Hi Moms. My 5 week old baby girl is always very gassy. I can hear her pass gas aka fart loudly from across the room. She is like this through out the day/night. I know when she is getting it out, that is good, that is what I want. But she also gets gas pains, and gets fussy, and I hear the gas in her belly. I give her gas drops and enfamil gentilease formula, which is almost lactose free. I am just wondering if its normal for her to pass gas that is loud and what else I can do to help her not be so gassy. She is eating every 3 hours, but now I am questioning if she is actually hungry on that 3rd hour or if its the gas that is waking her to cry and I am feeding her. I actually hear her farting alot right on the 3rd hour when its her time to eat, its like clock work. Believe it or not, I have 3 other children. My next youngest is 6, so I am feeling like a first time mom all over again. But I have never experienced this. Or at least I don't remember it. lol. I also should say that I am using all avent bottles, so if you can lead me to something that worked better for you I am willing to try it. Thanks in advance for all advice.
My only advice is to try using Dr. Brown's bottles. We tried Avent when my girls were younger and had no luck with them but ever since we started the Dr. Brown's system we've had no spit up or gas issues. I also would add the recommended dose of Mylicon to their bedtime bottles. If it continues, it may be the formula that is causing all the gas.
Try different bottles. My first daughter had gas really bad til i switched her to Platex ventair. My cousin and few playgroup moms loved Dr. Brown's. Baby will and can pass surprising loud gas. But if it is occuring in a pattern then something is up. Try the bottles first adn then talk to the doctor about formula, like ones that are more broken down and easier to digest.
I had the smae problem with my daughter and I too gave her the genteleesfrom infamil the drops and I used the same bottles. My friend suggested I put her on her back and soflt and slowly rub her belly in a circular motion downward to relieve the gas and it helped alot it even helped her have a good bowl movment which could also be some of the reason for the stomach discomfort. Also try putting your hand palm down on his belly then take your other hand make a fist and lightly nock on your hand and if it sounds hollow then you know there is alot of gas build up. Try these and let me know if they work for you they did for me. I still; use them on her now and she's 2.
Email Dr. Bob Sears - askdrsears.com - go buy his book, Happy Baby. He is a great source for your answer!
I completely understand your pain! My son is 7 weeks and was the same way a few weeks ago! We switched to Simulac RS, a more gentler formula, and that seemed to help. You may want to try a Dr. Browns bottle to see if that helps with the bubbles. We still have to work really hard to get those burps, but he doesn't seem to have as much painful gas. (Also- he had thrush, a yeast infection in his mouth that was causing a lot of gas..........Beware if she has a diaper rash that doesn't seem to go away no matter what creams you use or white patches in the sides of her mouth and tongue.)
I was so desperate to help my son........I bought that 'Baby Fart Aerobics' DVD. I wouldn't say it's worth the money, but it showed a few little exercises you can help your baby do. "Bicycle" her little legs.........push them in and out..... lift her legs up like you're changing her diaper...... massage her belly in a clockwise motion and then pick her up to let her stretch her legs.
Sometimes gripe water would help....... it has chamomille in it. (Baby's Bliss is sold at CVS, Whole Foods, Winn Dixie)
two things that work great and are all natural are Catnip & Fennel Herb and Slippery Elm. The Slippery Elm tastes like maple syrup and can be given orally to help your baby. it eases gas pains and also fills them up a little more than just breast milk. so you may be able to skip that last feeding. :) let me know if you want anymore information. take care.
gastric issues are my business!
my mamasource listing: http://www.mamasource.com/business/14059862321568677889
first of all: FORGET the word LACTOSE!
lactose is milk sugar & it is extremely RARE for a baby to be lactose intolerant!
the words you are looking for are:
MILK PROTEIN
your baby sounds like she cannot tolerate MILK PROTEIN.
it may be an intolerance or an allergy.
either way, try alimentum or nurtrimigen. give these a GOOD TWO WEEKS. if after 2 weeks there are still gastric issues, then it's time for neocate or elecare...
you CAN get insurance to cover it. it might be a fight, but you CAN do it.
