Is this normal? I'm eating very little dairy. It really seems to boter him and I thought breastfeeding cut down on gas. I do occasionally feed him pumped milk out of a bottle, too. Could this be doing it? My son is almost 6 weeks and has the same issues. We just started a pumped bottle once and a while and it seems as though hes getting more air this way -- he needs to burp alot more than when I breastfeed him. However even only breastfeeding makes him gassy as well -- I've found that burping him every 3-4 mins helps reduce it. Also I've found that when he's really gassy feeding him from the same breast two feedings in a row also helps (as it reduces the amount of foremilk that he's getting -- lots of foremilk can make a baby gassy) Try only feeding from one breast per feeding to reduce foremilk consumption and see if that helps (if your not already doing that). Also I found that I had to eliminate almost all spices, caffinated beverages, green veggies...and once and a while we have to give him some gas drops which also help alot. Good Luck I'm in the same situation as you right now. I have a 3 1/2 week old baby girl that I'm breastfeeding and she gets really gassy too. I had the same issues with our now 3 year old daughter. I think my daughter's issue has to do with my diet. I have cut out dairy completely with this baby since my first daughter seemed to have issues with dairy. I see that you said you are eating very little dairy so hopefully that will help. Just remember, it can take up to 2 weeks for dairy to be out of your system so don't give up yet. I'm not going to lie, it was very hard on me the first time around and at 6 months old I put my daughter on SImilac Alimentum (the hypoallergenic formula) and she did wonderfully on it...I'm going to continue nursing baby #2 for as long as I can, but if she gets too irritated and just seems fussy all the time, I'm switching her to the same formula that worked great for our 1st daughter.
(Hopefully the pro breastfeeding moms won't get too upset with what I said, but my pediatrician told me a healthy happy mom makes for a healthy happy baby so you have to make the decision that works best for both you and your little one.) Good luck! my daughter is 7 weeks old and she has had this problem for a few weeks now. I mostly nurse her and ooccasionally i will give her a bottle. The Mylicon drops help and burping her very often during a feeding. The only down fall with that is she tends to fall asleep evertime we burp her and doesnt get as full. i guess you cant win them all! yes it could be the bottle causing the gas. they take in more air that way. or you may have a fast let down like i did and my little girl would nurse and then have to come off for a breath of air and she would suck in alot of air. mylicon drops really helped. it is possible she could have reflux as well. All babies get gas. Just make sure you are burping him enough, and if it's really bad, you can try gripe water. There are different ways that air can get into babies鈥?digestive systems. Gas is produced in the digestive tract from the moment baby has his or her first drink of breast milk or formula. Newborn gas is a natural byproduct of digesting lactose, proteins and other nutrients contained in breast milk or formula.
In addition, some pediatricians and lactation specialists assert that traces of gas-producing foods, such as cruciferous vegetables and legumes, can be passed from mother to baby. Some experts also warn against excessive acidity in the maternal diet. Citrus fruits and juices, strawberries and tomatoes are high in acidity and may irritate the infant. Dairy products in mother鈥檚 diet can also lead to 鈥渋ntolerances鈥?in baby. The problem is usually linked to the milk protein found in milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Soy and peanut intolerance in babies often accompanies dairy intolerance. When breastfeeding, a mother can test how these common culprits may be affecting her child by religiously eliminating all dairy, soy and peanut products from her own diet for two weeks. Reintroduction of soy first, then a cooked milk product (such as hard cheese or yogurt) should be done very slowly to monitor baby鈥檚 tolerances.
Air bubbles can also be taken in through baby鈥檚 mouth. Most commonly, it is a result of the suction created during nursing. For this reason, it is important to burp every 3 to 5 minutes during feedings or between breasts. If your baby is bottle-fed, make certain that the bottle鈥檚 nipple is the right size. If the nipple is too big, it will cause your baby to eat too fast. If it鈥檚 too small, it will cause your baby to gulp air.
Another possible reason for infant gassiness is hyper-lactation syndrome. When a mother has a very abundant milk supply, she may produce a larger amount of foremilk. Foremilk is higher in water content, higher in lactose and usually delivered with greater force during letdown. In excess, foremilk can make baby鈥檚 stomach cramp, creating more fussiness. A baby that gulps the quickly flowing milk also tends to take in more air, thereby getting gassier. Because the baby may not be getting enough of the rich hind milk, he or she tends to want to eat more often, which perpetuates the problem. The baby that suffers from hyper-lactation syndrome is characterized by higher that normal weight gain, increased gassiness, and fussiness.
