Vomiting in the newborn: causes, remedies and when to worry
Vomiting in the newborn is quite common and, in most cases, should not be of particular concern to the parent. It is a phenomenon usually accompanied in children by symptoms such as paleness, altered heart rate or salivation, followed by a sudden jet from the mouth through the esophagus, not to be confused with regurgitation.
When vomiting in newborns occurs only occasionally, don't be too alarmed. It will be better to resort to the pediatrician, however, in cases where the episodes of vomiting occur frequently or last for several days, also paying close attention to the characteristics of the expulsion (if the vomit is yellow or otherwise colored or has traces of blood, if it is always nocturnal, the amount of gastric contents rejected, if it is accompanied by diarrhea or by the appearance of cyanosis or breathing difficulties, etc.).
Let's look closely first what are the possible causes of vomiting in children and then all the appropriate remedies. But first - since mother's health is at least as important as that of babies! - here is a video on breastfeeding nutrition: which food to eat, which food to avoid and why?
Vomiting and regurgitation in children: when gastroesophageal reflux comes into play
Distinguishing between vomiting and regurgitation in the newborn is very important. It is common for babies to regurgitate, especially if they are gulping down too quickly, letting in large amounts of air. Vomiting, on the other hand, is due to a disorder and causes a much greater sense of discomfort.
In regurgitation, the rise of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus and throat is caused by gastroesophageal reflux: in these cases, in fact, there are no forced contractions of the abdominal muscles, as is the case with vomiting. Reflux is extremely frequent in newborns. : it is estimated that most children suffer from gastroesophageal reflux in the first months of life and then see it disappear in 95% of cases within 18-24 months.
Vomiting can also cause dehydration, because the baby cannot get enough fluids after losing them.
What can be the causes of vomiting in the newborn?
The causes that can cause vomiting in the newborn are very different. It can be a gastroenteritis or a "food allergy or" intolerance to milk. If the cause is gastroenteritis, remember that one of the most effective remedies to prevent it in the baby is to breastfeed: infants who drink breast milk have much lower rates of this disease than those who are bottle-fed.
Another very common cause of vomiting, especially if the newborn also has diarrhea, is the "rotavirus", a virus that causes severe desitration and which, fortunately, occurs less often since the special vaccine was introduced. . This virus and the disease it entails is highly contagious and can be transmitted through oral transmission or feces. Its symptoms are just fever and vomiting followed by diarrhea (very watery stools) for 5-7 days.
In other cases, however, vomiting can be caused by congenital pyloric stenosis, that is a pathology present at birth which causes particular difficulty in making the contents of the stomach pass into the intestine. In these cases there will be the so-called "jet vomit".
Among the other causes of vomiting of the newborn there can be the accidental ingestion of poisonous substances, or the presence - if the baby sucks the milk from the bottle - of a too large hole in the teat, which causes him to ingest a greater quantity of milk than necessary. .
In other cases, finally, the cause of vomiting may be the presence of a "strangulated hernia (the child, if so, would cry very often from severe pain and immediate medical attention would be required) or" intussusception ", that is, a folding of a part of the intestine, which also causes severe pain and episodes of sudden vomiting.
Remedies for vomiting in the newborn
What to do if the baby starts vomiting? First of all, don't get anxious! In most cases, as we said, it will not be an illness or something serious. well to call your pediatrician.
Pay attention to the other symptoms that the baby presents: if it is a simple intestinal problem and the baby continues to play quietly without showing signs of pain or loss of appetite, you can continue to breastfeed as before, making sure that he drinks enough to avoid dehydration. . If, on the other hand, he proves to be suffering and not very reactive, it is better to consult a doctor.
In the event that the baby has actually lost a lot of fluids, in addition to breast milk, you can ask your doctor if it is not appropriate to give him an oral rehydration solution, which you can easily find in the pharmacy (be careful to read the package leaflet, it is indicated both in cases of vomiting and diarrhea).
When to worry and call your doctor
It will always be good to call the doctor, however, if the baby continues to show signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, sleepiness, reduced urine (be careful especially if the diaper remains dry for more than three hours!), Or if the episodes of vomiting continue. long. Better to have the pediatrician intervene even in cases where the vomit is green or contains traces of blood.
The most urgent cases, in which it would be preferable to go to the emergency room, are those in which the sudden vomiting is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, or if in addition to vomiting there are pains and stiffness in the neck and / or skin rashes.
For more scientific information on vomiting in newborns, you can consult the document of the Order of Pharmacists.
See also: What to give to a newborn for Christmas? Here are the best ideas!
