Are spitting up milk and spilling milk the same? What is the difference between spitting up milk and spilling milk?

We all know that babies often have various problems when they are breastfed. Spitting up and spilling milk are the two most common phenomena. Many babies will experience these two situations after drinking milk. Spitting up and spilling milk are very similar, so what is the difference between the two? Let's take a closer look!

What is spitting up and spitting up milk?

Vomiting up occurs when food in the stomach is forcefully emptied in large quantities; regurgitation occurs when the contents of the esophagus or stomach involuntarily flow back out of the mouth.

Infant spitting up refers to the forceful emptying of food from the infant's stomach, which is forced and uncontrolled, and the amount of spitting up is relatively large. Infant spitting up is mostly caused by the obstruction of the newborn's esophagus, stomach, pylorus and other digestive tracts. It may also be caused by achalasia and pyloric spasm dysfunction. When the baby's stomach moves too strongly after feeding, the food will flow back from the esophagus and spit out, and the amount of spitting up is relatively large, like a jet, which is infant spitting up. Infant spitting up is a pathological abnormality and requires an examination and diagnosis.

Infant spit-up is when a baby is put down to lie down immediately after feeding, or is fed too much, the baby's stomach will reflux food after feeding. Usually, the food flows out slowly from the corners of the baby's mouth in small amounts. Infant spit-up is a physiological phenomenon and generally does not require special treatment.

How to distinguish between spitting up and spitting up

There is a big difference between spitting up and spilling milk, which can generally be judged from these four directions:

1. Vomiting and spitting up milk are different in the way they vomit

Spitting up milk is a very strong and forceful vomiting. In severe cases, it can be jet-like. It is a relatively violent form of vomiting, and the amount of vomiting is relatively large, so it is easy to identify.

Spitting up milk is a milder form of vomiting, which usually flows out slowly from the corners of the infant's mouth. The outflow may be relatively clear milk or undigested milk curds. After a baby spills milk, it must be cleaned up in time to prevent the milk from flowing to the baby's neck and causing eczema.

2. Spitting up and spitting up milk are different in terms of content

Vomiting up milk is a pathological condition. The vomited milk is mostly in the form of milk lumps and has a sour and smelly smell. If it is more serious, yellow-green bile and coffee-colored liquid will appear. These conditions are usually a sign of a disease. If you encounter them, parents need to be vigilant and not take chances.

Spitting up milk, the spitted out contents are relatively fresh milk, accompanied by a sweet milk smell. This is physiological and generally does not require special treatment. Just clean up the spitted out contents to prevent the baby's skin from being infected by the contents.

3. Spitting up and spitting up occur at different times

If it is spitting up milk, it will not affect the age of the infant or toddler, and spitting up milk will occur when something abnormal occurs.

Spitting up milk has a time pattern. Most of the time, it occurs in newborns. Usually, it will gradually ease after the baby is 3 months old. After 6-8 months, the baby will start eating plain food, and the spilling of milk will become less frequent or even disappear. Spitting up milk is a physiological characteristic of infants and young children. Spitting up milk will not affect their physical development, so parents do not need to worry too much.

4. The correction methods for spitting up and spitting up are different

Spitting up requires comprehensive diagnosis and correction.

Spitting up milk is a physiological phenomenon that does not require special treatment. Therefore, after an infant or young child spits up milk, parents can figure out how to correct it on their own.

What to do if your baby spits up milk

After feeding, infants and young children will inevitably spit up milk. When the baby spit up milk, parents can do the following:

1. Over-breastfeeding is one of the most common causes of milk spillage. Therefore, mothers should not breastfeed desperately for fear that their infants and young children are not full. Infants and young children should be breastfed on demand.

2. If an infant or young child regurgitates milk after breastfeeding, you can let the baby lie on his side and let the milk flow out from the corners of his mouth. Then wash it with clean water or wipe it with a small towel to prevent the milk from getting stuck in the baby's throat and nostrils.

3. After breastfeeding, burp the baby, especially the newborn. This can expel the air that the baby takes in during breastfeeding and improve the situation of regurgitation.