Infant Spitting up with Nursing

Both my breastfed kids spit up A LOT! Pretty much every time. I would even classify some of it as projectile. But the docs weren't worried because there were still plenty of wet diapers and the spitting up didn't seem to bother them.

I wouldn't worry about it. Try a different feeding position but know that this IS normal.

What angle is she held when you bottle feed her versus breast-feed her? If she's laying down more, than it's easier for the milk to come back up through her esophagus. I would try using different positions. I found the one that worked best for me when my little guy was a NB was football style... fewer spit-ups. Good luck!

I had the same problem and I agree that you probably have over supply issues or fast letdown. The good news is that things will get better as she gets older. Your body will adjust to her and she will mature enough to be able to handle more milk in her mouth.

You may notice that she doesn't spit up when sleepy? My son spit up a ton while nursing and was awake, but in his sleepy periods he would nurse and not spit up...that is because they are not nursing as strongly, therefore not gettting as much milk.

I would sit up and hold him at my breast with his head on my breast and his body straight down to allow gravity to help the milk down...that helped. So did lying down on the bed with him to help him relax.

I sometimes "pumped" a little out with my hand first to get the initial pressure lessened.

And I reminded myself that a "happy spitter" is okay. If she seems fine when she spits up, don't worry! She's not hungry, just a little gassy!

Hang in, it is frustrating! But it will improve..we now spit up every few days vs EVERY feeding and my son is 16 weeks.

W.

My milk was abundant and came out too quickly - well, faster than my son could drink. The nurse had me recline and then had my son on TOP of me. That seemed to help. He also did a lot of wiggling and twisting - she told me all of it was gas and I would hold him up to my shoulder and firmly pat his bottom from below - to raise the bubbles she said. He also slept in his car seat, his swing, his vibrating chair, wherever - but reclining up, never flat, in order to get the bubbles out. Tummy massage helped as well. Contat La Leche League, or the hospital where she was born - they should have free breast feeding help available.
Good luck!

One of my twins also spit up every time he nursed, but it was less when he was bottle fed. All we could figure out was the he was sitting more upright when bottle fed, which we think caused him to spit up less. Maybe it's the position he's in when nursing (which I know not a lot can be done about that).

You might have a super fast let-down. In addition to the other suggestions of improper latch and positioning, it could be this as well. I am not sure if I remember correctly (so I would call La Leche to ask thier advice) but I have heard that this will happen with a fast let down, and that you should pump a little tiny bit first. I believe that was what I read. The pumping first will get that initial let down over with so they aren't gulping it in trying to drink it so fast. I think all the other suggestions are great, and you should try sitting her a little more upright after a feeding as well, like prop her up in a boppy or something for a little while. Good luck!

All 3 of mine were BF but my 3rd is exclusively BF going on 1 yr.She was the worst projectile spitter upper I have ever seen.She did this in her drs face I told the dr you see this is what she has been doing she cleared her of good health said moms milk is rich she is getting alot of it at one time.It will go away but if your concerned bring it up to make sure its not acid reflux as I thought my daughter had

Does she nurse and bottle feed in the same position? If not, I would try making it so that her nursing position is as close as possible as the same one she uses while bottle feeding. Try using a pillow or the football hold to support her.

Make sure she has a really tight latch to your breast when she nurses. Her lips should make an airtight seal. When I was first nursing our son, my husband always had to pull his lower lip was down, like fish lips. Eventually he got the hang of it himself.

Another thing to try is to give her mylicon drops before you nurse her to reduce any gas that she might produce. Hopefully that will also lessen the spitting up.

Good luck.

As long as she doesn't seem uncomfortable, is making wet diapers and growing, it's probably fine. Babies spit up. Some more than others, it all just depends on the child. Just make sure you have lots of burp clothes around!

