A lot of the mom's have very good advice. And GERD is on the rise. I do encourage you to see your pediatrician. However, there is one suggestion I have first.
I work in the NICU so I work with babies everyday, mostly preemies but we get term kids too. I have also floated to peds quite a few times and in my observations as a nurse, there are a lot of parents that...forgive me for saying this...do not know how to burp their babies. It is not to say anyone is a bad parent. It's just that no one teaches parents the best most effective way to burp their baby. Most of the time parents don't run into problems because normal newborns usually don't have problems burping. Though parents, quite often, would wind up with less spit up and more sleep if someone was able to teach parents to burp effectively.
Quite often the breastfeeding moms forget to burp their babies and if anyone needs burping it's the nursing babies. They tend to be laying flatter than bottle-fed babies, so the air is more likely to trap in the stomach rather than rise to the top and reach the esophagus before the milk. If your baby stops sucking and isn't tired, more than likely he needs to burp. Most term babies will burp on their own if you sit them completely upright on your lap, not over the shoulder or against your chest. And count in your head to 60 - give them time to do it on their own, they usually will. Term kids usually don't need any patting or rubbing if this is done. Now if your baby burps fine over your shoulder or however you burp him then that's great. Though if you're not sure you heard a burp or he gave you a wimpy burp there is a great way to find out if there is still a burp in there: rub his upper back in a circular motion while he's sitting upright. If he just sits there, then he probably already got it out. If he starts squirming, then there is more than likely a burp still in there. So you could either give him another minute to try on his own or now you could try a combination of rubbing and patting. First pat his back. Now NO wimpy patting - don't try to break their back but their not as fragile as they look. Pat for about 30 seconds then stop, let them sit for another minute. Still nothing, try rubbing his back in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Again no wimpy rubbing, don't take the skin off off but barely touching him will not help. Let him sit again. If still nothing, don't wait inbetween, just rub for 30 then pat for 30. No longer than 2 minutes though. If still nothing just go back to feeding, you can always try again later.
If you know that he has had good burps and he's no longer hungry and is still spitting up, then see your doctor. It very well may be reflux (GERD) considering the amount he is throwing up. But I encourage you to try this today first. Even if you implement this into your burping routine and it does turn out to be reflux and your baby gets treatment, at the very least your baby will likely sleep longer. They can eat more if they get all the burps out, thus they sleep longer.
I want to caution you before you assume that it is GERD though. Unfortunately in this day and age, some doctors will just prescribe instead of determining the real problem. The only way to diagnose GERD is with a pH probe study, upper GI series, endoscopy, or a gastric emptying study. Signs and symptoms are just clues to the puzzle, you still need the proof. And if a child responds to medication without having one of these studies, they still are not considered to be diagnosed with GERD. So if your pediatrician thinks its GERD, he should be doing further testing to prove it. Insurance is more likely to pay more if the doctor did the appropriate testing anyway. Also, if anti-reflux medication is started, there can be negative side-effects. In some the side effects can include neurologic changes (seizures, sleeping problems, etc.). Most preemies have reflux, so our neonatologists (docs) take this into consideration before prescribing them. Definitely do your research and ask questions. There are also non-pharmacological methods to treating GERD. A wedge under the crib mattress can be used. Keeping your baby upright for an hour after feeding. There are beds for babies with GERD that work well (AmbyBaby.com). Thickening milk with rice-cereal (only with a doctors order). Using vented bottles (Dr. Browns's or BornFree). Any of these methods should be brought up with your pediatrician. Again if the doctor orders it and a study was done to prove GERD, insurance is more likely to pay for the things you need to prevent/inhibit the reflux (swing-bed, wedge, medication). I hope this information helps. I know it was a lot but this is your baby and you need to obtain all of the information you can.
This is a good website with basic information about GERD: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/36...
Good luck K..
Addition Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007:
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, with any baby, keep a bulb syringe handy wherever you go. In the nursery, in the diaper bag, in the car. If your baby spits up/throws up, you will always have something to suction out their airway. Know how and when to use it. If you have a baby, you should also learn CPR. Better to be safe than sorry.