Vomiting or just possetting??

[MrsHarry]

My 5 wk old breastfed DD has always possetted (regurgitated) her milk quite frequently, immediately after feeding. In last week or so she has started to get hungrier and is feeding loads more. Now she regurgitates loads of milk, sometimes up to 2 hours after the feed. (Actually not sure if it's 'chicken & egg' situation... hungry cos she's bringing more up!!)

Anyway how do I differentiate between normal possetting, and vomiting which all the books tell you is one of the signs to look for if baby is ill?
HV & Dr don't seem worried...have prescribed Inf Gaviscon which I've given up on for now as it is a nightmare (for various reasons..won't go there).

If she really was ill and vomiting how would I know? HV seems unable to answer this question.
Anyone with similar experience??

Okay, what is her weight doing. If it's going up, she's taking more and throwing up more, which is normal. It's also normal for them to wait a bit before chucking it back up - normally till you've lost the muslin and lifted them up onto your shoulder

Have you tried keeping her upright after feeding - possibly in a bouncy chair?

My DD has always posseted, and at varying times of the day after feeds. There is never a huge amount in one go, IYKWIM. She has vomited once, and trust me, you will know the difference!! It was like something out of the excorcist, and necessitated new clothes for DH, new duvet, and bedclothes. Also, she hadn't been quite herself that day, so the vomiting was another sign she wasn't quite right. She was fine the next morning though!!

Her weight gain has been really good altho being weighed again this pm as on Mon she appeared to have lost 3 ozs, but time before was weighed straight after feed, and also was diff midwife so diff scales.

After feeding I keep her on my shoulder for what feels like hours!!! If I lay her down too soon she tells me when she needs to 'chuck'...makes really obvious noises. Doesn't like bouncy chair yet.

NEPOL what did vomit look like? Different colour/smell? Unfortunately DD's possetting regularly requires new clothes/sheet/duvet cover etc just because it's so unpredictable!

If your Dr and HV aren't worried and there are no other signs, high temp, worrying weight issues, lethargy etc I'd be reassured and just keep an eye on DD. The frequent feeding is probably indicative of a growth spurt. My DS is 9 months breast fed with the occassional bottle and he just has no full mark on his fuel guage! He also has chucked up loads - often wondered if any had stayed in (Still feel it was important to feed him on demand.) Sometimes it might be 2-3hrs after his previous feed that he'd throw up. His weight was good and in all respects he was/is healthy, bright and well and now he's on solids it's much less frequent. By the way, we didn't get on with gaviscon either.

Keep up the good work!

DS was a happy puker - didn't show any signs of pain before/during or after puking, gained weight happily and yet showered anyone who held her after feeding with vom (usually DH as I assigned him the burper job )......if your DD is gaining well & generally happy, not got any associated health issues like a constant cough, being in pain, lethargy, losing weight etc then it's just a laundry problem really until she grows out of it. I think DS stopping vomming somewhere between 7-9 months...can't really remember when tbh (which shows just how insignificant it was )

Oh rnbsmum, I'm so glad you said you didn't get on with Gaviscon! HV keeps asking why I'm not using it and my reasons sound a bit pathetic when voiced, and then i feel guilty!!

Thanks for the reassurance. I do think I'm doing alright and I know really that she's healthy. It's just the actual times isn't it, when DD crying/regurgitating/looking really miserable that you question the rationale for your decisions.

Thanks terramum too for your reassurance. Sorry I'm so slow at typing!!

Is the vomiting projectile/forceful? And after 2 hours, is she bringing up tons of milk rather than just a little bit?

It's not projectile but there can be quite a lot sometimes.

MrsHarry,

Sorry not to reply to you sooner - I went out this pm and have not checked the thread until now.

DD's vomit was the same colour (she is 100% breast fed), but I seem to remember that it smelt more like real vomit than the normal posseting. Also, she smelt slightly different to me, a slightly unwell smell.

I agree with the others on this thread though - providing your DD is otherwise happy and putting on weight, then there is probably nothing to be too concerned about.