After a baby drinks milk, if they immediately lie flat on the bed, the milk will flow out from the corners of their mouth, and they may even vomit all the milk they just consumed. However, if the baby is held upright for a while after feeding and then placed on the bed, the amount of spit-up will significantly decrease. In medicine, this phenomenon is called regurgitation.
Why do babies experience regurgitation?
1. The baby's stomach is in a horizontal position, with a flat base, making it easy for the contents to overflow. It is only after standing and walking that the diaphragm descends and the force of gravity gradually turns the stomach into a vertical position. In addition, the baby's stomach capacity is small, and the muscle and nerve development of the stomach wall is not yet mature, resulting in low muscle tone, which can easily cause regurgitation.
2. The development of the baby's lower esophageal sphincter, near the esophagus, is not as complete as that of the pylorus, near the duodenum. This makes the exit of the stomach tight and the entrance loose, causing the contents of the stomach to easily reflux into the esophagus and lead to regurgitation when lying flat.
3. Improper feeding methods, such as overfeeding the baby, inverted nipples, or empty bottles or nipples without enough milk, can all cause the baby to swallow a large amount of air and experience regurgitation.
4. Frequent changes in body position after feeding can also cause regurgitation.
Traditional Chinese medicine teaches you several massage techniques to help reduce baby regurgitation.
Rubbing Zu San Li:
Zu San Li is located four finger-widths below the outer knee and along the edge of the shinbone. Use the tip of the thumb to gently rub Zu San Li on the baby's feet 100 times each.
Pushing Shen Que:
Shen Que is located in the middle of the line connecting the two nipples. Use the ridged surface of the thumb to push down from Shen Que to the navel 100 times.
Pushing Pi Tu:
Pi Tu is located on the palm side of the thumb tip. Use the ridged surface of the thumb to gently push towards the fingertips on the Pi Tu area of both hands 100 times each.
Pushing Stomach Meridian:
The stomach meridian is located on the palm side of the first bone of the thumb. Use the ridged surface of the thumb to push back and forth on the stomach meridian of both hands 200 times each.
Rubbing Nei Guan:
Nei Guan is located between the two tendons, two thumb-widths above the wrist crease on the palm side. Use the fingertips to rub Nei Guan on both hands 100 times each.
Prevention
Regurgitation can be completely prevented.
1. For bottle feeding, the size of the nipple hole should be appropriate, and the nipple must be filled with milk.
2. If the mother has inverted nipples, corrective measures should be taken during pregnancy.
3. After feeding, gently lift the baby with their head resting on the mother's shoulder and pat the baby's back to allow air in the stomach to be expelled.
4. Burp the baby at least every 3-5 minutes during the feeding process.
5. Avoid feeding the baby while they are lying down.
6. Do not interrupt the feeding process with sudden noises, bright lights, or other actions that may interrupt feeding.
7. Feed the baby before they become very hungry.
8. If regurgitation is caused by a weak or incomplete closure of the lower esophageal sphincter, hold the baby upright for one to two hours after feeding, and then place them on the bed with their head slightly elevated. As the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter develop, the symptoms of regurgitation will gradually decrease.
9. There are specialized regurgitation formula milks available on the market, which contain thickening agents such as starch, and can effectively relieve baby regurgitation.
