Handling when the child spit up on the nose

Baby spitting up milk through the nose is very common because the baby's stomach is still horizontal. Although rare cases of milk choking and vomiting lead to danger, mothers should still pay attention to prevent milk from entering the respiratory tract, causing difficulty breathing for babies, severe cases can even be death.

Natural breastfeeding with breast milk helps ensure essential nutrition for babies and increases the bond between mother and baby. However, having more milk is not always favorable for mother and baby. Because when the baby produces too much milk but the baby does not suckle in time, it will lead to the baby spitting up his nose.
In general, the cause of baby spitting up milk through the nose is usually due to:
Too much breast milk: can cause inconvenience to both mother and baby. This means that mothers have to try different breastfeeding positions to make it easier for the baby to receive milk and limit the possibility of choking when feeding; Speed ​​of milk flow: Too much breast milk will lead to faster and stronger milk production. Therefore, if the milk flows strongly but the child cannot swallow it in time, it will lead to the child vomiting up the nose; Improper bottle feeding: If the mother is bottle-feeding the baby, choking can still occur if the nipple is not suitable for the baby's mouth, or due to the wrong feeding position; Feeding too much or feeding while crying can also cause the baby to choke easily. See now: Babies who often spit up milk should give probiotics?

It's normal for babies to spit up while nursing. In most cases, mothers just need to stop breastfeeding and hold the baby standing, combined with gentle back patting, the baby can feel more comfortable. On the contrary, if the child is awake but still coughing and having difficulty breathing because of choking milk, parents should give first aid to the child with the following movements:
2.1. Back patting Place baby on his stomach with his head lower than his lap. Use one hand to support the neck and chest of the child, the other hand to pat 5 times continuously with moderate force, into the area between the child's shoulder blades. After patting, gently turn the child back. If you see that the child still has not regained its rosy skin color or has not returned to normal breathing, proceed to:

2.2. Chest compressions Holding the baby in the supine position, place 2 fingers (index and middle fingers) in the center of the baby's chest and press down on the breastbone 5 times continuously. This will help push air out of your baby's lungs and clear the blockage.
Parents should repeat the above 2 first aid activities, patting the back and pressing the chest several times until the child feels comfortable and the breathing rate returns to normal. If the child's skin is still pale, the child is coughing, has difficulty breathing, or is unconscious, take immediate action:
2.3. Call 911, contact help Place the child on a hard surface, perform CPR for the child. Note that parents need to be guided in advance with the basic knowledge and practice of first aid. During first aid, at the same time contact medical facilities to take the child to the hospital immediately if necessary.

To prevent children from spitting up on their nose, parents need to note 2 very important basic things:
3.1. Breastfeeding in the most comfortable position If the mother's breasts secrete too much milk and the strong flow of milk makes the baby unable to swallow, the mother needs to put the baby's head higher than the nipple when feeding to avoid choking. When holding the baby in her arms and nursing, the mother can sit back slightly to slow the rate of milk flow. In addition, some breastfeeding positions such as hugging a ball or placing the baby on their side will help both mother and baby feel comfortable and limit the risk of choking. Mothers can also help burp the baby by holding the baby's head high at least after feeding, gently rubbing the baby's back. In case the baby often chokes on milk when bottle-feeding, parents should choose to buy a bottle with suitable nipple. with the age of the child. When breastfeeding, the bottom of the bottle should be raised slightly so that the milk fills the nipple to prevent the baby from swallowing too much air. At the same time, the bottle should be tilted 45 degrees so that the baby can easily control the flow of milk and avoid choking when feeding.

3.2. Adjusting the breast milk supply to suit the baby's needs Breast milk is too abundant and produces milk quickly compared to the baby's need to suckle is the main cause of the baby choking. Therefore, mothers can apply some of the following ways to reduce milk production:
Expressing some milk before each feeding can help reduce choking. However, in order to avoid the breasts producing more milk, the mother should note that the next milking session should be less than the previous one; When bathing should avoid scrubbing, strong stimulation to the breast area to reduce milk secretion; Feed your baby on one breast for several consecutive feedings (4 hours) to know the time of lactation activity of each breast. This activity will help reduce some of the stimulation that the other breast receives, thereby limiting the amount of milk secreted; Apply a cool compress between feeds to reduce milk production. In more difficult cases, you can consult your doctor to use some herbs to safely reduce breast milk supply without causing milk loss. The amount of milk secreted in one feeding can be adjusted by: pulling out the breast to prevent the baby from sucking continuously or clamping the nipple with your hand to help slow down the flow of breast milk when secreted. This is especially useful for premature babies - who have poor sucking and swallowing reflexes, so they need to suckle slowly and slowly.

If the mother has reduced milk production and breastfeeding in the correct position, but the condition of the baby's spitting through the nose still does not improve, the best way is to take the baby to the doctor. Pediatricians will help the family find out the causes and treat them in time to help avoid the risks of choking on milk.
With many years of experience in examining and treating diseases in children, now the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining , screening and treatment of many specialized diseases in children. Therefore, if the baby's frequent regurgitation of milk through the nose does not improve, parents can take the child to Vinmec International General Hospital for examination and support and advice from doctors.