Patient's question:
My baby is now 3 months old. Every time she finishes eating milk, she vomits shortly after, and the amount she vomits is quite a lot. Sometimes she even chokes, turning her face red. How should I handle infant vomiting?Doctor's answer:
Don't worry too much, as spitting up is a common occurrence in infants. Unlike older children and adults, an infant's stomach is not positioned vertically downward but rather horizontally. This makes the stomach smaller and stores less food. Additionally, due to low muscle tone in the esophagus and a relaxed cardiac sphincter that doesn't close tightly, food is easily regurgitated, leading to spitting up. After the infant spits up, there's no need to worry. Gently pat the infant's back to help them expel the milk from their throat. Spitting up isn't a major issue, but if the mother doesn't handle it promptly, it could lead to the infant choking. The key lies in proper feeding posture and burping the infant after feeding.