Tips on Relieving Gas/indigestion?

Hi K.,
Nothing too new to add from other responses. With both of my boys (both BF), I didn't notice much of an impact from my diet on their gassiness. If the babies were fussy, my MIL would say they're gassy and attribute it to the smallest amount of onions or cabbage that I ate, yet there would be times I would eat onion rings and they were fine. Mylicon worked pretty well, and pulling their knees up to the chest while lying down worked GREAT. It guaranteed a toot and provided relief! Congrats and good luck.

K.,

I agree with the pps. That said, we just had our third child. He started out like this too, but progressively got worse until he was borderline colic. It was awful. I was exhausted and he was miserable. I felt so bad.

I altered my diet - no nuts and dairy. We used Gripe Water, Mylicon gas drops, lavender baths, etc. Nothing worked. I think some babies just have sensitive systems that need time to develop.

Do your best. Just know that sometimes, there's just nothing you can do to "make it all better". Our son finally "grew out of it" and now is usually a happy baby. Occasionally we still have our issues of the "what's wrong" guessing game.

Hi K..

I am surprised your ped didn't tell you that what you eat could affect your Little one. I have found a great website for Breastfeeding moms. It will give you a list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding. http://www.loveyourbaby.com/foods-to-avoid-while-breastfe.... I hope this helps you out. Good luck with the breastfeeding and keep up the good work. Getting in contact with your local Laleche League would be a good source of information as well.

I would second everything that Amanda said , what you eat can affect your baby , if your having too much dairy for example , or if you are having strongly flavoured foods like onions. Also be sure to burp her after you have fed , put her over your shoulder in an almost upright posistion to lengthen her torso. Also CVS , Rite Aid etc sell medicines that you give before a feed to help with gas/colic pains in young infants.

Cutting out all casein (dairy protein) helps tremendously. Also, even though breastfeeding books will say that breastfed babies don't need burped, they usually do. Put her upright on your shoulder and pat her rather hard in the middle of her back. Sometimes this can take a few minutes. My youngest daughter liked to stay like this for sometimes 30 minutes after she would eat- totally vertical on my shoulder being "beaten" on the back!

You can also "bicycle" her legs to help the gas move down and rub her tummy from top to bottom with some pressure (use oil to help your hand slide like a massage.)

If she is gulping a lot during feeding or having problems getting a latch and gaping her mouth a lot at first, you may want to consider a visit with a lactation consultant. It can do WONDERS for how a baby feeds, and usually an hour session is not incredibly expensive, you learn a lot and it's cheaper than formula!!

:)

Hope this helps!

Aspiring IBCLC,
Amanda

I've posted this many times......."GRIPE WATER", they sell it at Walgreens (in the infant department by the gas products).....it's herbal it relieves gas very fast (within Minutes).....it's an old fashion product.....my friend has been using this forever!! You can either give them a couple drops or put it in their bottle............My daughter has used this for her kids and she was amazed!! Adults can use it too........

Document what you are eating, figure it takes about 5-6 hrs for what you ate to be in your milk for foods. Burp her a little more at the feedings. see if there is a pattern of what you are eating that is causing her gas. Or see if it is the time of day. Babies get gas and it can be painful at times. We used little tummys gas drops from time to time with our little guy. Tummy time can also help their tummies feel a little better, that always help my little guy. He would pull his legs up and move so it would help move the gas around to get it out. Good luck and congratulations on your little one.

I am not sure if you feed with a bottle like when you pump but you can add Mylcon drops to the breast milk it will help...I done it with my son while I breast feed and omgoodness he is so much better...yes what you eat will effect what happens but this is a way effective way to help...they even say you can give it to them when older to help the belly aches....

She may just need to be burped more often. This way the gas comes out up top. Also, make sure your diet is low gas causing, too. There may be some things you are eating that
passes through the breast milk. Your Pediatrician will have a breast feeding diet for you or your OB.