4 Wk Old Baby Eats and Spits It ALL Up! Nipple Suggestions?

Updated on January 01, 2010
C.A. asks from Marietta, GA
17 answers

I am a new mom and up until a few days ago had the world's perfect baby. When she was born I was unable to get her to latch on to my breast and after trying for two weeks I finally switched to pumping and feeding her out of a bottle. Her BM's immediately changed from green to bright yellow and she started gaining weight quickly so I was very happy with her progress. Starting this past weekend she started projectile vomiting the entire contents of her stomach. It didn't make her cry at all but it scared me! She did it 3 times on Sunday and 3 times on Monday. On Monday she also started crying uncontrollably and I could not soothe her. It's frustrating not knowing what to do to help her calm down! It think it's gas related so I'm burping her after every 1/4 to 1/2 oz and started giving her gas drops which is helping but I'm thinking she's eating too fast. Is there a nipple that anyone can recommend so she'll eat more slowly and not swallowing air? I'm really hoping this isn't the start of colic..... Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

My husband and I went out and spent $100 on the Avent bottle system and a white noise machine. The Avent bottles were the only ones "clinically proven" to reduce colic. I also ate VERY carefully yesterday. I guess it's the price I'll have to pay for a happy baby! Last night she had one fussy period after her 10:00pm feeding but otherwise was pretty good. I did some massage techniques to her which helped. We still burped her often and used the gas drops because that baby can suck!! She can down these new bottles so quickly even with the slowest flow nipple! But no vomiting!! At her appointment today the doctor said she does have reflux and it might get worse but as long as she's not crying when she vomits that there's nothing to worry about. She was 6 lbs 2 oz at birth and at her 4 1/2 week appt. today she was 9 lbs! I guess she's getting enough to eat! I will check into getting her adjusted, that's a great idea! Thank you all for your comments, I really feel so supported in this whole "new mama" phase of my life!

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S.P.

answers from Charleston on

You could try Dr. Brown's bottles that have a valve and a straw-like tube to eliminate air when the baby sucks. Also, this sort of thing happened to me with my son. I pumped my breast milk and put in bottles for him and he vomited a lot. Since my milk production was low, I tried formula. After many formula changes, and some Prevacid it was finally found out that he had a milk protein allergy (along with reflux). He had to be put on a hypoallergenic formula called Nutramigen. The new formula along with the Dr. Brown's bottles helped and by 6 months, he had outgrown reflux and by 12 months he outgrew the milk protein allergy.

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R.J.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

What did you eat? What we eat while breastfeeding is also what the baby is digesting. You have to try avoiding foods that are spicy and stuff. If you ate the same thing on Sunday and Monday, then you may want to avoid it until you are finish with breastfeeding.

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M.J.

answers from Charleston on

Hi! Sorry I'm late to respond...I am a Chiropractor and I will just say that the projectile vomiting your describing often has to do with the pressure on her nerves in her neck. This pressure is put there by her cervical (neck) vertebrea. Please take her to a chiro and you will be very pleased with your results. My daughters first adjustment was at birth. She is the incrediably healthy and happy. Chiropractors are the only doctors trained for years to do adjustments. Dont settle by taking her somewhere else. Remember you have a choice on the vaccine issue too. I've researched them for over 10yrs so please feel free to ask. Best of luck.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

Have you talked to her ped? She might have reflux. Is there something you are eating that is different. Anything like garlic, onions, etc, will come through your milk and she'll beable to taste it.
Also what kind of bottle are you using? We used the Ventaire system from playtex http://www.playtexbaby.com/Products/Bottles/VentAire.aspx
The wide bottles that are shaped like a breast. the smallest nibble size should do fine. The ventaire system pulls the air out the top (or bottom if it's sitting on it's bottom) so the baby gets the milk and not the air.

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C.H.

answers from Charleston on

First of all, I would call your Pediatrician and report the vomitting, etc. If the baby just started this suddenly something more may be going on than just a problem with the nipple.
But.. about good nipples to use, especially if transitioning from nursing or if you want to nurse and bottle fed are the brand called BREASTFLOW you can buy them at Target store. (but I don't think they are available online). I use them and they are great! Be sure to get the SLOW FLOW nipples though, and you can also buy extras. The nipple is designed to mimic breastfeeding with infants, and I have found no problem in going from this bottle to breast in the same setting even. I find they 'leak ' sometimes, but that was only because I had not pulled the two part nipple straight and tightly through the collar.
Do check with your baby doctor to make sure your baby has nothing more serious going on. Then try the "gift set" of these bottles (is the best buy).
Good luck to you and your family !

