Infant Gas
All babies have gas. But some produce more gas than others and this may be a sign of excessive gas or problems with the stomach, large or small intestines or even a case of indigestion. Usually gas is produced after the first few sips of mommy’s breast milk and is simple the process of your baby’s digestive system going through the motions. Some babies pass gas easier than others so don’t panic if your baby has difficulty at first.
Newborn gas is a natural byproduct of digesting lactose, proteins and other nutrients found in breast milk and baby formula. When newborn babies have gas it is often from the mother’s diet during pregnancy and right before birth. Remember, whatever goes inside you is going inside your baby too. Gas-producing foods such as vegetables and legumes can easily lead to gas in your baby. Doctors and pediatricians recommend avoiding excessive acidity in the maternal diet to reduce the amount of gas your baby will develop. Examples of foods that are high in acidity include fruit juices, particularly strawberries and vegetables such as tomatoes. Other foods that can cause digestive gas include cheese, butter, peanuts, yogurt and ice cream.
Babies can also be affected by over-stimulation and stress which often directly leads to a baby ‘shutting down’ internally which will obviously cause back-ups in the flow of the digestive system. Too much activity, noise, light or multiple people playing and touching with a baby can cause an infant to say ‘enough’ on the inside.
Burping is the best way to reduce gas in a baby. Most experts recommend burping every 3 to 5 minutes during feeding or when you switch breast to nurse an infant. The reason for this is that air bubbles can easily form between the baby’s mouth and either mommy’s nipple or a formula bottle top if too much space is left open. Air bubbles will cause air pockets in the baby’s digestive tract and result in gas. Creating a tight seal between your baby’s lips and the nipple he is suckling will prevent air bubbles from developing.
There are a variety of treatments for newborn gas. Make sure you consult your doctor or pediatrician before trying any of the following products. If burping, rest and a change in your babies diet don’t seem to be reducing the amount of gas he is producing you may try doses of Simethicone – a foaming agent that binds gas bubbles so they can be released easier during burping, Sodium Bicarbonate – a baking soda formula that counteracts the PH of stomach acid, essential oils and herbal extracts including dill and fennel or homeopathic treatments including gripe water that is allergen-free and side-effect free.