my baby vomiting all milk

Question

Accepted Answer

If your baby is vomiting all of their milk, it could be due to several reasons. Here are some common causes and what you can do to help:

Possible Causes:

1. Overfeeding: If your baby is drinking more milk than their stomach can hold, it may cause vomiting. Try giving smaller, more frequent feedings.

2. Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER): Many babies have some degree of reflux where milk comes back up after feeding. In some cases, this can lead to vomiting.

3. Infection: A viral or bacterial infection can cause vomiting. Look for other signs like fever, irritability, or diarrhea.

4. Food Sensitivity or Allergy: If your baby is sensitive or allergic to something in the formula or breastmilk (like cow’s milk protein), it could cause vomiting.

5. Pyloric Stenosis: This is a rare condition in babies that causes forceful vomiting due to a blockage in the stomach. It usually occurs between 3-5 weeks of age but can happen up to 3-4 months. The vomiting is often projectile and occurs after every feeding.

6. Swallowing Air: If your baby swallows a lot of air during feeding, it could lead to vomiting. This can happen if the latch is poor or the bottle nipple allows too much air in.

What You Can Do:

1. Feed Smaller Amounts: Try feeding your baby smaller amounts of milk more frequently to see if it helps reduce vomiting.

2. Burp Frequently: Burp your baby after every few minutes of feeding to release any trapped air that could cause discomfort or vomiting.

3. Keep Baby Upright After Feeding: Hold your baby upright for 20-30 minutes after feeding to help the milk settle in their stomach and reduce the chance of reflux.

4. Check Bottle Nipple Flow: If bottle-feeding, ensure the nipple isn’t allowing too much milk to flow too quickly.

5. Consult Your Pediatrician: If vomiting persists, especially if it’s forceful, or if your baby shows signs of dehydration (fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, lethargy), it’s important to contact your pediatrician immediately to rule out conditions like pyloric stenosis or other issues.

If vomiting happens after every feed, or your baby appears in distress, seeing a doctor promptly is critical to ensure there's no serious underlying condition.