Swallowing air syndrome

　　The cause of swallowing air syndrome is that the mother's nipple sphincter is too tense, the milk flows too slowly, or the nipple is too short and even inverted, making it difficult for the baby to suckle milk. In this process, air enters the lower part of the stomach while milk remains in the upper part. Due to this special physiological phenomenon, air is naturally difficult to escape, and a large amount of air is swallowed, which can only enter the small intestine. Some parents feed their babies in an incorrect posture, with the bottle tilted and the nipple not filled with milk, causing the baby to take in a large amount of air while suckling.

　　Due to the increase in gas swallowed into the gastrointestinal tract, infants with swallowing air syndrome may present with symptoms such as abdominal distension and vomiting. There is a significant increase in anal flatus, and vomiting can be induced by hiccups. At the same time, due to the obvious abdominal distension, the amount of food intake may decrease in children, and if this continues for a long time, malnutrition may occur due to insufficient protein intake, so it should be paid attention to by clinical doctors, and active dietary improvement should be encouraged to prevent malnutrition.

　　During breastfeeding, if the baby suddenly stops suckling, shows restlessness, clenches fists, cries continuously, becomes flushed or pale, or some may suddenly wake up from sleep, scream loudly, tilt the head back, be restless, pale, sweat profusely, feel cold in hands and feet, vomit continuously, during the attack, the baby's bowel sounds are hyperactive, and flatulence occurs frequently. After flatulence, most children return to normal. Mild cases may not attract the attention of parents, but clinical physicians can observe that the child has repeated spontaneous swallowing movements, and parents can observe that the child's appetite decreases, has bloating, excessive anal gas, and belching, which disappear during sleep. Aerophagia is sometimes easily confused with gastroesophageal reflux and chronic paralytic intestinal obstruction, but it can be distinguished after careful examination.

　　How to prevent aerophagia? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. Pay attention to regular feeding times for the baby, and have a regular diet, do not let the baby be too hungry.

　　2. Pay attention to the method and posture of feeding. When bottle-feeding, make sure the nipple is full of milk. When breastfeeding, the mother should not lie down but should take an upright or sitting position.

　　3. The feeding time should not exceed 20 minutes each time, and after breastfeeding, the baby should be held upright against the mother's shoulder, gently patting the baby's back to expel the inhaled air quickly, and then place the baby on the bed in a right lateral position.

　　What examinations should be done for aerophagia? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. After the baby develops aerophagia, the mother should check her own nipple to see if the nipple sphincter is too tense or the nipple is too short and even retracted, causing the baby to inhale too much air, and make timely adjustments.

　　2. If the baby has symptoms similar to aerophagia for a long time and does not improve, it is necessary to undergo related gastrointestinal examinations to find the primary disease. Gastrointestinal function dynamic examination, ultrasonic examination of gastrointestinal diseases, and gastrointestinal CT examination can be performed.

　　What should be paid attention to in the diet of patients with aerophagia? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. Massaging the mother's nipple

　　Before feeding, gently massage the nipple with your palm, drawing circles in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions for about 10 times to relax the nipple sphincter and gently pull the nipple to make it easier for the baby to suckle and prevent the baby from swallowing too much air.

　　2. Feeding in small portions and soothing the baby's emotions first

　　To avoid the baby from easily inhaling air when drinking milk in a hurry, it is advisable to switch to a method of feeding in small portions but more frequently. For example, instead of feeding 140ml every four hours, reduce it to 70ml every two hours. This way, the baby does not have to drink too quickly due to hunger, and it also prevents discomfort caused by overeating, which can lead to excessive intestinal bloating.

　　In addition, it is recommended that mothers perform a 'pre-feeding ritual' before feeding to soothe the baby's emotions. You can play some gentle music, then gently tell the baby, 'It's time to drink milk! Baby, drink slowly to grow healthily!' and then start feeding.

　　3. Post-meal gas expulsion

　　After breastfeeding, do not let the child lie down directly. Hold the child upright, rest the head on the adult's shoulder, and then cup the palm to gently pat the baby's back to help expel the air in the stomach. After expelling the air, let the child lie on the right side with the head elevated to prevent the child from choking when burping or spilling milk, and also help the milk in the stomach flow into the intestines.

　　4. Eat less gas-producing and acidic foods

　　Most babies with swallowing air syndrome are weak and sensitive in the gastrointestinal tract, so in addition to paying attention to the relevant care of feeding, the choice of complementary foods should also avoid gas-producing foods and acidic foods to avoid stimulating the already sensitive gastrointestinal tract. Gas-producing foods include onions, egg yolks, tofu, liver, etc.; acidic foods include citrus fruits, pineapples, high-fiber vegetables, etc.

　　What are the treatment methods for swallowing air syndrome? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. The mother should adopt a suitable position while feeding, not lying down, and it is more appropriate to stand or sit.

　　2. If the mother's nipple sphincter is too tense, milk comes out too slowly, or the nipple is too short and even retracted, these are all triggers for swallowing air syndrome, so the mother should adjust her nipple in time and correct it in time to prepare for breastfeeding.

　　3. Swallowing air syndrome often occurs in children with an impatient temperament, so before feeding, spiritual comfort should be given to stabilize their emotions, and breastfeeding should not be done when the child is crying or emotionally excited.

　　4. Breastfeeding time should not exceed 20 minutes. After breastfeeding, the baby should be held upright, leaning against the mother's shoulder, gently patting their back to quickly expel the air swallowed, and then place the baby on the bed in a right lateral position.

　　5. Feed the child regularly to form a certain dietary routine, and do not let the child go hungry for too long.

　　6. When infant swallowing air syndrome occurs, a warm and damp towel can be applied to the child's abdomen (be careful not to burn), or gently massaged with the hands, and the intestinal spasm will disappear quickly.

　　7. After breastfeeding, the baby should be held upright, leaning against the mother's shoulder, gently patting their back to quickly expel the air swallowed, and then place the baby on the bed in a right lateral position.

　　8. Most children will have their symptoms disappear spontaneously after 6 months of birth.