formula feeding and projectile vomiting

Trish - posted on 05/01/2009

our little boy is 2 months old he spits up alot the doctor said that it was normal since he has not lost any weight i disagree i think i am going to try to find another doctor

Jennifer - posted on 04/29/2009

I am in the exact same boat as Jamie but my son is not on any meds. He has reflux and might spit up might not depends on the day, the time and truthfully has no pattern, I have tried to record it but its all over the place. He chokes sometimes too and then coughs from the choking. I feel your pain.

Jennifer - posted on 04/29/2009

my son is 12 weeks old and has spit up since about a few weeks after birth, maybe at 4 weeks old. Doctor said to lower amount of food because when you overfeed a baby it has no where to go but up. Their stomachs are only so big, he said about the size of his fist. So we lowered the amount and he did better, then after a few weeks he was doing so well we upped it to more and after a few weeks he started spitting up again, it was almost like vomit (vomit is considered to be more than the average spit up) so we went back to 2.5 oz but every 3 hrs instead of the normal 4hrs. He has done better until today, ugh. And he has been congested for about 2 weeks. Doctor said it was probably a viral infection but he is teething too right now. And lastly our doctor said every formula is pretty similar and that changing formulas on your baby is not necessary and very hard on their systems. He did a specimen test on him with 3 different bowels to see if there was blood in his poop and there wasn't, he said if there was then there would be concern to change his formula. What I learned is its part of some kids to spit up more than others and that their stomachs are still maturing which is why you don't give rice cereal to babies under 4 months. So I would just say stick with what formula you like and be patient. I am giving my son another month (then he will be 4 months) and see how he does. If still bad then I will see the doctor again.

Sarah - posted on 04/15/2009

Hiya, My son Louis is 7 weeks on Firday and we have problems with vomiting... doctor said "don't worry" which to be honest, had no effect with me. Every feed Louis is sick... sometimes a little... sometimes loads!! What formula milk have to changed to now Laura? I think I might have to do the same... we are currently using Aptomil.

Jaime - posted on 04/14/2009

I'm a new Mom and I too am dealing with feeding issues. My Son eats really well, but each time I burp him he spits up a lot of his formula and usually continues to do so throughout the day. He is on two different medications...one for reflux and the other is to help clear his stomach quicker so that he doesn't spit up as often. I have been a nervous wreck for the past few weeks since he has started choking at random and even waking himself out of a deep sleep gasping for air and trying desperately to clear the mucous and spit-up from his nose and throat. If you are losing sleep worrying about waking to find your child not breathing I would recommend getting an 'angel care' monitor. It is an expensive monitor but it will certainly set your mind at ease as it monitors your child's breathing as they sleep and will sound an alarm if breathing stops.

Amber - posted on 04/14/2009

My son suffered from the same problem and after 6 months found out it was acid reflux. There are prescription meds for this.

Leslie - posted on 04/13/2009

my 1st son had the same deal it started when he was one week and lasted till he was about 10 months, changing formulas didn't seem to help, but now in hindsight i wish we woulda tryied not feeding him so much at once, but yeah its very scary i had him sleep in his car seat and in bed with us so i knew when it happened lots of sleepless nights and lots of laundry:) he even did it once at ihop on our cousin whos baby was in the hospital right after we had gotten our food, i laughed she didn't!! hang in thier btw my peditation says its normal and theyll be fine as long as thier gaining weight, i know it seems like thier pukin everything up but they do manage to grow mines almost 4 now. good luck

Janine - posted on 04/10/2009

My first born was like that and they tried to tell me it was Reflux... my mother then told me that she had the same problem with my brother and it was because often newborns are born with an under developed stomach flap (probably not the correct medical term).  What that meant was that the flap that secures the formula in his stomach was not fully developed and would therefore not hold the formula in his stomach... she recommended that I fed him smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, which I know can be more of a pain, but he quiet projectile vomitting.  Now it might be hard at first to transition your little one, but if you are feeding every three hours, try every 2.5 and cut back maybe an ounce or even half an ounce and see if that helps... once you introduce rice cereal and jar food (heavier items) then it should stay down better too.

Now with my second one we also had projectile vomitting, but it was different.  The hospital switched us to soy and that seemed to help a little bit, but we still were having problems.  We have learned that just cause she has burbed does not mean that there is not air still in her tummy and often continue to burb her... we have learned how to read her based on this and know when she needs a little extra burb.  ALso, often right before the projectile, her tummy or throat starts gurgling and we usually go ahead and pick her up and burp her and usually it does not fail that she lets out a loud one.  We discovered this on our own, because she would often make the same noise before she would vomit... I know what it is like not being able to sleep comfortably at night because you are worried that they are going to vomit and choke at night.  I hope either one of the might help you in some form or fashion.  Good luck!

Tracy - posted on 04/06/2009

What does his pediatrician say??

Rebecca - posted on 04/06/2009

My son has reflux and when we tried him on regular formula he would vomit up the whole bottle which was unusual even for him with his reflux so we tried him on goats milk formula...he is heaps better on this and doesn't vomit nearly as much

Andrea - posted on 03/27/2009

My son is 7 weeks old and when he was 2 weeks old he started projectile vomiting. The pediatrician put him on zantac and reglan for acid reflux. It seemed to work for a couple days then the vomiting started right back up. The doctors did ultrasound on stomach and he had pyloric stenosis. It is where the stomach meets the intestine and the muscle around it gets tighter and doesn't let food down. Jaxon could hold a whole bottle down for 2 hrs then throw the whole bottle up. It is a very minor surgery and Jaxon acts like a totally new baby. He holds down all bottles and is gaining his weight back. They say it is most common in 1st born males. I hope this helps!!

Maralee - posted on 03/27/2009

we have the choking and vomiting issue if Sabrina doesnt get properly burped often enough and if we lay her down after feeding, so now we burp her often and leave her upright at least 3omin after eatting, no problems now.

Amanda - posted on 03/18/2009

Sounds like it could be acid reflux if it is than the rice formula should help.  My daughter was spitting up a lot and couldn't lay down flat and our doctor suggested Gentlease formula so if the rice one doesn't work maybe try that one it's suppose to be easier to digest.  It worked for Lorelai.  Hope that helps.

Michelle - posted on 03/17/2009

Had the same thing with my 2nd boy. It is a very scarey thing and yes, many sleepless nights. My sons pediatrician put him on the Enfamil Nutramigen (for frequent spit ups) and that seemed to help somewhat. I just had to burp him 2-3 times before finishing a bottle and that helped too.

Leticia - posted on 03/17/2009

I had something similar. When I was switching from breastmilk to formula Jackson would throw up the whole bottle. He was 3 weeks old. We had to introduce the formula very slowly a little at a time and we switched to a formula that was meant for gassy babies. There was less lactose and the protein is more broken down. This seemed to work. Now we have him totally switched over.

It may not be the formula but maybe something else like acid reflux or maybe the syphnxter (sp?) hasn't totally developed yet?? I would get a Dr. to look into it. I'm no expert and this is just my opinion. good luck! I hope it clears up.