Dr Rohit Kiran Cherukuri

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What Causes My Infant to Be Gassy? - Causes, Signs, and Treatments

Catagory: General Pediatrician    Author: Dr Rohit Kiran Cherukuri
What-Causes-My-Infant-to-Be-Gassy-Causes-Signs-and-Treatments

Every new parent’s worst fear comes true: your kid is gassy and won’t stop screaming, and you have no clue what to do.

Baby gas may result from anything from food intolerance to underlying medical conditions, but there are a number of things parents can do at home to lessen the pain and help the baby feel more at ease. In this thorough instruction, learn how to get rid of your baby’s flatulence!

Why is my infant becoming so bloated?

 

Because their digestive systems are still growing, babies are more likely to experience stomach pain. Typically, between the ages of 4 and 6 months, babies experience gas.

When a baby is uncomfortable, communicating is difficult for them. Fussiness or sobbing are the most typical symptoms.

Their little bellies could sometimes be bloated as well. Your kid may have reflux or GERD if they have been spitting up after meals (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

If a mother’s diet is lacking in vegetables, fruits, and fiber-rich foods like whole grains and legumes, her breastfed baby may also have gas.

Because their digestive systems develop more slowly than those of breastfed newborns, babies who are given formula may experience gas. Infants who are given formula may require some time for their intestinal flora to thrive.

What symptoms and indicators are present in newborns with gas?

 

Infants’ gas symptoms may range from minor to severe. Gas may sometimes just result in little pain, such as fussiness or weeping.

Sometimes it might be so bad that your baby can have respiratory problems. The following are the most typical indications that your infant has gas:

  1. Fidgeting or sobbing
  2. Bloating or abdominal distention
  3. Prolonged belching
  4. Passing a lot of rotten-smelling stools (meconium).
  5. When burping, gas bubbles come out of the mouth.
  6. Having difficulty passing stools.
  7. Constipation and gas-related abdominal discomfort.
  8. A sudden shift in their usual sleeping pattern or habit, such as a lack of appetite or a dislike of nursing or milk consumption
  9. Vomiting that could be mucus-containing.
  10. Chest discomfort.
  11. Difficulty swallowing liquids because to throat air bubbles.

The severity and age of your child’s gas pains will determine the appropriate course of therapy.

When they pass their meconium stool, which normally occurs during the first week of life if they are a newborn, you may wish to burp them after each meal.

Grip water or Mylicon drops before sleep could provide some comfort for older infants. Please get medical advice before giving your infants any medication.

How should a gassy baby be relieved?

 

A few tried-and-true techniques may assist calm a gassy baby or possibly prevent difficulties from arising in the first place.

Burping your infant properly may help ease the pain that often results from an oversupply of gas in the stomach. It’s crucial to understand that not all newborns need a burp after every meal. However, if your baby is irritable or exhibits other signs like spitting up or arching their back when they scream, you may want to burp them more often, even in between meals.

Feeding your kid before they have a tantrum may be a smart idea if your child often has gas problems. Be aware of hunger before a breakdown since young children may gasp for breath while weeping and get nauseous.

During the process of digesting meals, if they are hungry, the gas will be expelled. Additionally, you should consult with their physician to ensure that there isn’t an underlying issue like lactose intolerance or a protein intolerance from cow’s milk that requires additional therapy.

Encourage baby to spend time on his or her stomach to alleviate gas – Babies spend most of the day in an upright posture. They could swallow more air than required as a result of this infant taking a lot of air when he consumes anything other than breast milk or formula. By allowing your baby to breathe deeply and move his intestines as necessary during tummy time, you may assist your baby to expel gas.

The best posture for your baby to be in when feeding reduces the likelihood that they will be gassy. Try to keep your child in a more upright position. They will be able to avoid ingesting as much air thanks to this. Sitting on a chair and holding the infant on your lap is one technique to do this.

Exercises on a bicycle to alleviate newborn gas – Exercises on a bicycle might be a simple and fast approach to assist release gas. Although there are several variants, the fundamental concept is to have the infant lay on their back with their knees bent and to lift one knee toward their chest while dragging the other leg downward. For two to three minutes, keep doing this.

Does breastfeeding give my child gas?

 

There is some evidence that what mom eats may make infants who are nursing gassy, although the data is not very strong.

Try adjusting a few other aspects of breastfeeding before making drastic dietary changes, such as improving latch, burping the infant twice between feedings, and moving to a new nipple or bottle if you are pumping.

Cut out any foods that seem to be causing gassiness in your breastfed infant, and maintain a journal to identify any possible food sensitivities. Among the foods that may cause gassiness are:

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, dairy items as well as eggs. dishes that are too spicy, garlicky, or onion-heavy.

Numerous factors might make you feel gassy. Most of the time it’s innocuous, but sometimes it could indicate a more severe problem. The good news is that most of the time there are easy fixes that can minimise or completely get rid of gas.

However, if your baby has been weeping for a long time, becoming red, and showing no signs of recovery, it might be something more severe, and your baby needs to see a physician for a checkup.