What should I do if a premature baby spits up milk?

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

Updated on October 22, 2024

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For premature babies who experience spitting up, first pay attention to the feeding position. During feeding, make sure to hold the baby up with their head higher than their buttocks, which facilitates the smooth passage of milk through the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, if the baby vomits, first pick the baby up and gently pat their back to help release some of the residual gas in the stomach, which can reduce spitting up and vomiting. Also, during feeding, be mindful not to feed too much at once; feeding small amounts more frequently can also help prevent spitting up.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

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How to care for premature infants

The care of premature babies is very important. Since the physical resistance of premature babies is weaker than that of full-term infants, premature babies generally need to be placed in incubators to maintain body temperature. If an incubator is not available, methods such as using a hot water bottle for warmth can be employed, or putting cotton hats on the babies. During feeding, breastfeeding is an option. For very small babies who have poor sucking ability or uncoordinated swallowing functions, or for babies who are ill, the mother can express her milk, which can then be fed to the baby via a tube through the nose. Artificial feeding is also an option.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie

Obstetrics

44sec

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Can premature birth be natural birth?

First, let's discuss the concept of preterm birth, which is defined as births occurring between less than 37 weeks and more than 28 weeks of gestation. There are many reasons for preterm birth, such as genetic factors, premature rupture of membranes, or complications during pregnancy. If the pelvic size is adequate and the child can tolerate delivery, then vaginal delivery is preferred; however, if the fetus is too small or there are complications during pregnancy such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, or if the mother's health status is not good, it is recommended to opt for a cesarean section to ensure a timely delivery.

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Written by Liu Wen Li

Obstetrics

52sec

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Does placenta previa cause preterm birth?

Placenta previa is likely to lead to premature birth. Why is that? Placenta previa refers to the condition where the placenta is positioned lower in the uterus, and the most common symptom is recurrent, painless bleeding during pregnancy. This is because the low-lying placenta often leads to frequent bleeding. If the bleeding is minimal, there is still hope to maintain the pregnancy, allowing the fetus to grow longer inside the uterus. However, in the event of heavy bleeding, if the baby remains in the uterus without delivery, a critical situation can arise due to blood loss, potentially leading to the disappearance of fetal heart activity. At this point, the pregnancy would need to be terminated, thus often resulting in premature birth.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie

Obstetrics

46sec

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Do contractions easily lead to premature birth?

There are two types of contractions. The first type is false labor contractions, which occur in the late stages of pregnancy. They generally happen more in the evening or afternoon and disappear in the morning. The true labor contractions are regular and intensify in waves, accompanied by an increase in vaginal discharge or spotting. If it's false labor, rest can usually improve the condition, and it's not a concern. However, some people, due to extreme anxiety, may experience frequent false labor contractions. In such cases, our general approach is still to recommend treatment for pregnancy maintenance. If it's true labor, there is definitely a possibility of premature birth.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

54sec

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Does placenta previa cause preterm birth?

When a placenta previa occurs, it is likely to lead to premature birth. Placenta previa is a condition where, after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta is positioned low in the uterus, often below the presenting part of the fetus, and attaches to the lower segment of the uterus or near the internal os of the cervix. In the late stages of pregnancy, dilation of the cervix can cause the placenta to be misaligned with the uterine wall, leading to recurrent, painless bleeding. When the bleeding reaches a certain amount, it can easily lead to premature separation of the placenta, inducing uterine contractions and the onset of premature birth. In cases of placenta previa with significant vaginal bleeding, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy promptly.