Spit up

Ok I'll start by saying I know my son is gaining weight so my issue is not with him getting nutrients bc he eats well. That said, he is constantly spitting up! We had a rough growth spurt the last week and 1/2 and are now getting back on schedule so I'm hesitant to give him the Baby Zantac I had the Dr call in thinking it was reflux causing him major issues (my other DS wasn't as fussy). They eat every 3 hours and eat anywhere from 3-5oz and we try to burp after every ounce. They are now on full formula since about 6wks and they drink Enfamil Enfacare for preemies. He will spit up a tiny bit while burping but then about 10-15 mins after he eats he spits up a ton! like 3 gushes from his mouth....never upset....it just flows from his mouth. Recently I've noticed when I hear them fussing at around 1-3a.m. (they don't get up to eat anymore at this time) I hear him burping and then sometimes spitting up and swallowing it back down or it could be a big gush and I have to wipe him and put something under his head bc he co-sleeps feet to feet in a cradle with his bro and I don't want to disturb him. Sometimes the spit up is mucousy and white, other times runny and white, and other times yet white and bubbly?! and now today I noticed he actually smells like vomit!! Not like spit up...we were calling them the cheese balls bc they were so messy eating and spitting up they smelled like cheese, but now he smells like vomit even DH made a comment!!!

What is going on with my poor little baby?!?!?! Is it reflux and its just not bothering him like I thought it was? He's generally happy, eats fine unless he's crabby or gassy, and sleeps fine too. I just have never seen this in a baby. We spent the other day over at my moms and she witnessed him spitting up, gagging, and swallowing it back down and her response was "When is your Drs appt again?" Which by the way is the 24th......just wanted some insight for those with severe reflux or any type of similar issue!

 

Sorry I never had a baby with reflux but it sounds like it is definitely something! :hug: I hope you get some good answers here.

 

how long has it been going on?
If its been going on for over 5 days or so I would say its reflux but if its a newer thing he might not be feeling well.
The spitting up and swallowing back down is silent reflux...my dd has that. Sometimes it will actually come out but most often she swallows it back down. She is on prevacid for her reflux but most dr's start with zantac.
You could call your pedi and talk to him/her about it.
Some other things you can do-hold him upright for 30mins after eating, gas drops, and maybe thicken his formula w/pedi permission.

Anyway, hope some of this helps. Keep us posted!

 

Oh yeah I forgot to add that we do sit him up for 30 mins after eating and during the day when I'm by myself he's sort of propped up eating in a bouncy or our fisher price glider chair. It has been going on for more than 5 days, its been about 2 weeks when the growth spurt started and after a week of him being so fussy I figured the growth spurt had to be over and it could've been that we went from BM to full formula (he was weaned down though) he's now less fussy but still the spit up is unbearable. Its hard to play with him during tummy time...or anytime for that matter bc it doesn't matter for how long after he eats he can spit up!! I'm hoping to get some good answers from the Dr. Should I start giving him the Zantac? He doesn't really seem bothered by it and I know the Zantac won't help with the spit up....only help with his discomfort....which he doesn't seem to have, Mama and Daddy do! We're always walking by him going "Oh Jack....!" bc he has spit up on his face or clothes!

 

I have a baby Jack too

For the spit up/silent refluxing we started putting rice cereal in dd's bottles...which does help. You could think about doing that. We started with 1tsp per oz but she still was doing some silent refluxing so we went to 1.5 and that was pretty thick and worked fine. Recently we've started doing 5tsp for a 4oz bottle which seems to be working. You kind of just have to play with it and see what works.
Even though he isnt bothered by it now he may be eventually as all of the spit up can cause damage to the esophagus and that causes pain when they eat.

 

My baby boy does not swallow it back like that very often but he does do the gushing spit-up no matter how long after he eats or how well he burps. I have the same fears of tummy time, and putting him down for bed because he always spits-up and drenches himself, the sheets, the tummy time mat, etc. He has done it since he was first born and the consistency and smell varies like you described too. He eats at 2:30 and is moved around a lot after that but inevitably when I get him out of his car seat when I get home he drenches me and himself. He is not upset or bothered by it so we have never really made a big deal about it and just kind of think that is how he is. That being said, now that we have started giving him oatmeal he has gotten a lot better!

 

Is he arching his back or grunting at all? Those are pretty common signs of reflux. If it has been going on for several days and causing him discomfort I would definitely call your pedi and see what they have to say. :hug: Good Luck!

 

QUOTE(MrsWright @ Feb 12 2009, 12:34 AM) [snapback]1186724[/snapback]
and now today I noticed he actually smells like vomit!! Not like spit up...

I bet that is a "reflux" smell. I could and still can smell that smell a mile away. Reflux spit up has a very distinct smell. It's not like happy baby spit up. Like Kyrstyn pointed out is there any arching and screaming or refusing to eat.

I would try and get an appt sooner than the 24th to discuss the possibility of reflux. FWIW, mine gained weight beautifully and they both had nasty reflux. I would keep him upright for at least 30 mins after each feed (which I read you are doing), sleep him on an incline. If you get meds I believe most Peds start with Zantac and some have relief with it. Mine did not and we went to Prevacid and it worked like a charm. Also Derek had a possible milk allergy to we had to switch him to Alimentum and thicken his formula with cereal and Tyler went on Enfamil AR (added rice) which thickens in the stomach to help keep the formula down. GL! I hope you get some answers.