Frequently Asked Questions About Breastfeeding And Gassy Babies
Breastmilk is made from what passes into moms blood, not what is in her stomach or digestive track. Below are a few common questions that moms have about breastfeeding and gassy babies.
Can drinking carbonated sodas cause gas in baby? No. For something to pass into your milk, it must first pass into your bloodstream. Its the carbonation in sodas, etc. that can cause gas in mom. The bubbles in a carbonated drink cannot pass into your milk and affect baby. If this could happen, youd have carbonated blood and carbonated milk!
If mom is gassy, can that make baby gassy? No. Gas in moms body cannot pass into breastmilk.
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Ask Your Pediatrician About Other Options
Breastfeeding moms can try drinking chamomile tea themselves to relieve baby’s gas. How well it works is still up for debate.
Another possible remedy to ask your doctor about is probiotic drops, which could reduce gas pain and digestive problems in babies and also quiet their cries. Research has yet to consistently back this up, however.
Gassy Baby Signs And Symptoms
All babies, of course, pass a little gas. But look for these signs and symptoms of baby gas that’s more than just the usual:
- Your baby cries and is fussy for an hour or more a day. This can be a sign of normal newborn gassiness that comes with having a tiny, underdeveloped digestive system. But you should still check in with your pediatrician if it happens every day and doesn’t seem to get better.
- Your baby seems unhappy most of the time. This can indicate that you have an especially gassy baby who needs a bit more help. Gas that causes significant upset often indicates a problem beyond typical gassiness.
- Your baby isn’t eating or sleeping well.Trouble with sleeping or eating can have a whole range of causes, but infant gas may be one of them, especially if there are other signs. Talk to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
- Your baby cries often and seems like he might be in pain.
- Your baby squirms as though he’s uncomfortable and pulls his legs up to his chest, especially during bouts of fussiness.
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Adjust Your Bottle Technique
Bottle-fed babies can ingest a lot of bubbles. To combat this, tilt the bottle at an angle that fills the entire nipple with milk. “Otherwise your baby will suck in air,” Dr. Shu says. “More swallowed air means potentially more gas.”
If you use powdered formula, let the bottle settle first before giving it to your baby. Shaking and mixing often causes the bottle to be piled high with bubbles on top of the actual formula. You may also consider using a ready-made formula for gassy babies, as well as specially vented bottles that may reduce the number of bubbles.
Baby Gas Prevention And Treatment
Baby gas is normal, but may be a nuisance if your baby is uncomfortable. Babies get gas because their intestines less mature and arent used to feeding. In addition, babies may swallow excess air while feeding or crying.
How can you tell if your baby has gas? All babies get gas. Babies pass gas frequently and this is normal. It may be very obviousyou notice bloating, flatulence, and fussiness. If your baby fusses, turns red, or cries for several seconds with gas, this is not terribly worrisome. If your baby cries excessively and is very gassy, this may indicate a different problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux or an infection. If this happens to your baby, consult your doctor immediately.
How to Keep Gas Away and Make Your Baby Comfortable
Feed your baby at a 45 degree angle. In other words, dont have your babys head low while feeding. Keeping your babys head at an inclined angle helps aid digestion and reduces gas.
Try smaller, more frequent feedings. If your baby is bottle-feeding , try giving him a smaller quantity on a more frequent basis. Smaller more frequent feeds help reduce spitting up and large quantity feeding, which can both cause of gas.
Breast milk helps improve intestinal immunity and reduce gas. Work to ensure that your baby latches for at least fifteen to twenty minutes at each feed. By latching longer, he will get the thicker hind milk, which reduces spitting up and, subsequently, gas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Gas
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What To Do If Your Breastfed Baby Is Gassy
For the most part, baby gas isn’t something to be concerned about. In the vast majority of cases, a little gas is completely normal and doesn’t bother most babies. Chances are you can eat what you want without upsetting your baby’s tummy.
However, you may want to try one of the following tactics if your gassy breastfed baby seems to be uncomfortable or colicky, cries for no discernable reason, or consistently has a challenging witching hour.
Is It Gas Or Colic
A baby who cries more often than is typical and is highly difficult to soothe may be experiencing colic. Colic means more crying. More crying means more air is being swallowed. That means, you guessed it, more gas.
A baby with colic may well be a gassy baby, but a baby who is gassy isnt necessarily a colicky baby, Dr. Sniderman says.
About 10% of babies have colic. Babies with colic will cry often and for long stretches of time. A rule of thumb, Dr. Sniderman says, is that babies with colic are less than three months old and will cry for at least three hours a day, at least three times per week. Babies with colic are generally not consoled by feeding, diaper changing, rocking or other go-to baby soothing methods, including gas relief.
