Question

A four-month-old girl infant still frequently spits up milk, sometimes waking up one hour after feeding and spitting out milk droplets. When fed calcium acetate, if the infant dislikes it, she may spit out a large amount of milk.

Answer

Generally, an infant’s stomach is horizontal, with a small capacity and a wide esophageal sphincter that does not close effectively. The pyloric sphincter, which connects to the small intestine, is relatively tight. Infants often inhale air while suckling, which can lead to milk refluxing into the mouth and causing spitting up. It is recommended to hold the infant upright on an adult’s shoulder after each feeding and gently pat the infant’s back. This action helps expel the air swallowed into the stomach, reducing stomach pressure. After feeding, it is not advisable to immediately lay the infant down; instead, keep the upper body upright for a moment and gently pat the back. When lying down, the infant’s upper body should be elevated, and it is best to adopt a right-side sleeping position to reduce the flow of food from the stomach.