This article is all about gassiness in breastfeeding babies.
We often hear sentences like, “Breast milk is the best milk.”
” It is the liquid gold with unbeatable nutritive qualities.”
Experts also agree that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies. WHO also recommends mothers breastfeeding for at least the first six months or until the baby starts eating solids.
You might wonder if it is the best milk for my child then, why does he seem irritable all the time? Is he allergic to breast milk?
So let me be clear that no! your child doesn’t need to be allergic to your breast milk. There are several causes for gassiness in babies.
With easy home remedies and exercises, you can easily make it go away
Read further about the reasons and symptoms of gassiness in breastfed babies and ways to get rid of it.
Signs of gassiness in breastfed babies
There are times when your baby cries uncontrollably. You must check for usual suspects like dirty diapers, hunger, and tiredness. If nothing seems to make sense, your baby might have gas.
Keep the following signs in mind to know if your little one is gassy.
- Flatulence: If your baby farts more than usual, it can be a sign of excessive gas in his stomach.
- Arched back and legs folded towards tummy: If your child stiffs his body while crying or folds his legs towards his stomach, it can be a sign of gassiness. Babies try to alleviate the gas pain and make different positions.
- Burping: your child might have swallowed excessive air while feeding or due to excessive crying.
- Spitting up: Spitting up is common in babies. But frequent spit-up means that the excessive gas in your baby’s tummy is pushing back the milk up and causing the spit-up.
- Bloated tummy: If your little one’s stomach feels bloated and hard, it can be a sign of accumulation of excessive gas.
Causes of gassiness
There are several causes of gassiness in babies but, the common ones are
- Constipation: Constipation in babies causes the gas to trap inside the tummy resulting in stomach aches.
- Crying: Your baby might be gulping excessive air due to excessive crying.
- Introducing a bottle: If your child is used to breastfeeding, introducing a bottle can cause gassiness. The sucking process of breastfeeding is different from bottles. Your child might inhale more air at the start and adjust with time.
- Mothers diet: Mothers’ diet is a common factor of gassiness in breastfed babies. Food items like dairy, soy, and wheat can cause gassiness in your baby. It is good to keep a journal of your diet and check for foods that can cause gas and stomach pain.
- Gulping down air: If your milk supply is good, your child might want to gulp down a lot of milk at a time. In doing so, he might inhale excessive air that can cause gassiness in his tummy.
Ways to relieve gas
There are many easy remedies to make your child get rid of gas and tummy aches. You can try these options in combination and see what works for you.
- Bicycle exercises: Lay down your child on a flat surface and move his legs in a pedaling position. This exercise helps in relieving gas pain and constipation.
- Burp your child: Burping is vital after every feeding session.
- Try different feeding positions: You can try different feeding positions and see what soothes your child. Keeping him in an upright position commonly helps in relieving gas.
- Tummy massage: Rub olive or mustard oil on your baby’s naval area and gently massage with two fingers. A nice massage can make a difference.
- Tummy time: Tummy time helps in strengthening your child’s upper body. It also helps in gas pain. Make sure to give your baby a tummy time as it aids in pushing the gas out.
- Adjust latch: Adjust your baby’s latching position. Make sure he doesn’t swallow excessive air.
- Adjust the feeding: Don’t overfeed your child or let him suck too quickly.
- Always observe the baby’s gas and your diet. If you notice something that you have eaten has caused gas, eliminate it from your diet.
Foods that can cause gas:
There are numerous factors for a baby’s gassiness. As a nursing mother, you should know the food items that can cause gas in babies.
Some common culprits are dairy, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, citrus fruits, and whole grains.
Final thoughts
Hang in there mama, this too shall pass.
I know the constant crying session of your little one is exhausting and frustrating sometimes. Just remember that gas is a normal occurrence and, it can go away with simple and easy home remedies.
If the home remedies are not making a difference, it is good to consult a pediatrician and discuss your child’s problem.