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Give Your Baby Tummy Massages
Gently massaging your babys tummy throughout the day can help to move things along in their bodiesjust be sure to wait at least 30 minutes after a feed and pay attention to their responses to know if what youre doing has worked or if you need to lessen the pressure. You can try specific techniques, such as rubbing clockwise , and some parents swear by baby massage oils that contain ingredients like chamomile.
Doing Bicycle Kicks To Ease Gassy Baby
Although choosing the right bottle nipple and giving your baby infant probiotics are good for preventing gas, some good old-fashioned bicycle kicks can help your baby during a gassy flare-up.
To perform this move, follow these simple steps:
- Lay your baby on a soft blanket on the floor
- Sit in front of your baby and move your babys legs as if he was on a bicycle
This is a great opportunity to bond with your baby, gaze into his eyes, and sing a few nursery songs.
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Talk To Your Doctor About A Possible Formula Ingredient Intolerance
If youre formula feeding and baby seems gassy — even when you take other steps to reduce gas, or even try a gentle formula — baby may have an intolerance to a formula ingredient.
Food intolerances cause baby to develop GI symptoms, including gassiness, loose or abnormal stools, and abdominal pain, when baby eats foods that they are sensitive to.
Most commonly, if baby has a formula intolerance, its caused by cows milk in the formula. They could have an intolerance to lactose or to milk proteins.
If you think baby has a formula intolerance, talk to your doctor. Switching to an extensively hydrolyzed formula, like Nutramigen or Alimentum, may ease your little ones symptoms. These formulas contain milk proteins that are broken down into very small parts . They are also free of lactose.
But dont switch formulas until youve talked to your doctor about babys possible intolerance, and theyve given you the ok to switch.
Consider Baby Gas Drops
Like gripe water, there is little evidence that gas drops work consistently, but many parents still believe that they are effective. Unlike gripe water, they contain the drug simethicone, which is safe for infants and said to combine small gas bubbles into larger ones that can be passed more easily.
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Spending Time Doing Tummy Time
While youre on the floor doing bicycle kicks, its the perfect time for tummy time! You probably already know that tummy time helps your baby strengthen his neck and core muscles, but the pressure of the floor on your babys tummy can also help alleviate gas.
Tip: Wait at least 20 minutes after feeding before engaging in tummy time to reduce the chance of baby spitting up.
Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water
If your little one is crying from colic, Mommys Bliss Gripe Water is a gentle formula that works quickly to remedy pain. This gripe water contains 100 percent vegan ingredients, including organic ginger and fennel. The herbal mixture also contains no alcohol or parabens, making it a safer option for instant colic, gas, hiccup and teething relief.
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What Can I Do To Help Alleviate Gas In My Breastfed Baby
Apply gentle pressure to your babyâs belly
Tummy Time: This position can put gentle pressure on your babyâs belly, helping to provide gas relief. Wait at least 30 minutes after a feeding to allow your little oneâs belly to settle before starting tummy time.7
Or try a more advanced move â use both hands and a lot of guided support to lay your baby tummy down on a large beach or exercise ball and gently roll her on the ball in a circular motion.
Forearm Hold: Also called the football hold, magic hold, and the colic carry. Try carrying your baby face down with her body resting on your forearm, the front of her diaper area in your hand and her chin cradled in your elbow.9 Make sure to tilt babyâs head to the side to avoid blocking their nose or mouth. Carrying your little one in this face-down position will place the same gentle pressure on their belly that is achieved during tummy time.
Burp your baby during and after a feeding
Take a break between sides or even during a feed to get a burp or two out.8
You may choose to burp your baby while they are in a seated position, with their head supported by the cradle of your hand.17You can also burp your baby in the typical position: upright and over your shoulder.8
Try infant massage on your babyâs tummy for gas relief
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Bicycle your babyâs legs
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Do gas drops like simethicone work?
Wait it out!
How Many Calories Do You Need When You’re Breastfeeding
Your body generally burns around 300 to 500 extra calories a day while you’re breastfeeding depending on whether you’re nursing exclusively or not. If you are, it’s typically up to 450 to 500.
So while you don’t need to be hyper-vigilant about counting calories and consuming more, definitely keep your extra nutritional needs while nursing in mind. If you stayed within your doctor’s recommended weight gain during pregnancy, you shouldn’t have to take in any more or less than that, but check with your practitioner if you’re not sure.
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Switch Out The Bottle And Nipple
Not all bottles and nipples are created equal. Sometimes a nipple size that is too big or a bottle latch that is too shallow can make your baby swallow more air. A slower flow nipple can help your baby control their air intake better as they feed.
