Curdled spit up... Reflux?

[happynewmom1]

Hi! So the last couple of weeks my 3 month old has started having more spit up and usually looks more thick or curdled. She is ebf and I discovered she was sensitive to dairy when she was a few weeks old. She screamed a lot and would throw herself back when nursing upset so I went off dairy and in just a day that improved and it wasn't long before she didn't do any of that. She is a really happy baby.. Usually content. I can't figure out the spit up though. Could it be reflux? I'm trying to keep her upright for awhile after eating to see if that helps. She has an appointment tomorrow anyway so will bring it up then too. Anyone's baby experience similar?

 

[happynewmom1]

I should also mention I track what I eat on my fitness pal and there are days she barely spits up at all and some days she does a lot and my eating is about the same. So I can't tell if it is something in food bugging her.

 

[_Meep_]

Firstly, the acid in the stomach does curdle the milk ... is it coming up straight away curdled? Or, say, half an hour later?

Secondly, all babies have reflux - in other words, they all spit up. It's only if the baby is clearly in pain with the posset, or losing weight/refusing to eat, consistently projectile vomiting entire feeds that you need to be concerned.

Finally, the increased spitting could be because of trapped gas, if the baby hasn't had a good burp, or (as I found), perhaps dribbling? When my LO's salivary glands kicked in, she was definitely more gassy and refluxy. During teething too, she would spit more. Swallowed drool, if there is a lot of it, as well as encouraging the intake of air, can upset and increase the acidity of the stomach - which might explain why the milk comes up curdled. You may see a nappy rash too.

Again, if your baby is happy, peeing, pooping and not losing weight then it's fine to just roll with it and wait for her system to mature enough so that she won't posset any more.

 

[BunNtheOven]

My daughter has curdled milk, it can come up whenever too! Sometimes almost an hour after feeding her! If She was confirmed to have moderate reflux by a Upper GI scan. It's especially bad if I don't burp her like every 5 minutes or so when she's nursing. I found doing that really helped, and keeping her upright alot.

 

[happynewmom1]

Firstly, the acid in the stomach does curdle the milk ... is it coming up straight away curdled? Or, say, half an hour later?

Secondly, all babies have reflux - in other words, they all spit up. It's only if the baby is clearly in pain with the posset, or losing weight/refusing to eat, consistently projectile vomiting entire feeds that you need to be concerned.

Finally, the increased spitting could be because of trapped gas, if the baby hasn't had a good burp, or (as I found), perhaps dribbling? When my LO's salivary glands kicked in, she was definitely more gassy and refluxy. During teething too, she would spit more. Swallowed drool, if there is a lot of it, as well as encouraging the intake of air, can upset and increase the acidity of the stomach - which might explain why the milk comes up curdled. You may see a nappy rash too.

Again, if your baby is happy, peeing, pooping and not losing weight then it's fine to just roll with it and wait for her system to mature enough so that she won't posset any more.

This helped so much! I didn't remember this with my other two so didn't expect it. Yes.. It comes up an hour or so after feeding her.

But she is growing well and pooping and peeing normally so I will chill about it lol she has had an excess in saliva the last few weeks and had no idea they could be connected. It makes sense though. Thank you so much! I learn new things every baby

BunNtheOven, thank you for the response! I'll definitely try to be sure she burps after every feed. Keeping her upright more today seems to have lessened it.

 

[_Meep_]

An hour or so later it'll be partially digested, so definitely ok/normal for it to be curdled!

I think they all start to dribble around six to eight weeks as their salivary glands get going. For a time it seemed to be really hard on my daughter's stomach, but she got used to it and stopped spitting up around 9-10 months.

It's a learning curve for sure, and a confidence game - shame I don't really have any lol!

 

[happynewmom1]

An hour or so later it'll be partially digested, so definitely ok/normal for it to be curdled!

I think they all start to dribble around six to eight weeks as their salivary glands get going. For a time it seemed to be really hard on my daughter's stomach, but she got used to it and stopped spitting up around 9-10 months.

It's a learning curve for sure, and a confidence game - shame I don't really have any lol!

Awww your poor dd! Glad she got past it now!

You sound like you are doing great! My confidence level isn't great but has gotten a lot better since our first. I do still question myself on some things.. Like this lol I appreciate your help!