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K.G.

answers from Macon on

Welcome to the world of reflux! We had colic AND reflux which lasted until he was almost 13 mo old! Not to scare you!!! My son projectiled every single day- just never knew when for the entire 13 mo. People thought I was nuts when I'd tell them about it....especially my mother! Well, when it happened to her!! haha anyway, this too shall pass.
My peds (check with your soon!! my son is 18 now and things change) told me to feed him thicker formula by using rice cereal in it. We had to make the nipple larger to pass the thickness through, but he would suck it down so fast, still.
Mylicon drops were my best friend for 2 straight years! I give a bottle to EVERY new mom with whatever gift I give her. We used Maalox, too, but the Mylicon worked better. The cost killed us, tho. Nothing made it "better" in the sense that we were puke free, but it helped alot.
Time is the best. As long as she's gaining weight and happy, enjoy it. I always carried 2 changes of clothes everywhere we went....ya never know when Mt baby will explode :). Gallon Zip locks for the pukey clothes and life was good.
My son outgrew the worse part of it between 13-15 months but whenever he would get really upset or hurt, he'd puke before the tears hit his cheeks! That took another couple of years. He's 6'4" and still growing and healthy as an ox!

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T.L.

answers from Atlanta on

I breastfed for 9 months but also used a bottle. We liked the vent aire. I think it's by Playtex? They have special bottles as well as nipples but seemed to be less expensive than other vented bottles. I don't know if you talked with a lactation consultant. I used one a couple times and she was a great help. If you're not actually nursing her and only pumping you're probably going to end up drying up sooner. I found that even the best hospital grade pump isn't as effective as a baby. : ) Try a couple different kinds of vented bottles and see which works best. Every baby is different. I think we tried 1 of 2 or 3 different ones & settled on the vent aire ones.

Good luck to you and baby.

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S.M.

answers from Atlanta on

If she is spitting up the entire contents of her stomach, it is most likely reflux. I would make an appt. with your pediatrician.
As far as nipples go, the MAM bottles & newborn nipples are awesome. The bottles pull air out of the bottle & the newborn nipples are very slow flow. They carry them at Publix (have not been able to find them anyplace else).
I know this is so frustrating! Good Luck!!

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M.B.

answers from Charleston on

She may have reflux. I'd try a slower nipple first and see if that helps. Check her mouth to make sure her tongue isn't white because that could indicate thrush, which is a fungal infection and can affect eating. Maybe give her half formula and half breast milk to see if it calms her stomach and then go back to breast milk. Don't eat any spicy foods or anything that might affect the taste of the breast milk.

M. B

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S.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Great job pumping to get her breast milk, that's not easy!

My daughter had acid reflux, the pediatric gastroenterologist eventually put her on meds and suggested the Playtex bottles with the liners and the slow flow nipples. I though she was throwing up everthing as well. He said if she's gaining weight then she can't be throwing it ALL up. He threw a small 1-2oz cup of water on a blanket to show me what it looked like,and it looked like a whole lot more. I was convinced from that demo, that she wasn't throwing everything up.

I would definitely call your pediatrician first though. If they think it's reflux they can help or refer to you another dr. Otherwise, try a different nipple or bottle, and the pediatrician can give you many other good suggestions. Good luck and congratulations!

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P.

answers from Spartanburg on

My ped said that reflux usually starts getting ugly at about 3 weeks. You may want call and see if they have any suggestions or take her in to see if they want to start any meds.
Just make sure that you've got slow flow/stage 1 nipples on her bottles so that she's eating slow enough. But if it was too fast for her, she'd likely be spilling it out of her mouth, too, as she's eating.
Best of luck to you. Feeding and weight gain are so frustrating and nerve wracking for us mommies.

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J.P.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

This exact thing happened to my daughter while nursing, and I took her to the doc. They did a barium test and discovered she had GERD (gastroespohageal reflux disease). She projectile vomited throughout the day every day. They gave me some reflux medication for her, and I used it when she slept and when she became very fussy. It worked well, but Prevacid worked better for her. Zantac caused constipation. I hated using meds, but it helped her so much that I just used them when necessary. She had to sleep in a baby papasan chair/bouncy and on my chest. Lying flat made her vomit. The doc told me to feed her smaller amounts in closer intervals so she wouldn't vomit as much. I nursed every hour and a half for about twenty minutes unless she was sleeping. This happened until about 4 months until she started eating solid foods and then it eventually disappeared. I also found that eating things like pasta sauce (tomatoes), garlic, onions, coffee, and anything strong made her vomit more. I work from home full time with another daughter, so I have tried everything to get everyone some sleep. :-) My daughter is now almost 2 and perfectly healthy and happy! Good luck!

