Almost all babies up to those months feel discomfort in the tummy. The main reason for this condition is the immaturity of the digestive system and poorly formed metabolism, as a result of which an insufficient amount of enzymes is produced. And if you add to this intestinal dysbiosis and a number of related problems, you can get a very obvious picture - the child is tormented and screaming, and his parents are trying in every possible way to help him. What means just do not go with gases in a newborn! We will talk about them in our article.
Colic and gas in newborns
Among all the problems of the gastrointestinal tract in infants, bloating and colic are most common. The formation of a large amount of gas in the intestine is called flatulence. And for a newborn, this problem is very relevant. By the age of three months, the baby will cease to feel discomfort from the gases, but this is still far away.
By the way, bloating is not accompanied by severe pain, so a sharp cry or scream can not be heard. But the gases that inflate the intestines of the baby cause colic, which provoke severe pain. From them, the child can not just cry, but scream heart-rendingly, now and then bending his legs to his tummy. The root cause of this common condition is one - flatulence. Parents who want to help their little one need to fight with him.
Causes of gas in infants
Gas formation is a natural process for a person, regardless of his age. But in children, due to the immaturity of the digestive system, gases are not excreted in a timely manner, accumulating in the intestines. Excessive bloating and discomfort crumbs.
The following causes of gas formation in a newborn are known, both during breastfeeding and during artificial feeding:
- Immaturity of the digestive system, the beginning of the process of colonization of intestinal microflora and metabolic processes.
- Allergic reactions to products that a mother consumes while breastfeeding, or to a milk mixture.
- Lactase deficiency, in which the enzyme responsible for the digestion of milk (lactase) is not produced.
- Overfeeding children on artificial feeding, as a result of which the process of fermentation in the body begins.
- Improperly organized feeding - if the minimum two-hour interval between meals is not observed, she does not have time to digest. Because of this, gases arise.
In some cases, flatulence can be caused by weakness of the muscles of the abdominal cavity, prematurity, improper choice of mixture.
Mom's breastfeeding
Lactation is an important stage of motherhood. With milk, mom gives her baby important elements, antibodies and probiotics. The mother’s nutrition is fully reflected in the baby, so it must be correct. And in order to help the baby adapt to new food faster and not overload the already unstable digestive system, a woman should follow a certain diet for the first time after giving birth.
Products that are allowed during breastfeeding in the first 10 days after birth:
- white meat (chicken, turkey);
- cereals - buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, rice;
- vegetable soups;
- baked apples;
- green tea, rosehip broth;
- butter and vegetable oil.
By three months, this list is expanding significantly. Sour-milk products, cheese, eggs, fish, pasta, potatoes, some types of cookies and much more are added to it.
If you completely exclude foods such as whole milk, raisins, instant coffee and black tea, legumes, raw vegetables and fruits, cabbage in any form, then your mother may not have to worry about what to do with the gases in the newborn with breast milk feeding.
Dysbacteriosis in newborns
Abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to increased gas formation in the baby. One of the most common among them is dysbiosis. With this disease, an imbalance in the proportions of harmful and beneficial bacteria is observed in the intestines. The cause of this condition may be food allergies or taking antibiotics.
Gases in the intestines of a newborn with dysbiosis are one of the main symptoms. In addition, the disease is diagnosed on the basis of green stool with impurities of mucus, and must be confirmed by an appropriate analysis of feces. For treatment, drugs containing probiotics are prescribed.
Signs of increased flatulence in infants
Inexperienced parents find it difficult to understand what is bothering their child. Meanwhile, the main signs of gas accumulation in the baby are the following:
- frequent burping - indicates that the baby swallows a lot of air when feeding;
- regurgitation of undigested milk is a relative sign, because the baby can spit up if the mixture is not suitable for him or because the feeding process is too fast;
- increased flatulence - more than 20 gas exits per day;
- bloating - due to gases accumulated in the intestines, the stomach becomes inflated and hard, literally stone;
- the child’s behavior becomes restless - he groans and strains;
- sleep disturbance.
Frequent satellites of increased gas formation are colic. So they just deliver the maximum inconvenience. And if with flatulence the child only strains, trying to push the gases out, then with colic the baby reports crying about his problems. Parents trying to understand their child should also pay attention to this.
What to do with gas in a newborn?