Over stimulation can also lead to increased gassiness. Just as many adults experience intestinal disturbances in stressful situations, so are babies affected by their environments. Sensitive infants that are bombarded with noise, lights, touch and multiple experiences will usually 鈥渟hut down鈥?in an attempt to reduce stimulation. This shut down response does not completely insulate baby from the effects of the stimulation. Babies that are easily overloaded often experience more severe gas, fussiness, and difficulty sleeping later in the day or night. In general, the more activity (errands, visitors, T.V., phones, etc.) in baby鈥檚 day, the higher the chances of gassiness and fussiness in baby鈥檚 evening and night.
A certain amount of crying is normal in all infants, since it is their only means of verbal communication. Babies鈥?crying may indicate that they are hungry, lonely, warm, cold, uncomfortable or in need of a diaper change. Many babies go through periods of crying for no apparent reason, as they simply get used to the new world. Crying in general causes babies to gulp air into their digestive systems. These air bubbles can get trapped in their stomach and/or passed on to the intestine. Gas pain can also be a direct result of air swallowed during crying.
Burping the baby thoroughly will reduce the amount of air in the stomach, so that it does not pass on to the intestinal tract. Unfortunately, burping is not 100% effective at eliminating gas, since it has absolutely no effect on the gas created in the intestines during normal digestion. There are baby massage techniques which may prove effective in helping baby to release gas. Simply applying light pressure on the tummy can soothe and help. You can also try carrying baby in the 鈥渇ootball hold鈥?鈥?face down on your forearm with baby鈥檚 legs straddling your elbow and baby鈥檚 chin resting in your hand. Again, the gentle pressure placed on the little tummy can help soothe and release baby鈥檚 gas.
http://www.coliccalm.com/baby_infant_new...
Try talking to your baby's pediatrician and see what remedies you can use. I used Mylicon drops with my son when he had a gas problem, but then again he was bottle/formula fed since he was a month old (he was eating 8 ounces every 2-3 hours and my body couldnt produce enough to keep up with his eating schedule) Its more than likely caused by a poor latch, you having too much milk, or baby feeding too infrequently.
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gas...
Some causes of gas in babies
* Many young babies have a certain amount of gas and seem to strain as it is passed or as a bowel movement occurs simply because of the immaturity of their digestive system. This doesn't always indicate a problem. Most babies' bodies manage gas more easily with growth, maturity, and greater activity. As long as your baby is not overly bothered by the gas or has no other symptoms of food sensitivity or other problems, then "tincture of time" is likely the best solution.
* Too much milk too fast, so that baby gulps and chokes and takes in too much air along with the milk. See forceful let-down.
* Anything that causes baby to take in too much air may result in a gassy baby (what goes in must come out!):
o Crying - Babies swallow air when they are crying, so crying is more likely to be the cause of gas, rather than the result of gas. Respond to baby's feeding cues promptly.
o Bottlefeeding - Babies usually swallow more air when drinking from a bottle. When using bottles, use the slowest-flow nipples so baby doesn't get overwhelmed with the milk flow. To reduce air swallowing, keep baby at about a 45 degree angle (rather than lying down), make sure baby has a good seal on the base of the nipple, and keep the bottle tilted so the neck & nipple are filled with milk. There are also varieties of bottles that aim to reduce air swallowing. Don't let baby suck on an empty bottle. Burp baby more often if he seems to be swallowing too much air.
* Overabundant milk supply. See Too Much Milk?
* Thrush can cause gassiness in babies.
* Babies who skip several days between stools tend to be gassier. Older breastfed babies (after the first 6-8 weeks) can go several days without a stool. Ten days or more is not uncommon! The long periods between stools in a baby who is obviously thriving is not a cause for concern if the baby's abdomen remains soft, baby is content and alert, and the stool is soft and profuse if several days have gone by.
* Sensitivity to something in mother's diet, including any vitamin/iron supplements, etc. See Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies. If this is the reason, you will most likely notice other symptoms, such as excessive spitting up or vomiting, colic, diarrhea, rash, persistent congestion or runny nose.
* Anything that baby is eating/drinking other than mother's milk, including vitamins, formula, teas, medications or herbs, solids, juice. Any substance (other than breastmilk) has a much greater potential to increase gassiness rather than reduce it.
* Formula feeding tends to cause more gas and digestive upset for most babies because it is not specific to the human baby. Formula-fed babies overall tend to spit up more, be constipated more, have more gas, be more colicky, have more intestinal illnesses, etc. Remember, too, that supplementation most always undermines your milk supply and may result in premature weaning. STOP EATING BURRITOS |
