Gas in babies
They lead to stomach pain, cause your baby general discomfort, and keep you on your toes: bloating. You probably didn't imagine the first time with your little explorer like this. However, bloating in babies is not that uncommon and can usually be easily explained. In this article, we will tell you where the bloating in your baby comes from, how it manifests, and how you can relieve your baby's discomfort.
Why do babies suffer from bloating and stomach pain?
In the first days of life and -months of your baby, quite a lot is happening: your little explorer grows , gets used to his new environment and slowly but surely also develops cognitive abilities . In addition to the development you can see with the naked eye, many other developmental steps are taking place in your baby's small body – including the Changes and adjustments of the intestine . They can especially cause bloating in your baby during the first 3 to 5 months of life, making life difficult for both him and you. Understandable, because who likes to see their baby suffer?
In the womb, your baby was supplied with all essential nutrients via the . This was an easy task for the digestive system. Once your child is born and you are breastfeeding or giving formula, the gastrointestinal tract faces entirely new challenges: the breast milk or infant formula must be digested – and this, despite the fact that the stomach and intestines have undergone many changes in recent weeks and will continue to do so:
The digestive tract is already almost fully developed in the 35th week of pregnancy . Nevertheless, after birth, the intestinal loops must realign.
Only after birth is the baby's gut colonized with important gut bacteria. This is ensured by the intake of food.
From about the age of 4 months, a baby's gastrointestinal tract can digest solid foods.
Your child's gut flora will only be fully developed from the age of 3.
All these adjustments can cause your baby to be especially troubled by colic during the first three months of life.
Another trigger for your baby's flatulence is that newborns are currently swallow a lot of air – whether during crying or feeding. If too much air enters the stomach and intestines, it leads to stomach pain. But also in the Switching from breast milk or infant formula to complementary foods the baby's gut initially has to get its bearings. This can also lead to bloating. However, the misconception we can dispel is that food intolerances in breastfed infants develop through the mother's diet and cause bloating. Nevertheless, it is possible that your baby has intolerances. You should have this medically checked.
How can I recognize gas in my baby?
That your baby is struggling with gas clearly shows – and audibly so. Because the loud and frequent crying Your baby's is probably the first thing you notice. But who could blame them? Bloating also causes great annoyance in us adults. Another symptom of bloating in babies is a hard stomach – the typical bloating, which you can feel well. A possible sign is also when your baby the Bends legs close to the body and repeatedly pushes forward with a jolt. With this, little explorers try to let the air escape on their own.
If your baby cries especially in the first three months of life and struggles mainly at night with gas, you will sooner or later come across the term This regulation disorder manifests as frequent crying episodes without an apparent cause. It is still often said that gas and stomach pain are the reason for the so-called 3-month colic. However, medical professionals today believe that only about 5 percent of crying babies suffer from digestive problems and therefore loudly complain about their discomfort. More likely, the crying associated with the regulation disorder actually triggers the stomach pain. This is because your baby swallows too much air, which then becomes noticeable in the intestines.
In case of these symptoms, medical advice is recommended
Especially in the first few months as a new mother or father, you may not always be able to accurately assess your baby's discomfort. That's why you're completely right to consult a doctor in case of persistent bloating. see a doctor or to ask your midwife for advice. Even if the complaints do not indicate a serious cause, medical advice can help you provide targeted home remedies for your baby. If they occur in addition to the bloating, the following symptoms Yes, you should definitely have your baby examined:
Your baby has no appetite and is increasingly refusing the breast or bottle.
Your little explorer is gaining weight very slowly.
The stool of your baby changes in both consistency and color. Diarrhea or constipation are not uncommon.
Elevated temperature or fever occurs in combination with bloating.
What helps against my baby's bloated belly?
The good news is: simple home remedies can help your baby and relieve their discomfort. Some of these tips and tricks directly address possible causes of bloating, while other remedies mainly aim to alleviate your baby's acute symptoms:
-
Make a burp after drinking : It sounds so simple, but it has a great effect. When your baby burps after feeding, the swallowed air can escape immediately and doesn't reach the intestines at all. The best way is to hold your little explorer calmly in your crook of the arm, with the head over your shoulder, and support the neck and shoulders with your fingers. By gently patting your baby's back with the hollow of your hand, you also help with burping.
-
Stir the bottle, do not shake : This is how you prevent the milk from becoming too frothy and causing your little explorer's stomach ache.
-
Correct positioning during breastfeeding The nipple should be fully enclosed with the mouth so that your baby does not swallow too much air.
-
Relieve bloating with heat : What works for adults also works for babies. Prepare a warm compress and place it on your baby's tummy for a few hours. The best option is a warm, damp washcloth, but it should not be too hot. Also, special Grain pillow for babies can be helpful for bloating. If unsure, it's best to ask your midwife for tips.
-
Abdominal massage with fennel-anise-caraway oil : The oil has a calming effect on the intestines and thus helps to combat the rumbling in your baby's stomach. During the tummy massage, you can initially gently stroke your baby's belly in a clockwise direction with the flat of your hand. Especially pleasant for little explorers is to then slowly move your fingertips in a clockwise direction over the belly. Circling the legs or the kicking movements, which mimic cycling, can also please your baby and relieve stomach pain.
In the video, LILLYDOO midwife Sissi shows you how the massage works and provides additional tips for colic relief in babies:
-
Fencheltee zur Beruhigung des Magens und der Därme : Fennel has digestive-promoting, antispasmodic, and calming effects. That is exactly what your baby needs right now. From the 6th month onwards, when it is already Solid foods if necessary, you can give him small amounts of fennel tea. If your baby is younger than 6 months, we recommend that you first consult your pediatrician to find out if your baby is allowed to drink fennel tea and, if so, what amounts are advisable.
-
Hold : At Hold Are you aiming to relieve your baby's acute pain and help with digestion? You can use either a bowl or a specially designed potty for bowel movements. Hold your baby in your arms so that their back is supported against your stomach. Your hands should be placed in your baby's knee hollows and lightly on their thighs. This way, your little explorer is sitting directly over the bowl. If you now make a gentle "s" sound, it will be easier for your child to urinate and also pass stool.
-
Carrying in a sling : Do you carry your baby in the Baby carrier , has several advantages. On the one hand, your little explorer can burp in an upright position. On the other hand, the movement your baby feels through you promotes their digestion.
-
Hold in the flying grip : The Aircraft handle has proven effective in relieving stomach pain in babies. The relaxing position, where you hold your baby on your arm in a tummy-down position and gently rock it back and forth, provides quick relief from bloating.
LILLYDOO's Tips: How to Understand and Prevent Baby Gas
Sometimes it helps to keep track of your little explorer's drinking habits. Then you might suddenly notice patterns in the bloating and possibly even draw conclusions about the trigger for the painful stomach ache. For this, you can, for example, use a kind of Keep a diary , in which you document over a certain period, what your baby has taken in when . You can also note the time when the symptoms occur here. If your baby's bloating does not subside over a longer period, such a diary can also help your pediatrician to find the cause of the bloating.
The impact of different
Most importantly: Give yourself and your baby time, because stress can also have a negative impact on bowel activity. Understandably, the bloating and its discomfort are a burden for both your little explorer and you. But you radiate Calm and serenity out, your baby will feel it too. No matter what helps your baby with colic: we're keeping our fingers crossed that the annoying stomach pains will end soon and that you can finally enjoy your family life again without worries.