Regurgitation is the return of the contents of the stomach or esophagus (not the intestine!) To the oral cavity. Abdominal muscles do not take part in the process of participation. Having bounced, the baby continues to walk and smile. Most regurgitation during the first year passes independently, but in some cases serious treatment may be required, as frequent regurgitation in the child can lead to inflammatory changes in the esophagus, so parents of the baby should consult a pediatrician to find out the factor that causes profuse regurgitation.
The causes of regurgitation in infants:
- anatomical and functional features of the gastrointestinal tract. In infants, sucking movements are performed in batches of 3-4 suckings, creating a negative pressure in the oral cavity, and contractions of the esophagus during swallowing do not appear methodically - then after sucking, then before it. At the same time, the bottom of the stomach is sharply reduced, which causes an increase in intragastric pressure. Food and air return to the esophagus and provoke regurgitation. The situation is dangerous because the child has a deceptive feeling of saturation due to air getting into the stomach, and he stops sucking - this is fraught with inadequate nutrition and developmental delay;
- slow formation of the process of coordinated breathing, swallowing and sucking (normally lasts 6-8 weeks);
- overfeeding (increase in the volume / frequency of feeding);
- flatulence, constipation, intestinal colic;
- congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, diaphragm, stomach.
Pay attention: frequent plentiful regurgitation, which lead to a significant reduction in body weight, require a survey of the baby to exclude serious congenital pathologies.
To feed the child after regurgitation it is not necessary, differently regurgitation can repeat. The baby will not remain hungry, he will necessarily "get" everything in the next feeding.
Why a child hiccups after regurgitation
The cause of hiccoughs lies in the contraction of the diaphragm separating the thoracic cavity and abdomen. The infant experiences a breathing failure and produces a loud, characteristic sound. Hiccups spontaneously cease after 10-15 minutes, not delivering the baby any trouble. Contrary to the opinion of parents who consider hiccup reflexes useless, children's doctors believe that hiccups perform an important function - protects the baby from overeating.
How to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation
Vomiting is a reflex act, which results in the contents of the intestine and stomach through the mouth coming out. Vomiting is preceded by rapid heartbeat / breathing, salivation, nausea, manifested by refusal of food, severe anxiety and ejection of the nipples. Regurgitations do not give the crumb a special discomfort - he is smiling, cheerful and sleeps well.
When to consult a pediatrician:
- the child regularly regurgitates between feedings;
- burps during feeding with a fountain;
- The regurgitated masses have a brown / green color and an unpleasant odor;
- in the process of regurgitation the infant coughs for a long time;
- frequent regurgitation in the child is accompanied by insufficient weight gain.