Regurgitation in infants: are there any reasons for concern?

Most babies of the newborn period regurgitate at least once a day. Regurgitation in infants is more likely to be the norm than pathology, although this process can still testify to abnormalities of digestive organs.

Vomiting is a reflex act, in which gastric contents are thrown into the esophagus, pharynx, oral cavity. The causes of regurgitation in infants are varied. If vomiting occurs due to poisoning, then before the vomitive reflex of the child is concerned about the pain in the stomach, nausea, the skin becomes pale, the baby sweats. With these symptoms, it makes sense to suspect poisoning.

But if vomiting occurs spontaneously, for no apparent reason, the child is cheerful, his skin does not change color, here on the face the usual regurgitation in infants. The frequency and intensity of regurgitation can be different. In some babies, regurgitation occurs after almost every feeding in small parts, while in other babies it is seldom, but with a fountain.

Regurgitation of newborns may be due to such reasons:

• Short esophagus - of course, this concept is relatively, and with the growth of the baby the length of the esophagus becomes such that the food is digested normally, and most often this cause leads to regurgitation. A short esophagus, as a rule, in small or premature babies.
• Funnel-shaped esophagus - this indicates that the esophagus itself resembles the shape of a funnel, a narrow end directed into the stomach. In this case, the food may not fully fall into the stomach, and the remaining contents irritate the esophagus and induce a vomitive reflex.
• Some babies can have an esophagus narrow from birth. Children with an asthenic type of build have a slightly smaller internal organs, which can cause a vomiting reflex.
• Another defect - a weak sphincter - while it just does not close and the food freely then enters the stomach, it can easily be thrown back.

These reasons are not exhaustive, they should not cause any serious concerns. In addition, often moms, not knowing about such peculiarities of their babies, behave incorrectly when feeding.

Errors of nursing mothers, causing regurgitation of newborns:

1. Overfeeding, feeding without a regime, improperly organized feeding - all this leads to the fact that the stomach is stretched and such disorders as gastroesophagia (spontaneous transfer of contents into the esophagus), aerophagia (ingress of air during feeding), flatulence (increased gas formation due to gastrointestinal disturbances, Due to malnutrition of the mother);
2. Improper choice of formula for feeding if the child is weaned;
3. Too tight swaddling;
4. Sudden change in body position.

The difference between these reasons is that they are all easily corrected if the mother correctly analyzes the feeding process and sees her own mistakes. When changing tactics, kids usually immediately react with improved digestion and cessation of regurgitation.

Regurgitation in infants may occur due to congenital abnormalities of the stomach. Usually, children are diagnosed with pyloric stenosis, and sometimes the cause of regurgitation is a hernia in the diaphragm area. With this pathology, any changes in the feeding process do not produce successful results, and a specific diagnosis is made by the child's surgeon.

Usually, regurgitation in infants with pathologies is accompanied by a weak weight gain, a metabolic disorder, and dehydration. Parents, in whom babies regurgitate constantly, should ensure that vomit does not hit the airways. If the child develops well and gains weight according to the weight gain table, then after preventive measures after three to four months (from now on the baby more or less confidently tries to keep the head), the problem of regurgitation disappears.