Question

Is it normal for a baby to choke on breast milk and spew it out of the nose while eating? What should be done?

Answer

Hello, based on your description, your child may be experiencing spitting up. Infant spitting up is common and usually caused by a small stomach capacity, a horizontal stomach position, relaxed pyloric sphincter muscles, and better development of the sphincter of the stomach’s opening. Additionally, improper feeding techniques that lead to swallowing too much air or overfeeding can also cause spitting up. Here are a few suggestions:

  1. After feeding, hold your baby upright on your shoulder and pat their back to help expel swallowed air, preventing spitting up.
  2. If milk enters the trachea, it may lead to aspiration pneumonia, so you should closely monitor the situation.