Flatulence is an inevitable process. Parents can only alleviate the condition of their child in this difficult period for him. They can recommend the following remedies for gases in newborns:
- Laying on the tummy before feeding. This useful exercise should be started immediately after the healing of the umbilical wound. Spreading on the tummy for 1-2 minutes before feeding helps to train muscle tissue and release accumulated gas. Exercise is performed only before eating, otherwise the baby can burp a lot of food.
- Wearing a column after each meal. This procedure is an excellent prevention of gazikov. It is carried out immediately after feeding. The child should be worn in a column until all the gases have passed.
- Warm diaper. Before you lay the fabric on the baby’s tummy, fold it and iron it on both sides. As a result of the procedure, cramps are relieved, the pain subsides, and the gases begin to calmly depart.
- Gymnastics. In between feedings, it is recommended to perform the exercise “bicycle”. For this, the baby is placed on his back and alternately presses his legs to his stomach.
Gas massage for babies
Performing simple actions after half an hour after each feeding or in between, helps to eliminate the discomfort in the abdomen in the baby:
- With warm hands, light strokes of the stomach are performed clockwise. Such a massage not only calms well, but also promotes the removal of gases from the intestines.
- The child is laid on the adult’s lap face down and begins to carefully move his legs, gently massaging his stomach. Such actions contribute to the promotion of gases in the newborn to the outside.
The main rule of massage is that it should be light and not cause discomfort. By doing the right thing, you can very quickly help the baby get rid of this problem.
Effective gas medications
If massage and other remedies aimed at eliminating the symptoms of flatulence do not work, the pediatrician may recommend taking medication. All medicines for colic and gas for newborns can be divided into four groups:
- Carminative drugs. The active substance in them is simethicone - an active component aimed at eliminating gases in the intestine. As a result, air bubbles are brought out naturally, without causing unpleasant sensations in the baby.
- Homeopathy. The basis of such drugs are natural substances that effectively eliminate gas. One of the most famous means of this group is dill water. Infusion of dill (fennel) seeds for children on artificial feeding can be given directly from the bottle. If the baby receives breast milk, it is recommended to take dill water to mother before feeding.
- Probiotics - help restore balance in the intestines between beneficial and harmful bacteria. Acceptance of drugs of this group is carried out for at least a month.
- Enzymes - make up for the lack of those components that are involved in the digestion of food. Such drugs are prescribed in exceptional cases, for example, with lactase deficiency.
The use of a vent pipe
If the child is very worried about bloating in the tummy, then the question immediately arises for parents about what to do with the gases in the newborn. A quick vent tube will help to quickly relieve pain. But it is worth noting that this method should be applied in extreme cases.
Use a tube to remove gases in newborns as follows:
- Boil a new tube. If you plan to use it for the same child, it is completely optional to perform the sterilization process each time.
- Lubricate the closed end of the tube with baby cream or liquid paraffin.
- Rotate the tube into the anus by 3-5 cm with rotational movements, but not further than the limiter level (in modern models).
- Wait until the gases come out and remove the tube.
- Wash device after use.
You can understand whether the procedure is effective by the behavior of the crumbs. He should feel obvious relief after her.
When to see a doctor?
To cope with the gases in a newborn is easy and at home. But in some cases, you may need the help of a pediatrician. Contact a doctor urgently if:
- rise in temperature;
- strongly inflated, like a drum, abdomen;
- green stool interspersed with mucus and blood;
- frequent burping fountain, vomiting;
- diarrhea
- drowsiness
- refusal of food;
- cyanosis and pallor of the skin.
The symptoms listed above, along with monotonous crying and pain in the abdomen, may indicate other diseases of the intestine and disorders of the nervous system.
Gas Prevention in Infants
Flatulence worries all, without exception, infants under three months of age, regardless of gender. It is impossible to avoid the formation of gases in the newborn, but colic can be made less prolonged and painful. The recommendations of most pediatricians are as follows:
- try to avoid situations when the baby is crying outright, because it is in this way that he swallows air;
- monitor the position of the baby during feeding, so that his head is slightly higher than the abdomen;
- wearing a column after feeding is mandatory, especially if the child is subject to increased gas formation;
- Massage and daily gymnastics contribute not only to getting rid of gases, but also to strengthening the baby's muscles.