Is there anything i can do to help my baby??

Question

Hi there,

I have a beautiful 3 week old baby girl who was up all night with really bad gas. Is there anything i can do too help her with this? Ive tried rubbing her belly and ive also tried grip water. She is a breastfed baby so i do know to watch what i eat. As in spicy foods and dary products.

Answer 1

give her infacol she would be fine

Answer 2

Unless you have noticed that a specific food item is causing your child's discomfort, there are no real rules for a breastfeeding mother's diet... I ate hot wings, and spicy Thai curry like every week!! And I drink a ton of cow's milk.

What made my daughter gassy, after lots of time eliminating foods one at a time to figure it out, was too much whole wheat in my diet. I had a habit of eating frosted shredded wheat cereal for breakfast, a sandwhich on whole wheat bread for lungh, and then for dinner we often had pasta - the whole wheat kind... after some time my daughter started reacting to it.

Try eliminating foods one at a time from your diet to see what it is specifically. Dairy is the most common cause, but not for all - and spicy foods, garlic, onions, broccoli are myths... I've yet to see anything that supports that one - nor any of the hundred or more breastfeeding women I've met over the last 4 years have reported spices and gassy for the mom foods to cause gas in baby. What is in your digestive system does not affect your milk. It is what is in your blood stream that affects your milk. So things that leak into your blood - like certain proteins are often the cause.
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gassybaby.html

Have you noticed whether or not you have a forceful let down? Does she ever choke when you have a let down, or make clicking sounds while she's drinking?? this is a more likely cause for gassiness than your diet.

this site is awesome for breastfeeding... everything you'd need to know :)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

Answer 3

Also watch out for broccoli and things that normally give YOU gas. It could be too that your daughter just might have trouble adjusting to the world. You might have a sensitive baby. Take more frequent time outs during the day, keep the lights and noise low. Over stimulated babies can cry a lot too as a way of dealing with the stress of constant input. Maybe also your daughter gets hungry quicker because the breast milk is moving quicker through her digestive tract that some babies. There are many many things that contribute to a baby crying excessively. They make bassinets that vibrate, it might help to soothe her. Or take her for a car ride without the music on, the motion may put her to sleep.

Answer 4

They have infant Mylicon drops for gas, or you can pump their legs like they're riding a bicycle. If none of these work then you might be eating something that your baby could be allergic to. My cousin's wife breastfed and she tried to stay away from all the allergen foods.

Eggs, peanut butter, strawberries, and for some baby's milk and milk products. Also seafoods may be an allergen for some. I would ask your child's doctor about what could be causing it. Or if you are eating any of these things try not to eat them or eat less of them. You could also express your breast milk before you eat those foods.

Good luck! I hope your baby gets better.

Answer 5

Mylecon is gas medicine for infants. I was worried about giving it to her when she didn't need it, but the doctor said it doesn't go into her bloodstream, so it will not harm her. Try Mylecon, put her on her belly on a warm towel (fresh out of the dryer) and rub her back.

It may not be gas at all, though. At 3 weeks, she might just be crying because she misses the womb! Swaddle her tightly and see if that helps.

Answer 6

Caffeine in my breastmilk caused my baby to have bad gas.
Here are some tips for you.
1.Hold your baby across your lap and massage his or her back.
2.Hold your baby on top of a running dishwasher, washing machine or dryer (don't leave your baby alone).
3.Hold your baby upright. This will help if your baby has gas.
4.Feed your baby more often and less at a time.
5.Place a warm water bottle on your baby's stomach (make sure it's not too hot).
6.Rock your baby in a rocking chair or cradle.
7.Put your baby in a wind-up swing (make sure your baby can support his or her head).
8.Give your baby a warm bath.
9.Give your baby a pacifier.
10.Gently rub your baby's stomach.
11.Wrap your baby in a soft blanket.
12.Put your baby in a stroller and go for a walk.
13.Go for a drive with your baby in the car seat.
14.Here's a picture of the "colic hold", which I found really helped my daughter. http://www.pdesigns.com/Home/One/colic.jpg

Answer 7

Have you tried laying her on her tummy, perhaps across your lap? This can be a relief for them.

Also, this may sound patronising, but I learnt this through experience - are you certain you are sitting her upright *enough* to burp her? I knew you had to sit babies up, but where they are so new and their bodies are still a bit scrunched up, they are often curled up still, although upright, and this is no good.

My mum showed me to sit my daughter on one leg, lowered below the other one, so she could be supported on the other, more raised leg (sat on my leg like a bench, not across it like a horse, if ytou see what I mean....!) with her arms over the higher leg and then you can adjust your legs to really stretch the body straight - the rib cage has to be pushed forward, apparently, for the best burps!

I have never had a problem burping either of my girls since doing this as the only method of burping.

Good luck - it's horrible to see them distressed, isn't it.

Answer 8

Gripe water worked for us sometimes, and when it didn't we used mylecon. I wasn't sure I wanted to give my little one a 'drug', but the doctor said it was safe and it actually helped. I used it only in emergencies.

Bicycling the legs to help with gas can help too. Being on her back, may make the gas pain worse, so turn her on her side or tummy (over your shoulder, on your arm, in your lap). This will also help if she has acid reflux (turn her to her left side--this has something to do with what side of her body that her stomach is on...I can't remember exact details on that right now).

With my son, if I put my hand on his tummy and bent him forward (face toward toes), with just slight pressure, it would make him burp and feel better.

Hope this helps--good luck!

And congrats on your new little one!

Answer 9

Get Mylacon Gas Drops for infants and you will see a difference in about 1 hour.

Answer 10

infants friend (from chemist) helped my little girl and in another week you can use infacol from the supermarket with the baby products isle. Both are good, but some babies are just naturally windy because their bellies haven't done anything like this before and it feels strange.
Good luck, hope you are getting some sleep.

Answer 11

the same exact thing happened to my last child< I tried the gas drops mylicon and took her to dr and burped her and did anything suggested! I hate to tell you this but there isnt anything that helped.....she grew out of it within a few weeks, I cant remember exact age....just keep doing all you can for her and I think it will pass on its own with the matureing of her digestive tract~ good luck