A newborn spitting up milk clots is a relatively common phenomenon, which is related to newborns’ esophageal relaxation disorder, affecting approximately 2% of newborns. Esophageal relaxation may cause stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus, leading to spitting up milk, usually occurring within the first week after birth. In mild cases, the amount of milk spit up is small, and it may not happen after every feeding; in severe cases, there might be a large amount of spitting up, or even projectile vomiting. Due to a newborn’s horizontal stomach position and limited storage capacity, initially, it can only hold a small amount of milk, and it takes a few hours to empty, hence feeding every three hours is more appropriate. To prevent spitting up milk, after feeding, the baby should be held upright and gently patted on the back to promote burping and release gas from the stomach.
When dealing with a newborn spitting up milk clots, parents can take the following measures: ensure the baby stays warm, avoid feeding cold foods; mothers should pay attention to their diet, avoid foods that are hard for the baby to digest; timely exposure of the baby to warm sunlight can benefit their health; gently massage the baby’s abdomen to aid digestion; establish a regular feeding schedule, alternate between solid food and breast milk or formula, allowing the baby’s digestive system sufficient rest time.
Spitting up milk clots may also indicate digestive system issues, especially when accompanied by other symptoms such as frequent vomiting, green or brown vomit, fever, or diarrhea, seek medical attention promptly. In daily care, correct feeding positions, burping, placing the baby on their side after feeding, and controlling feeding amounts appropriately are effective methods to prevent spitting up milk. Occasional spitting up milk usually does not require excessive worry, as the baby grows, this condition will gradually reduce, but if there are abnormal symptoms, seek professional medical assistance.
