Newborn spit up/vomiting

Is it normal for them to spit up/vomit while they are laying down/sleeping? How do I know if its spit up or vomit?

Dd is 2.5 weeks old and until today never spit up. She was fussy allllll night...had a 2:15am feeding and stayed up whining and fighting sleep til 4:45. She slept til 5:30am then woke up so Dh gave her a bottle of breast milk. She went down shortly after. He left for work at 7 and we were both sleeping. I woke up at 8:40 and heard dd farting so I got the little tummy gas relief drops from the other room then went to pick her up and there was spit up everywhere. Her clothing, swaddle blanket and bassinet were a mess. I feel terribly gully that I slept through it e and I'm so grateful she was on her side bc I know she could have choked on it otherwise.
I gave her a bath and She's now feeding. Has this happened to anyone? Should I be worried? I'm obviously now going to be paranoid about her choking in her sleep so I know I won't be able to sleep well for the next few days

Message edited 3/6/2013 10:20:43 AM.

Re: Newborn spit up

Yeah it always dribbled to the side. They mostly sleep with their heads turned. You would hear her choking if she did. My girls choke on their drool now. Fun fun fun...

Newborn spit up

That may be a sign of reflux, milk protein allergy or neither. Try and burp her after each half ounce and keep her upright or on an angle for 20-30 minutes after each feeding

Message edited 3/6/2013 10:16:19 AM.

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting

Both my girls always spit up in the middle of the night and I would find them in puddles. It happens. I wouldn't worry too much.

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting

Spit up is totally normal per my ped. It took DD a few weeks before she started spitting up too - its a sign the digestive system is starting to mature a bit more.

Vomit - at least the way I think of the difference, maybe not medical definition - is the chunkier stuff that is partially digested milk. Spit up is totally liquid and looks the same as it went in.

Both are normal and may not mean anything.

I use bibs on DD during the day and at night, sometimes she spits up. It doesn't bother her, so I don't let it bother me. I have a little pad under where she sleeps so it absorbs it without making a mess on the pack n play. I also wipe her neck area each time she feeds during the night to keep it clean.

Newborn spit up/vomiting

DD didn't start spitting up for a few weeks as well. Sometimes she spits up a ton that I get worried..and sometimes nothing. I always make sure to keep her upright after she eats for at least 30 mins. I notice if I lay her down for any reason soon after she eats then she will spit up.

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting

My DS didn't start spitting up until he was a few weeks old and now he is a spit up king. At night I elevate his head. In the bassinet i put towels underneath the top of mattress and now that he is in crib I have a crib wedge. He still sometimes spits up at night but it doesn't phase him.

Newborn spit up/vomiting

If DH doesn't burp right after eating, he will spit up. The first time it happened when he was sleeping, I was hysterical because I was so afraid he could have choked. After doing a lot of reading, I found that it is normal and they turn their heads to the side to prevent choking. I would just make sure she burps after eating and try to keep her upright for a little bit! Good luck!

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting

The X ray Dr at the ped gastro and the nicu said to place the baby on their right side after feeding because the stomach empties on the right. My girls were mostly swaddled this young and they just kinda stayed on their sides so I didnt worry too much about them rolling. Heck they still dont roll lol

Message edited 3/6/2013 1:18:00 PM.

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting

DS spit up a few times in his sleep when he was a couple of weeks old. I RAN to him, so scared, but he was always ok and never seemed bothered. Now at 5 weeks old he's usually sleeping in his crib in another room so I don't hear if he spits up, and I honestly sleep better (so does he!).

Ped said not to worry about him choking on anything while lying on his back. Babies usually have their heads to the side anyway. He always said that since the "back to sleep" movement started, there's never been any deaths due to choking in a baby's sleep.

I know it's tough, but try not to worry. Your daughter will be fine! Just try to get a good burp out of her before putting her down to sleep. I also used to try to hold DS upright on my shoulder for about 30 minutes after a feeding, but I'm just too tired for that now. When he's out, I put him down.

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting

My daughter is 2 weeks old and has reflux issue since she was a day old. The nurses told us to keep thetopnpart of her bassinet raised. We put a folded towel underneath to raise it. As we feed her, we have to burp her as she slows down in her eating. When she is done with her bottle we burp again and keep her upright for about 20 minutes before putting her back to bed.

Re: Newborn spit up/vomiting