You can try out different shaped nipples to see if the latch improves, such as a narrow-based, longer nipple, such as Dr. Browns bottles, or a wider-based, shorter nipples as found on Tommee Tippee bottles, Boone said. You can also try feeding systems meant to help reduce the amount of air swallowed by the baby.
When To Talk To Your Pediatrician About Your Babys Gas
Dr. Sniderman says you should consult your babys doctor if gas is keeping your baby from doing their happy baby things.
If gas is interrupting your babys ability to have a bowel movement or its interrupting their sleep or their feeding, then its a problem, and its time to reach out to your doctor, Dr. Sniderman says.
When you were pregnant, you probably daydreamed of the special moments youd spend with your baby feeding them, bathing them, snappy share-worthy snuggly newborn pics. You probably thought less about the joys brought on by a thunderous burp or a noisy fart. Soon, youll see, though, that when your baby is happy and feeling relieved, those post-gas smiles may just be some of their cutest moments. Get your camera ready.
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When To See A Doctor About Your Baby’s Gas
- Any sudden change in your baby’s behavior.
- If your baby experiences prolonged periods of distress.
- If your baby has frequent, watery bowel movements*
- Before starting on medications or over-the-counter drugs – ask him/her to explain about potential side effects.
- Before changing infant formula
- If your baby develops any unusual symptoms.
* It is very normal for an exclusively breastfed baby to pass frequent watery bowel motions.
Watch For Allergies And Reactions To Something You Ate
In certain cases, if your little one is allergic or reacting to something you ate, removing that item from your diet may be the only way to solve this problem if you want to continue breastfeeding.
Indicators of allergies in babies can vary in intensity and are personal, but theyll go beyond just gassiness. Typically food allergies will appear within a few hours of consuming the allergen. The most common symptoms are:
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Get To Know Windi The Gaspasser
A single-use tube thats touted as a natural reliever for constipation, colic, and other gas-related problems, Windi the Gaspasser will appeal to parents who are looking for an instant solution to their babys gas. Similar to the method of swirling a rectal thermometer to relieve gas, the Windi is a soft, hollow, pliable tube that is inserted into your babys bottom and reaches past the muscle that prevents the release of gas .
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Do Special Infant Formulas Help With Gas
Since gas is made as a normal byproduct of digestion, its impossible to eliminate all gas from being formed. However, there are infant formulas marketed for gassy, fussy babies. These formulas typically are formulated with more digestible proteins or alternative carbohydrate sources.
There is scant evidence to suggest hydrolyzed formula or reduced-lactose formula may decrease gassiness in formula-fed infantsDaelemans S, Peeters L, Hauser B, Vandenplas Y. Recent Advances in Understanding and Managing Infantile Colic. F1000Res. 2018 7. . Most doctors recommend an infant formula be tried for two weeks before making a switch, unless the baby is having a significant worsening of symptoms. Check with your pediatrician to see what they recommend.
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How Much Water To Drink
Aim to drink more water than usual a day, so at least 8 cups along with fluids from fruits, vegetables and other sources. Especially in the weeks after birth, it will help your body recover.
To ensure youre getting enough, a good rule of thumb is to drink a cup of water at every nursing session. In all, you’ll need about 128 ounces of fluids a day from all sources . Your exact needs will depend on different factors like how often you’re breastfeeding, your activity levels and even the weather.
Keep in mind that your milk supply wont be affected unless youre seriously dehydrated, but your urine will become darker and scanter. Not drinking enough can also set you up for health issues including urinary tract infections , constipation and fatigue. So just be sure to drink whenever you’re thirsty, which will likely be often when you’re breastfeeding!
What Causes Breastfed Baby Gas
Before we go any further, its important to note that all babies have immature digestive systems and will need help at some point with getting gas out of their system. So, youre not doing anything wrong if your baby gets gassy.
However, if gas is causing discomfort its worth trying to identify and solve the problem. In order to minimize the problem of breastfed baby gas, youre going to need to know more about the potential causes of it though.
One of the most common ways that babies get gas in their digestive system is by taking in excess air. This can happen when there is:
- Poor latch. If your baby doesnt have a tight seal around the areola, air can get in along with the milk
- Issues with bottle feeding. Air in the nipple can be gulped with the milk.
- Crying. All that gasping can mean extra air is getting swallowed.
- Oversupply/strong letdown. The necessary quick gulping frequently includes some air!
Some gassiness in the form of farts may be more common when your little one begins to space out their bowel movements. There are a few things that may help if your baby is not pooping but passing gas.
Youll probably hear a lot from people who believe that babies can get some of the gaseous effect from foods that were consumed by their mother through breast milk.
Other people believe acidic foods and dairy products in the mothers diet can increase gas for babies.
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