My daughter passed through the same horrible nights of crying and stretching. I was really getting crazy at that time. However, since I started babies magic tea, all going well with my LO.
Some gas is normal but if it seems overly uncomfortable for her and she's in a lit if distress definately consult a physician. If she's happy, eating and making wet and dirty diapers then she will probably get past this in time as her gut matures. Remember, formula us a very foreign food to a newborn baby...something they wouldn't naturally eat, so it takes some babies longer than others for their digestive system to try to adjust to such a foreign food. If it carries on for too long she may have an issue with the cows milk protein as cows milk and soy are typical allergens.
Hang in there and watch her.... See how she's feeling and seek a professional as needed. Also burp her a lot, several times throughout each feeding and avoid putting her down flat after eating so that gas can get out as needed. Definately feed at least every 3 hours.... Thats the max, she really should not go longer and try to feed her well before she cries for food. If she starts crying then she's sucking in air and will eat more quickly, both can cause gas.
Best wishes! I hope she's feeling less gassy soon!
It's possible that your daughter could have acid reflux. Check out the book "Colic Solved". Even if it's not reflux, the book may have some tips for you. Hope this helps.
Hi, J.. Well, when a newborn or even an older baby farts, it's normal for it to be loud because a baby doesn't try to hide the sound, since he or she doesn't have any embarassment about farting. So don't worry about the volume of the fart.
I suspect that your baby isn't getting a good, tight seal on the nipple when she nurses, and that's giving her extra gas. Make sure that when she's nursing, that the nipple goes straight into her mouth, and that if she turns her head, that the nipple continues to go straight in through her lips. You also should burp her every minute or so, more than you might think is necessary, in order to get the gas up so that it cannot accumuluate in her stomach.
It's possible that the formula, even thought it is supposed to be gentler, is causing the gas. If it's made from soy, it can do that. Soy causes gas in adults, as do many products made from vegetable sources. Try her on something that is free from soy, but possibly lactose-reduced. It's possible that she's allergic to soy itself.
My son is 29 years old, so I'm not up to date on all the modern bottle nipples, but I used the Nuk nipple on his reliefe bottles, and this helped eliminate not only gas from bottles, but also it gave him a better sucking experience. I don't know what else is available, but I was happy with Nuk nipples.
Also, make sure that both the water you use for the formula and the bottles and nipples are STERILE. I made the mistake of not using sterile things, and I had a week-long screaming colic fit to live through, not to mention how much it must have hurt my little boy.
I hope everything turns out alright, and your baby becomes comfortable with her formula.
Peace,
Syl
Also, try giving her water if you suspect that she's just nursing in order to suck.
Gas means she is not digesting what you are feeding her. The"food" is rotting in her intestines,so additionally she is malnourished.
There is a barley grain recipe for high protien easy to digest formula, send me a request and I'll send it to you.
Check Weston Price foundation, but really the best idea is to get her off that formula and get her on some real food that she can grow on and seriously isn't rotting inside her.
And well done for paying attention- her body is trying to tell you something. You have the big clue(gas) that something needs to be changed.
best,k
My advice would be to either switch your baby girl to soy formula or Nutramigen in order to get the milk protein out of her system. She may have a problem with soy protein too, but I would try that first. Google MSPI (Milk Soy Protein Intolerance) and get more information. Bottom line is that her digestive system just isn't ready and able to digest milk proteins yet. It's VERY common. Good luck!!
My baby had the same problem. I am nursing and was using soy formula. I asked her ped and she said to cut dairy out of my diet. I did and it seemd to help. Talk to her ped and ask what you can do. She may suggest trying anotehr formula.
Hi J.-
Babies have underdeveloped digestive systems and gas is one of the outcomes. Many times formula will enhance this issue, even if it is the kind that is supposed to prevent it! Your baby's digestive system will catch up and the gas will subside over time. Feeding every three hours is necessary with a baby that young, so don't extend it any longer than that!
Another issue is bottle feeding can cause a lot of air to be swallowed. One thing you can do to help her is to make sure you burp her frequently during feedings. Sometimes if you don't the air gets trapped and comes out the other end!
If you have major concerns, consult your pediatrician about it.
Hope this helps.
K.
