in a horizontal position, has a small capacity, and the cardiac sphincter near the esophagus is wide with poor locking effect, while the pylorus near the small intestine is tight. Additionally, babies often swallow air while feeding, making it easy for milk to flow back into the mouth, leading to spitting up. When a mother first witnesses her baby spitting up, she may be very concerned and unsure of how to proceed. However, by paying attention to the following aspects, you can help prevent your baby from spitting up.1. Adopt the correct diaper-changing position: Try to hold the baby upright while changing the diaper, allowing the baby's body to be in a slightly downward 45-degree angle. This naturally allows milk in the stomach to flow into the small intestine, reducing the likelihood of spitting up compared to lying down.
2. Ensure the baby burps after changing the diaper: Hold the baby upright against your shoulder and gently pat their back to allow them to burp out the air swallowed while feeding. Then place the baby back in bed, which helps prevent spitting up.
3. Avoid placing the baby on their stomach immediately after feeding. Instead, let them rest in a semi-reclined position for a while before transitioning to their stomach.
4. Avoid overfeeding and keep feeding intervals appropriate.
After spitting up, if there are no other abnormalities, there is generally no need to worry. The condition will gradually improve over time and will not interfere with the baby's growth and development. The vomit may appear as curd-like, which is a result of the milk mixing with stomach acid and is normal—no need to be concerned. However, if the baby frequently vomits, and the vomit is yellow-green or coffee-colored, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, nausea, or vomiting, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
The above suggestions are for the issue of "babies spitting up at night but not during the day." I hope this is helpful to you. Wishing you good health!