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C.D.

answers from Spartanburg on

IT is about this age that my son's reflux surfaced. It is what they used to call colic and your child used to have to just outgrow it--it sounds like.

It took me going to the doctor three times to get a diagnosis. The over the counter stuff is not enough. In my son's case we had to give him a baby does of mylanta to coat and heal the damage already done and the prescription which I think is like a baby syrup of tagamet. {he is 2 1/2 and only took it until he was about 6 months--and like I said--four kids in the house--I do not remember exactly ;0)} I also noticed with him that he NEVER really burped. No matter how hard we tried. I am a breast feeding momma, but had to supplement him because I had mastitis at around this same point.

I have three older children, so I do know what I am talking about when I would tell them that his behavior was not normal. They just said, "Oh you have been so lucky, it is time that you had a fussy baby." I finally called in the middle of a monster fit, and took him during it. I laid him on the table, his face was red and distorted, his stomach felt like a rock--the doctor took one look and said--he has reflux. In my son's case, they called it 'silent reflux' because he was unable to vomit like your daughter. All of that milk and acid would just ooze back up his esophagus and he would get horrible heart burn. It sounds like that might be what is going on with her.

I would have the doctor look at her. Also try and write down exactly what happens so you can describe it well.

In the meantime, try lying her face down on your knees and steady her with your hand and kind of swing your legs back and forth. Running the vacuum calmed Micheal a little. So did putting his car seat on the dryer and standing there and holding on to the seat while the dryer runs. Of course, DON'T just leave him unattended. My little man was always better sitting up. Slept better in his car seat. SO that is where he slept. Really, if this is the problem and you can get it diagnosed--the medicine is a wonder! She will be a different child.
hope this is helpful!

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E.M.

answers from Atlanta on

I don't have any nipple suggestions other than being sure that you are using nipples for 0-3 month old instead of nipples marked for older babies. Have you talked to your pediatrician about this? Our little boy (now almost 8 years old) had projectile vomiting as an infant and was diagnosed with GERD (reflux). He was put on medication by a GI specialist for this problem. It's at least worth asking your pediatrician about. Best of luck!

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J.K.

answers from Atlanta on

FIRST OFF -- WAY TO GO WITH PUMPING AND NOT GIVING UP ON YOUR BREASTMILK!

I breastfed and bottlefed both my children, using the slowest-flow nipple Avent had. Never trouble for 15 mos each. Perhaps you could try getting her to latch again, but whether breastfeeding or pump-and-feed, feed her in an upright position.

And get on with your "investigation":
– what's your diet = eat like you're 80 with gas and increase your protein intake as well as drinking over a gallon of water a day because both you and your milk need it (I used to drink an 8oz glass before and after each feeding to remember);
– does she have reflux or GERD;
– have you taken her to a chiropractor;
– sleep her upright (saw a cool new sleeper in either Dec or Jan issue of American Baby magazine but cannot remember the manufacturer's name); and
- when she's uncontrollable, have you researched soothing for colic?

YOU'VE GOT A GREAT START AND GOOD ATTITUDE -- WAY TO GO MAMA!

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H.W.

answers from Atlanta on

It most likely is NOT reflux or GERD or any of those things.

Your baby probley just has a kink in it's intestine, these things happen, Traditional MD's called it reflux or GERD, because they are not trained to correctly diagnose or fix this. THe reason your baby is now upset and cranky is because they are not getting any food, the kink prevents this.

Take your child to a good Osteopath, one adjustment and the problem will be solved.

I went through this with my child after a friend who is an osteopath saw her spit up, she adjusted her, and she NEVER spit up again.

I have shared this info with countless women and their child's issues were all resolved with an adjustment.

Hope this helps.
H.

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V.G.

answers from Atlanta on

My son had acid reflux and exhibited the same symptoms you are seeing in your daughter. Gas drops would help a little but they didn't solve the problem. I also tried frequent burping but he would just get upset because he was still hungry. I finally let the pediatrician give me a prescription and it did the trick (I'm usually pretty against medications). I think your daughter may have acid reflux as well, the projectile vomiting is the give way. If nothing else works consider taking to the doctor about acid reflux.

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