Question
My baby is four days old, but she vomits when breastfeeding. How should I handle a newborn baby who vomits?
Answer
Adjusting feeding methods can improve a newborn’s vomiting. After the baby finishes drinking milk, gently hold the child upright for half an hour, gently pat the child’s back to help expel air from the stomach before placing the baby down. Make sure the baby burps; otherwise, it will be ineffective. Coughing up phlegm is a common phenomenon for newborns, as their stomachs are horizontal, smaller in volume, and their esophagus is shorter than that of adults. Therefore, when a baby eats milk, even slight movement or exertion can easily cause the milk to be vomited.