Every mom worries about the amount of spit up their baby has.
It doesn't matter whether it's your first or your fifth, you'll worry endlessly about EVERYTHING - and one of your main concerns is feeding.
Spit up, not to be confused with vomit, can cause alarm bells because you'll think your baby isn't getting enough milk.
Quantifying the spit up
And you'll immediately fear your baby has spat up the entire contents of their bottle.
But fear not! This helpful image from registered nurse and lactation consultant, Susan Howard will maybe put your mind at ease - or at least help you provide a detailed brief for your doctor.
You can see what one teaspoon, one tablespoon and one ounce look like. And you'll be surprised at just how big a teaspoon actually appears on the floor.
When to be concerned
Generally speaking, if your baby is putting on weight and doesn't seem to be in pain or discomfort, spit ups are nothing to worry about.
Susan says: "When babies spit up, quantifying the amount is hard. This is one of my favorite illustrations comparing a teaspoon, a tablespoon and an ounce of milk.
"Spilled (and spit up) milk tends to spread far and wide making it LOOK like more milk was lost than in reality.
"A little spit up is nature’s overflow valve. If baby is not distressed by the spit up and weight gain is steady, we generally say it is a laundry problem.
"Of course talk to your baby’s healthcare provider if you have concerns."
What is spit up?
All babies spit up, especially after gulping down air with breastmilk or formula, and some spit up more than others.
Spitting up is the easy flow of stomach contents out of the mouth, usually with a burp.
But it doesn't:
- involve forceful muscle contractions
- bring up lots of milk
- distress your baby or make them uncomfortable.
Spit up vs vomit
Vomiting is the forceful throwing up of stomach contents through the mouth.
You should call your doctor immediately if your baby vomits forcefully after every feeding or if there is ever blood in your baby's vomit.
Reducing spit up
To limit your baby's spit up, you should:
- feed your baby before he or she gets very hungry
- gently burp your baby when he or she takes breaks during feedings
- limit active play after meals and hold your baby in an upright position for at least 20 minutes
- consider the formula you're using (if your baby isn't breastfed)