Congrats!
-M

Didn't read all the other answers but my little girl did the exact same thing. Now she is 3 months. At 2 months she wasn't doing that anymore. I think it was because my let down was too fast for her and the bottle was better paced. If you are really worried about it you could pump until your let down is done and then breast feed the baby. See if it is better - then you know that is it. My doc said he wasn't worried because of plenty of wet diapers and not too much projectile stuff. If it dribbles down it is fine. If it is projectile style and often maybe ask your ped. doc. Good luck!

It could be the position you are holding her in when doing both, or is she drinking the bottle slower then nursing. If she is drinking fast she may not be able to digest all that she is taking. Maybe take her off the breast and burp her more often to slow her down. Good luck and Congratulations on your baby girl!!!

It has nothing to do with the quality of milk, but rather that she is either swallowing less air when bottlefeeding, or more likely, the position she is in when bottlefeeding allows more gas to be expelled while she is eating. I am able to burp my son, just by sitting him up - so, the more upright, the easier it is for the gas to come up.

Spitting up after eating is par for the course with newborns. Like another responder mentioned, it usually isn't as much as we think (try spilling a tsp of milk on the counter); however, the more air you are able to get out of her belly while she is eating, the less she will spit-up. Also, if you have an ample milk supply - she'll probably spit-up more than the average baby. I wouldn't use this as a reason not to nurse - because you'll always have your boobies on you and bottles take pumping, cleaning and prep. Plus, you will come to love it (if you don't already), once you and your baby get the hang of things.

Up until his first birthday, my son spit up every now and then no matter if I was breast feeding or with a bottle. Sometimes the tummy would get a little over full too quickly and then blarp up a bit of the excess. It would help sometimes to pause and burp between switching breasts. If your milk is abundant, can you pump a bit first (and store it) before you put her to a breast? My production slowed down to match my sons initial consumption, but then I had a hard time increasing it when he grew and needed more. If I pumped more often and earlier, I think I might have been able to avoid some of the problems I had.

I had that problem with my son. (he is a fraternal twin born at 32 wks)
After I nursed him I would burp him and then he would spit a lot out (so it seemed). We're so glad we didn't get new carpert! This happened a lot and the doctor said it was fine. The doctor said it is only about a teaspoon they spit out. Of course it seems like a lot more. We were always cleaning our carpet/floor. It is amazing how far it goes. I can't remember when he stopped spitting. I nursed for 2 1/2 years and now he is going to be 5 years old. Keep nursing and as long as she is content after nursing then you are fine. The suggestions here sound like good ideas. I didn't keep track of how I held the baby. Try their suggestions.

sounds like she is getting to much milk when breast feeding. The bottle doesn't release as much milk. Bottle feed her if that will prevent spitting up.
Good luck and congrats!

She needs to be "reset" to accept the breast. Open your shirt and take off the baby's clothes (except diaper!). She should be on her stomach. You can talk to her, but let her see your nipple. It may take several minutes to over an hour, but eventually she'll see the nipple, touch it, and then, usually really fast, she'll land her mouth on it! Just be careful for this moment, as you don't want her to fall off of you! You'll need to help by holding your breast in a ready position so she can latch on correctly.

How much is she spitting up? My daughter spit up often after breastfeeding, but the doctor had no concerns as long as she was gaining weight and wetting/pooping in diapers.

mine spit up until she was 6 months old and starting eating solid food as well. it didn't harm her - I think she still ate enough and she was very healthy. My thought is that breastfeeding was quicker and because she drank too much too quickly, she would spit up.

HI J.,

Obviously it can't be the milk since if she is getting it both ways. Are you sure she is latching onto the breast properly so as not to inhale air through her mouth? I can't think of any other problem if she takes it from a bottle fine. If you're unsure give your local le leche league a call and they should be able to help.

Regards,

M.

Maybe she is eating to fast on the breast and the bottle is slower.. Sounds like maybe it's how fast she is getting it..

Le Leche League can help you. There is a position so she is not laying down but up to the breast and do not stop breast feeding. So many reason that breast feeding helps a child to have good teeth, muscle structure and even some airway type illnesses can be prevented. You will never know how much helath you are bring your child just by breastfeeding correctly!!! No bottle or sippy cups.