How much spit up is normal?

[mrsdocmartin]

DD had two days of antibiotics when she was a week old. She is now 19 days. We have noticed some tummy trouble since then and are giving her probiotics. She has recently started spitting up almost an entire feeding once or twice a day. I do have a very fast flow which may be contributing as well, but I want to make sure this isn't reflux or something to really worry about. So, how much spit up is a problem?

[Llyra]

I don't know what's "normal." I think there's a huge variety. Some babies rarely spit up, or only spit up tiny amounts, and some babies regularly hurl their whole stomach's worth of milk all over. And they are almost always just fine, regardless of where on the spectrum they fall. I don't think it's the QUANTITY per se that really matters.

What would worry me:
1. A baby this age who spits up forcefully (enough to shoot off your lap onto the floor) after EVERY feed, about a half hour or so after the feed. This can indicate a condition called pyloric stenosis, which is dangerous but very correctable. So if it gets so it's every single time, I'd check with a medical professional.

2. A baby who is EXCESSIVELY fussy or seems to be in pain, keeping in mind that every baby at this age has fussy times, and cries a lot. But crying that persists throughout the day, rather than mostly being in the evenings would worry me, as would a baby who's still fussy all the time after the first six weeks or so.

3. A baby who isn't gaining weight, or pooping frequently, which would indicate that baby isn't holding on to enough milk to thrive and grow normally.

But otherwise, it's very likely to be you having a lot of milk, and baby's GI tract being a bit immature, and baby not having mastered the art of controlling the flow a bit. Your supply will likely mellow out a lot within six or eight weeks. And baby will mature, and the problem will likely gradually disappear.

My DD1 was a HUGE spitter. She would let fly huge quantities of milk, either right after a feed, or an hour or two later when it was already partially digested and smelly and sour. She used to do it all over my couch ten minutes before company came, or once all over my friend's mom's brand-new carpet. Anyway, she grew fine-- she was a chubby baby, actually. And she was mostly happy. It was more of a laundry issue than anything else. And once she could sit up, it got a lot better.

[ktcl]

We're still trying to figure this one out too. The one piece of advice I've taken to heart is that the amount always seems like more than it really is. One day I spilled about 2 ounces of pumped milk, and when I saw how much that was (a LOT) I realized that really DD was probably only spitting up 1/2 an ounce at most. But DD spits up after every feeding, for sure. Don't know if this is a problem. She is particularly gassy and fussy throughtout the day (not that she's fussy all the time, just that it can happen at any time).

[craft_media_hero]

mrsdocmartin,

We've been having the same trouble. Our little one chucks 1-2 feedings nearly every day and is pretty gassy as he does not like to burp except on his own terms. I have a really fast milk flow, too, and he is a gulper, swallowing lots of air.

He is definitely growing and gaining weight, though.

Pretty sad and can be frustrating when you see that milk going to waste instead of going to baby's growth, but I think it is ^ an immature tummy that is still adjusting.

What helps us is making sure that he is held upright (like cuddling on the chest) for 15-30 minutes after each feeding. Reclining after feeding sends him into chuck mode almost every time.

It is a little worrisome; I'm right there with you. But like pp's said, as long as babe is gaining and going through lots of diapers then all is probably well.

good luck!

[mrsdocmartin]

Thanks mamas! She is definitely gaining and going through diapers. At the Dr on Friday, she was already up 1lb, 11oz. I just worry about her so much after our scare with her breathing, which I think is still too fast, but the Dr isn't worried.

I do think it could also be related to the antibiotics she was given in the hospital, and that her gut is regulating. I hope the probiotics help.

[craft_media_hero]

you know what, mrsdoc? my boy seems to choke and have to gasp for air at times, too. Sometimes not even during a feeding but while resting quite a time afterwards. I just pat his back and blow in his face to elicit the gasp reaction, and it hasn't been dire or him turning blue or anything, just that he was having a little trouble catching his breath after choking on a little spit or spit up.

I don't know the details of your dd's breathing issue as I haven't been in our ddc much, but I don't think it's unusual for them to take a while to learn to totally self-regulate their breathing and for it to speed up and slow down at times. Yet another good reason to co-sleep and keep baby skin to skin!

I am glad this came up, though, because I hadn't thought to give ds probiotics yet. What are you using, if you don't mind sharing?

[Xerxella]

The mom gets alot of the "blame" for spit ups, too fast flow, over active let-down, or whatever. But sometimes, it's just the way baby is.

My 1st was a constant spitter. Every feed, every time and alot of it. It didn't stop til he was mostly on solids. It did slowly taper off, but his last spit up was at about 15 months!

My 2nd never spit up once. I'm not kidding, not once. Why? Who knows. They both were 100% BF and gained nicely and developed well and were overall happy babies.

It never seemed to bother DS that he spit up. So, if DC is growing well and a generally happy spitter, than it's not a problem. Sometimes, that's just the way it is.

[mrsdocmartin]

Originally Posted by craft_media_hero

you know what, mrsdoc? my boy seems to choke and have to gasp for air at times, too. Sometimes not even during a feeding but while resting quite a time afterwards. I just pat his back and blow in his face to elicit the gasp reaction, and it hasn't been dire or him turning blue or anything, just that he was having a little trouble catching his breath after choking on a little spit or spit up.

I don't know the details of your dd's breathing issue as I haven't been in our ddc much, but I don't think it's unusual for them to take a while to learn to totally self-regulate their breathing and for it to speed up and slow down at times. Yet another good reason to co-sleep and keep baby skin to skin!

I am glad this came up, though, because I hadn't thought to give ds probiotics yet. What are you using, if you don't mind sharing?

Thanks for this! We are using Innate Choice Probiotic Sufficiency. We give her half a capsule twice a day mixed in BM. DH recommends this particular brand to his patients and has had good success with it.

[Casha'sMommy]

Are you also taking the probiotics? I'm guessing you are.

[neonalee]

Add us to the list of dealing with large amounts of spitup. I've finally figured out the routine, LOL, feed a few minutes, pull off and be fussy, spitup, spitup some more, have a pained face and cry, poop, spitup some more, and then again, then finally back to feeding. Sometimes he'll spit up an hour or so later as well. Sigh. Today has been particularly fun with the spitting up and diaper changing. Thank gods we CD or I'd be crying over the number of disposables in the trash today!