Dairy & Gas

[thegirlwhouk]

So it would seem that my 3 week old DS is reacting to dairy. He has always been gassy (farts mostly) but since a few days ago he has been increasingly uncomfortable looking. He's been grunting and grizzling and pulling his legs up a lot. The relief on his face after a good fart was visible!!!

So we have him on infacol, which seems to have helped, and I cut out dairy (minus the odd milky tea and small piece of chocolate). He seemed much better.

Today I was really craving cheese and he has been so much better so I thought I'd give it a whirl...

Two hours later he's sobbing and pulling his legs up again. So I suspect it is dairy causing the gas for him.

I had wondered if it was colic but he's not crying inconsolably and is able to sleep through a fair amount of his discomfort, so I assume it's not that. Please correct me if I'm wrong though as I'm a FTM!

Problem is, I love dairy! Is this something I'm going to have to do the whole time I'm breastfeeding? Am I looking at months of no dairy? Or will it improve as his gut matures? Does it also mean he won't tolerate dairy when he's older?

Any advice from mums who have done the same would be greatly appreciated!

[AnythingNotEverything]

I think most three week old babies are grubby and gassy, aren't they?

Congratulations though. I hope it's nothing.

[EmbarrassedPossessed]

I wouldn't go cutting out all dairy for what may be just a coincidence and normal 3 week old baby behaviour. I think it would be worth going to the GP/HV to discuss the possibility of a dairy allergy.

[squizita]

I would get yourself checked by a pro if I were you - ask your Hv or GP (or you could pay) as imagine if you quit dairy for nothing . They said loads of women cut out milk, broccoli or whatever when it's tiny baby gas and would vanish with time. It takes 2 1/2 weeks for eliminating a food to show results anyway. Also at 3 weeks I was advised a fussy latch or something at one feed can have more effect than food or drink. Mine gets foul wind if she isn't calm but awake when she feeds and if she starts on the right boob, because she fusses. I thought it was ginger beer fizz! Nope. No need to cut it out in the end.

Also as mum of a gassy 3 week old, my mw and local bf advisor explained that babies that age often don't know how to burp effectively yet - hence the farts and drawn up knees. Even if something is making them a bit gassy, once they can burp better (mine learned recently!) It might be ok.

[SweetPea3]

Not sure if this helps, but DD became dairy intolerant after a virus (apparently this is not uncommon), so I had to cut out all dairy from my diet, but only for a period of time (can't remember how long - a month maybe). So that was just a temporary dairy intolerance.

Almond milk and coconut yoghurt were my friends during that time. Also, you may find that some cheeses provoke more of a reaction - i.e. mozzarella may be worse than parmesan.

Hopefully someone will be along with better information/advice!

[AnythingNotEverything]

Sorry. I meant grunty, not grubby. I can't imagine how a three week old would get grubby!

[tiktok]

All this is well on the normal spectrum for a three week old baby and any changes you have seen are much more likely to be coincidence than the minuscule chance he is reacting to dairy - sledgehammer and nut come to mind at the idea of you cutting out dairy :)

[thegirlwhouk]

Well that's all good news!! Dr Google suggested otherwise.

We'll persevere with the infacol and the burping.

And I'll go eat those cream cakes!

[thegirlwhouk]

Squizita - mine gets gassy too when he fusses. I daren't leave him too long once he's decided he's hungry or it's just a disasterous feed for us both!!

And anything - he is fairly grubby, especially after all the grunting and farting!!!

[Heatherbell1978]

Sounds just like my DS1 and he's now 7 weeks and getting a lot better (less grunting and evening crying is getting less). I haven't cut out anything so it sounds like it's just normal behaviour. We had a horrendous day a week ago (lots of out of character crying) and I realised I'd had spicy chilli the night before so I'm trying to eat less spicy food.....

[dorasee]

Here's a newsflash: almost all babies are gassy, fussy ,colicky... it takes weeks for their systems to adjust. My eldest was exclusively breastfed and had dreadful colic. My 2nd was mixed BF & formula... colic. My 3rd is 4.5 months, mixed BF and formula. It took 4 months to stop spitting up after nearly every feed. As long as your baby is gaining weight and thriving, I wouldn't worry. It is a drag though but it will pass into an easier phase.