spitting up, reflux, dairy?

[bec28]

DS is 4 months old and has always spit up, but it's gotten much worse in the last few weeks. Yesterday, I think I changed my clothes 4 or 5 times, and his at least that many. The amount he'll spit up at one time wouldn't worry me too much if he only did it once, but he'll spit up 5, 6, 7 times right in a row. He'll spit up right after eating, and any time in between, except at night. We co-sleep, so i nurse him laying down, and he never spits up at night. So, that means it can't be reflux or due to a dairy allergy right? Or does it mean nothing at all?

Oh, and there will be some days were he hardly spits up at all. I can't seem to find any connection between what I'm eating and whether he spits up or not. And the spitting up never seems to bother him. He doesn't get upset or cry or anything.

I'm just trying to figure out if this is normal, nothing to worry about, or if by taking something out of my diet, he'll spit up less.

Any ideas? Thanks ladies

[ckmannel]

My first instinct is to say that there is nothing to worry about. My daughter has reflux and it's one of those "you'll know it when you see it" things IMO. She spits up the ENTIRE contents of her stomach in a projectile flow, or for no reason at all it will seem like she's chewing on something (she is EBF) and I will know that her stomach contents have come up into her throat. Also, if your child is comfortable nursing while lying down, he probably doesn't have reflux because children with reflux are usually pretty uncomforatble if they are lying flat. Take my opinion with a grain of salt, I am no expert. That is just our experience with reflux. Our first spit up a lot (kinda like what you are saying) and our LC determined that we were just over-nursing (like too much in one sitting). Good luck.

[bec28]

Thanks. I brought it up at his 4 month check up this morning and the doctor agreed that it's probably nothing to worry about, especially since it doesn't seem to be bothering him.

I had never considered him over eating, since he usually only nurses for about 5 minutes, but I think you might be right. It makes sense, and it makes me feel better knowing that there might be a reason

[Astraia]

Well my guy is 6 weeks now and i notice a huge link between dairy and spit up. He used to spit up significantly then 2 weeks ago I went off dairy for unrelated reasons and the very next day he stopped spitting up. I added it back in 3 days later, and he started spitting up again. I can trace it back a few hours to the cheddar cheese quiche for lunch or the yogurt for afternoon snack. He never spat up much at night, his worst time was from 4 to 10 pm. If I keep my intake really limited then we have minimal spittings, but anything more than a tablespoon in my coffee or a mouthful of yogurt in the evening results in messes.

[blessed.mommy]

Is it projectile?

[omelette]

This describes both of my boys; I'm still dealing with it with my 5month old. It's ridiculous how many outfit changes he goes through and some days me too. Sometimes it is projectile and sometimes it's not. And like you said there are days were it is non-stop and then the next day there is not much at all. We co-sleep and I nurse him lying down and some nights it all stay in and other nights I'm changing the blanket he lies on and his sleeper.

With my first we did see a specialist, dietician, naturopath and no suggestions or diet changes made a difference. This time I've cut out dairy and gluten b/c he was having mucousy, watery poops and it helped with that but made no difference with the spitting-up. They were both labelled 'happy spitters', a form of reflux that does not have the burning element to it. It has to do with an immature flap (can't remember the correct name of it). With my first it stopped around 6 months and my fingers are crossed that it stops soon with this babe too.

If baby is growing well and not too uncomfortable I think it's one of those things you both have to live with until it passes. Hopefully that will be soon.

[blessed.mommy]

My son was diagnosed with GERD and given medication for it. He's had the meds for 6-7 weeks now and it doesn't help at all. He projectile vomits weather he's given the meds or not..doesn't matter. I don't think he necessarily has GERD because he isn't bothered by the extreme spit up at all. Sometimes he even smiles afterwards! lol

I don't think it's anything to worry about & from what I hear the babies grow out of it around 6 months.

[Path2Felicity]

Is your DS teething? My DD has started to teethe and she has some more gas and is spitting up more than usual... but she's not in a great deal of pain. My pediatrician said it's normal.

[rzberrymom]

Weird, my 4 month old is doing this too. She's never spit up that much, but it has really intensified the last week or so. Yesterday, she spit up all down one side of me, down the other side of me a little later, and all over my pants not long after that. It also doesn't seem to bother her at all. She doesn't spit up at night either (I also nurse her lying down).

[Blueone]

I noticed that when my son has dairy that is lactose based (we do lactose free formula) he'll start to spit it up later in the day. I remember the day we gave him yogurt in the morning. He seemed fine, but then later in the day he started spitting up a lot. I didn't think much of it, just that it was odd. But then I started smelling blueberries and made the connection because he had blueberry yogurt.

Sometimes I think I need to switch to soy based formula. I really don't want to but I'm not sure even lactose free formula is the best option. He seems fine for the most part but I've heard post nasal drip.

However, there could be many reasons it's happening. Are you eating lots of dairy or soy? Maybe try cutting dairy out and see if that helps, then cut soy out. My son spit up a ton when we first had regular formula.

ETA: I've heard that reflux gets the worst at 4 months, then gets better.

[MeredithK]

My DS was exactly the same, but he was not a happy spitter. He was on Zantac for 3 months. Now that he's 5 months, he's doing better and off the meds. I would agree with the PPs and your dr. that it is probably ok. I've found that making sure he has a good burp makes a big difference after he nurses. Also, he lives in bibs!! Much easier than changing outfits all the time!