Gassy baby!

[Njayne14]

Hi, wondering if anyone can offer any advice/ reassurance. My LO is 2.5 weeks old and was born early at 36 weeks. She is exclusively breast feeding but is very gassy. She has a very swollen/ bloated stomach and seems in a lot of discomfort. She often arches her back and brings up her knees, cries and goes very red/ purple as if she is straining. This happens at intervals throughout the day and night. I’m burping her during and after each feed but she rarely brings anything up while I’m actually burping her although brings up a lot of milk afterwards, usually once she is lying down. Is this all just something that is normal and we need to work through until her digestive system is more mature or is there a solution that could bring her some relief now? I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had similar issues. Thank you!

Normally I’d say some discomfort was normal, have a read of this on Kellymom and congratulations too

Thank you, that’s really helpful! 😊

I expect its normal. It takes a little while for babies tummies to settle. If the sickness continues you could always go to GP to rule out reflux. My DS has it. He also suffered from bottom wind but he was much older before it was picked up. Things that helped his wind were warm baths (albeit its rather hot at the mo!!) And baby massage (bicycle movement of the legs and tummy rubs)

Congratulations OP

Hi, we are having same issue, 2.5 weeks old and really bad gas/trapped wind, doesn't burp much despite winding but has bottom wind alot. I'm breastfeeding which had been going well but last 5 days or so she is clearly uncomfortable with the wind and will thrash about on breast when she has gas/pumps. I try taking her off to settle her but she's really upset and wants back on, then i worry the thrashing will just make wind worse as she will swallow air. I think latch is ok and she's putting on weight well, although when she gets upset with the wind when on breast the thrashing can make latching tougher... any advice would be much appreciated as worried it will cause problems with BF. We are currently trying infacol.

Sounds like mine. I'm also trying Infacol and hoping she will grow out of it. I think it's worse when I am engorged.

Lets hope they do, good luck, if you find anything helps please let me know :) so awful seeing them upset and feeling helpless

It’s fairly usual newborn behaviour. Their tummies are just getting used to the world.
With my first I spent the first 3 months convinced she had reflux/colic etc...she was just a baby! My current newborn is exactly the same but I feel more relaxed this time as I know she’ll grow out of it (12 weeksish last time but thus one was 4 weeks early so who knows).
I find gripe water to be better than infacol and massage, bicycling legs definitely helps. Mainly what helps mine when she’s grunting, wiggling etc... is a cuddle, which makes me think it can’t be as bad for them as it looks to us.
It will pass...not much help now when 12 weeks seems forever away!

Sorry, just remembered gripe water is no good until they’re a month.
We started last week at a month and I think it’s helping.
Not too far from 2.5 weeks.

It’s good to know lots of other babies are the same! I tried infacol but she suddenly started getting very explosive runny poos so stopped it. Midwife said a bit of diarrhoea is normal in BF babies so probably not the infacol but going to have a go with gripe water now she’s passed 4 weeks. Also going to GP tomorrow to check about reflux, don’t know if it is but she brings up a lot of milk between feeds and whenever I put her down on her back she wakes up distressed after a few minutes. I know it’s probably ‘normal’ behaviour but anything that can bring her a bit of relief is worth a try! Poor little things! They’ll finally get over all this just in time to start teething!

GP agreed about reflux but told us she is manipulating us by crying to be picked up and we should leave her to cry it out 🤦‍♀️ How could her waking and crying in pain possibly be interpreted as manipulation?!

How are people administering gripe water for BF babies? Tried a syringe today and she spat it all out. I don’t blame her- it smells awful!

Hi OP

With my first baby, she was very much the same.
I cut out dairy and did bicycle legs and tummy massage and it seemed to help. We also used a pharmacy mix for wind that was amazing, not sure if you are in UK or not, but if you are in Australia check out Padbury colic mix, they can post all over the country
Good luck

Shocked to hear that from from your GP OP!! Can you see a different one? If you think your tiny newborn baby needs a cuddle then cuddle them! Genuinely shocked.

I think they're only worried about reflux if the sick is acidic smelling and causes baby distress. Obviously if there are issues with weight gain that's a red flag.

Google reflux tips however as they'll help regardless. E.g., propping the mattress up a bit, keeping upright during and after feeds would be useful

Hope this helps!

Thanks callywags, I am in the UK. Considered cutting out dairy just in case so I might give that a try.
Cremedesudo, I was pretty horrified he said it. I’m supposed to be going back to him for my 6 week check up but there’s no way I’m seeing him again! I’ve read a bit about how damaging ‘cry it out’ can be to children’s long term development so I’m really surprised it still gets recommend. We have tilted the crib for her so hopefully that will help a bit. Going to pop in to a breast feeding cafe next week to get some advice on positions too. Thanks for your help!