Question
I recently gave birth, but my sister-in-law said that lately, the baby doesn’t seem to enjoy feeding as much, and there’s always a situation of spitting up milk after feeding. After that, the baby starts to cough. So, I want to know what’s causing my newborn to cough and spit up milk?
Answer
Most often, a newborn’s coughing and spitting up milk is due to the baby inhaling air while feeding. Once the air enters the stomach, because gases are lighter than liquids, they rise to the top and easily open the esophageal sphincter, releasing some milk along with it, causing regurgitation. Therefore, when feeding the baby, make sure the baby’s mouth covers the entire nipple, leaving no gaps to prevent air from sneaking in. It is recommended to have regular health checks so that any abnormalities can be detected early and treated promptly.