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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Signs of pyloric stenosis usually appear within three to five weeks after birth. Pyloric stenosis is rare in babies older than age 3 months.
Watch for these signs and symptoms:
- Projectile vomiting. Pyloric stenosis often causes projectile vomiting — the forceful ejection of milk or formula up to several feet away — within 30 minutes after feedings. Vomiting may be mild at first and gradually become more severe. Rarely, the vomit may contain blood.
- Persistent hunger. Babies who have pyloric stenosis often want to eat soon after vomiting.
- Stomach contractions. You may notice wave-like contractions that move across your baby's upper abdomen (peristalsis) soon after feeding but before vomiting. This is caused by stomach muscles trying to force food past the outlet of the pylorus.
- Dehydration. Your baby may cry without tears or become lethargic. You may find yourself changing fewer wet diapers or diapers that aren't as wet as you expect.
- Changes in bowel movements. Since pyloric stenosis prevents food from reaching the intestines, babies with this condition often have smaller and fewer stools. Bowel movements may be loose and green and contain mucus.
- Weight problems. Pyloric stenosis can prevent a baby from gaining weight. Sometimes pyloric stenosis leads to weight loss.
When to see a doctor
Contact your baby's doctor if you suspect pyloric stenosis. Watch for:
- Frequent vomiting after feeding
- Projectile vomiting
- Decreased activity
- Infrequent wet or dirty diapers — up to six hours between wet diapers or a day or two without a bowel movement
- Failure to gain weight or weight loss
