Gas is a common complaint among breastfeeding newborns in their first few months. Excess gas can cause distress and discomfort for baby. With some gentle techniques, breastfeeding parents can help soothe their gassy baby.
What Causes Breastfed Baby Gas?
Several factors can contribute to gas in a breastfed newborn’s digestive system:
- Swallowing air during feeding. As babies feed quickly, they tend to swallow air along with breastmilk which gets trapped in their immature digestive system.
- Certain components in breastmilk. Some mothers’ milk contains higher amounts of oligosaccharides (prebiotics) which ferment in baby’s gut, producing gas.
- Immature digestive system. A newborn’s intestines are not fully developed to efficiently process and expel milk, air and waste.
- Fussiness at breast. If a baby roots, sucks and pulls restlessly at the breast, they are more likely to swallow excess air.
- Not burping frequently enough. Trapped air needs to be brought up and released through burping during and after feeds.
Treatments for Breastfed Baby Gas
Try these natural remedies to relieve gassy discomfort:
Burp Frequently
Burp the baby 5-10 minutes into the first breast, then every 5 minutes or after they pause feeding. Light patting or gentle rubbing their back may help them burp.
Turn to Tummy Time
Placing baby tummy down across your lap for a few minutes allows gravity to shift gas pockets in their belly upwards. Use a warm cloth over their back for comfort.
Perform Baby Massage
Gently massage baby’s back, belly and sides in circular motions before and after feeds. This helps relax their muscles and encourages gas bubbles to move through the digestive tract.
Bicycle Their Legs
Lying baby on their back, slowly lift one leg up towards their chest then switch and repeat with the other leg. This mimics the motion of pedalling to relieve gas.
Feed While Upright
Hold baby in a more upright position when breastfeeding rather than laying them back fully. This prevents swallowed air from getting trapped as easily.
Check Latch
Make sure baby has a wide-open mouth, more areola is visible above than below, and listens/swallows rhythmically when latching on. A poor latch can cause them to swallow excess air.
Try to Reduce Crying
If possible, soothe baby with skin-to-skin contact, gentle rocking or using a pacifier to avoid excessive crying which causes them to swallow extra air.
Consider Over-the-Counter Remedies
Things like infant probiotics, gripe water or gas relief drops may be helpful when used alongside other techniques. Discuss options with your pediatrician first.
Watch for Food Triggers
Track anything new you ate that seemed to cause more gas afterwards. Dairy, cruciferous veggies or spicy foods are common trigger foods for some babies until their immature gut matures more. Your diet may need adjusting.
Consistency is key when using these natural remedies. Allow time for burping, massage and other practices to fully soothe baby and pass excess gas through their system. Seek medical advice if signs of colic are present or discomfort persists unusually. With patience, gassiness should subside as baby’s tummy control strengthens.
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