Most breast-fed babies are at the peak of their infant gassiness between the ages of 3 to 6 weeks. This is completely normal, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Gas cramps and bloating make your baby uncomfortable and fussy, so learning how to deal with your baby's excess gas can help you make her more comfortable. Breastfed babies are prone to gassiness for various reasons; once you isolate the cause it's easier to prevent and treat the gas for a happier, more content baby.
Symptoms
A breastfed baby has similar symptoms of gassiness as a baby who eats formula. You'll know when your baby has gas because she'll pull her legs up to her abdomen, cry after feedings, particular if she is not burped, and has a tightened belly. You'll often hear the sounds of a gassy baby as she struggles to pass gas to relieve the cramps and bubbles in her digestive system.
Causes
Gas in a breastfed baby has two general causes. The first is poor eating habits and excitement before feeding. If you wait until your baby is hungry and crying to breastfeed, your eager-to-eat baby is more likely to swallow air, which is then pushed through the digestive system during the eating process.
The second reason for gas in a breastfed baby has to do with your diet. While the food that causes you to feel gassy won't likely have a bearing on your baby's intestinal tract, dairy products can cause gassiness, thanks to the lactose passed from mother to baby, lactation consultant Jan Barger notes on the BabyCenter website. Lactose is difficult for your baby's immature digestive system to digest, causing gas and stomach cramps.
Treatment
If your baby is showing the symptoms of excess gas in the digestive system, you have the power to help relieve some of the pain and discomfort. Lie your baby on a blanket and place two fingers underneath her belly button. Exert gentle pressure until your baby begins pressing against your fingers. This helps your baby to more easily pass gas and relieve discomfort. Ensuring that your baby has regular bowel movements also helps to keep gas moving through the intestines properly without becoming trapped. If your baby doesn't have a bowel movement after a week, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician, since your baby could be constipated.
Prevention
Prevention is the best way to make gas less of a problem for your breastfed baby. To cut down on the amount of air she swallows before and during a feeding, feed her just as she begins to get hungry, rather than waiting for her to cry. When feeding, ensure she has a sealed latch over the entire areola to avoid taking in air as she sucks. Burp her frequently to help release trapped air, then continue feeding.
If you suspect a dairy-rich diet is the course of your baby's tummy troubles, try taking dairy out of your diet for a day or two and assess the difference. If your baby's gas diminishes considerably, substitute soy for milk products in your own diet until your baby's digestive system matures and can better process lactose. If changing your eating habits doesn't work, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician. If your baby's gas is accompanied by constant spitting up and painful waking in the night, she could have reflux, a disorder which causes food to be regurgitated back into the esophagus after eating.
References
- Babies Today; Gas Pains and Babies; Carma Haley Shoemaker
- KellyMom; My Baby Is Gassy. Is This Caused by Something in My Diet?; Kelly Bonyata, B.S.
- BabyCenter; Will My Breastfed Baby Get Gas if I Eat Certain Foods?; Jan Barger
- "American Baby" magazine; Baby Gas Pains; Alan Greene, M.D.
- DrGreene.com; Babies and Constipation; Alan Greene, M.D.; Oct. 6, 1997
