BF baby vomiting - help!!

[Madigan]

My poor DD (3.5 wks old) has been vomiting about once a day for the last 4 days - she vomits about 5m-10m after a feed, and basically brings most of the feed back up. I have noticed that she has been vomiting after long feeds (say 20 mins), and so I have been feeding for shorter periods (10 mins), but more often.
I took her to the Doctor, but they seemed not to be too worried.
I am worried though!! Any ideas/suggestions? has anyone else had this problem?
She does not have any other symptoms of other problems, and seems fairly unperturbed by the vomiting episodes, and still doing lots of dirty/wet nappies etc.

[emkana]

I have b/fed three children and IME they all occasionally vomit, I don't think it's anything to worry about at all if it's only once a day, she's happy and alert, pooing/weeing.

[missgriss]

Is she maybe taking in air along with the milk? That could cause her to vomit.

Like the previous poster says, if she if quite happy I wouldn't worry. Some babies are vomiters (my ds certainly was!)

[FirstAtForty]

I noticed that my DD often used to vomit straight after the morning feed (all over my bedsheets usually ) when she was very young (between about 2 - 8 weeks I think).

I put this down to me having more milk first thing in the morning (because it had had time to build up again) - and she was hungrier because she had been asleep for a while.

I think the vomiting was simply due to the fact that her tummy was fuller and she had 'filled up' a bit too quickly. She didn't vomit much at other feeds, and grew out of doing it after a couple of months, after which time she rarely vomited at all, so there is hope! HTH

[FirstAtForty]

Sorry, meant to say in conclusion that this might be why you noticed the vomiting after long feeds.

I'm not sure about cutting back to shorter feeds, I was always told to let them feed on one breast until they stopped in order for the fore and hind milk to get fully used up, then if they were still hungry to go on to the other breast (my DD stayed on just the one at a time till she was a few months old though I think). However I'm not a bf expert, someone may be along with more info in a bit, or do have a read of some of the bf threads or www.kellymom.com , there's loads of good info there.

[Madigan]

thanks everyone -

re the shorter feeds - I do let DD feed until she is satisfied, and if I feed more regularly (say every 2.5-3hrs), then she seems to be happy with 10 mins (she does gulp it down, so gets a lot in 10 mins). If I feed her every 3.5 hrs (or 4 hrs at night), then she taks about 15mins - 20mins. But it all depends what mood she is in - sometimes she is hungrier than others. Very reassuring to hear that vomiting may be par for the course, because I have been really worried about it.

thank you again.

[kiskidee]

Glad everything is now working out Madigan. I remember your first post.

I think if the letdown reflex is a bit strong or have a slight oversupply (which can happen right after a growth spurt) and she gets more milk in than her stomach can comfortably hold, she can vomit the excess without any harm at all. Don't take that for gospel though. A bfc may come along soon and correct me.

What may look like a whole feed may not be actually. Take a tablespoon of water and spill it, to give you an idea what I mean.

[flamingtoaster]

I agree with FirstAtForty - DS did this after his morning feed quite regularly when tiny (I remember washing all those sheets and pjs too!). They do stop doing it - and shorter feeds do help.

[mylittlefreya]

I think the "happy spitting" is normal. If she starts to be screaming and pain when it happens, that's when I would (and did, I have a painful refluxer that still creates a lot of dirty laundry!) worry. Sounds like you are doing great.

[Beachcomber]

My DD2 vomited after feeding and I found cutting dairy out of my diet stopped the vomiting completely. Not saying this is what is up with your baby but could be worth a try if you feel the vomiting is bad enough.

Now my DD is bigger I have gradually reintroduced dairy and she is fine.

[Madigan]

thank you everyone!!

no vomiting today yet ... and she has done shorter/more frequent feeds, so maybe that is the trick for the time being ..

but v reassuring to hear that vomiting is fairly common!

x

[terramum]

Yep vomming on its own if baby is happy & gaining weight is fine & normal. Just a laundry problem more than anything else! My DS was a happy puker - made going out & about rather interesting, having to mop up all his efforts...but he grew out of it eventually and I managed to escape many of his bigger voms by appointing DH chief burper so he got the brunt of it when he was around

This link explains is quite well & was very reassuring for me when DS was little:
www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t110225.asp

[yelnats]

My dd2 used to vomit quite a lot. She has always been a very quick feeder and used to vomit at least once a day and was really sicky (but not vomiting) inbetween. She is almost 7months now and on solids and is rarely sick these days. I did take her to the docs when she was younger and she was put on infant gaviscon which helped loads.