What are the differences between physiological vomiting and pathological vomiting?
For newborns, spitting up is a very common phenomenon, but what is physiological spitting up and what is pathological spitting up? Below we will elaborate on their differences from several aspects.
1. Time to spit up milk
Physiological spitting up usually occurs within a few minutes to half an hour after feeding, while pathological spitting up means that the baby will spit out the milk immediately after feeding or it may happen at any time.
The reason for physiological vomiting is that the baby swallows too much gas during eating, which increases the pressure in the stomach, so vomiting occurs. Pathological vomiting is caused by lesions in the baby\’s stomach or intestines.
2. Amount of vomited milk
Physiological spitting up is usually a small mouthful or a few milliliters, while pathological spitting up is a large amount of milk, and the baby may also be accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Physiological spitting up is relatively mild and the baby will not feel any discomfort. Pathological spitting up is more serious and will seriously affect the baby\’s appetite and physical development.
3. Frequency of spitting up milk
Physiological vomiting usually only occurs a few times after feeding, and not too many times a day. Pathological spitting up occurs frequently, almost every time when breastfeeding.
The frequency of pathological spitting up is higher, which often attracts more attention from parents. It requires timely medical treatment to understand the cause and treat it.
4. Symptoms of spitting up milk
Physiological vomiting means milk is sprayed upward, but the baby will not have symptoms such as stomachache, fever, or diarrhea.
Pathological vomiting is characterized by vomiting or diarrhea, fever and other symptoms soon after the baby drinks milk, making it difficult for the baby to fall asleep and become irritable.
Summary
To sum up, there are obvious differences between physiological spitting up and pathological spitting up in time, amount, frequency and performance. Parents should carefully observe the baby\’s spitting up and promptly identify whether it is physiological or pathological spitting up. If your baby\’s spitting up exceeds the normal range, you should seek medical advice promptly and follow the doctor\’s advice for treatment.
