DC and occasional 'reflux' when congested

[medjool]

Poor DC3 has had more than his fair share of colds in his first 3 months of life thanks to older siblings. When he has colds he can't always keep milk down which I observed was when he was particularly mucousy but now I'm not so sure. In the past 2-3 of days, he's projectile regurgitated at least 2 feeds a day - he's not sicky, it's just the milk coming right back up. He is full of a cold and it's not at every feed but aside from being sick of being covered in 2nd hand milk, it's worryingly frequent. At what stage should I be concerned about reflux and what defines reflux? Frankly a bit scared of feeding him now for fear of being soaked through and having to change clothes and/or sheets when feeding in bed.

On a practical note - bath sheet/towel under baby and keep a stack next to the bed for middle of the night puking.

Is it only when he has a cold or just worse when he has a cold?

If it's only with a cold then it is probably 'just' the mucous irritating his stomach and the body trying to get rid of it by vomiting up the mucousy milk. It might also be his feeding technique is impaired with the cold (blocked nose means he can't bf and breathe at the same time so he may be de-latching slightly very frequently during a feed not re-attaching well) - in this case saline drops or even a drop of BM down each nostril can help dissolve the mucous in the nose before feeding so that this doesn't happen.

If it's not every feed, he doesn't seem to be in immense pain and his weight gain is good, I doubt a GP would prescribe anything (drugs can have some nasty side effects so the risk has to be out weighed by the benefit to baby) other than to tell you to keep him upright post feed (sling/bouncy chair/raised head of cot) and not to lie him flat straight away.

Some babies are what's known as 'Happy Spitters' (i.e. copious vomiting doesn't bother them) and then it's just a case of extra washing and keeping baby upright a lot until they grow out of it.

If baby is miserable or screams a lot in between vomiting, arches their back (posturing), vomits very frequently and is uncomfortable/in pain while doing so, appears in pain when lying down but doesn't vomit (silent reflux) and/or has poor weight then medication may well help (lots to chose from depending on how the reflux manifests it's self).

Hopefully it's just the mucous!

Sounds like it's just the mucous then - thank you!