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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Windy, farty baby......

53 replies

welshmum · 24/06/2005 10:33

Wonder if anyone can help with this.
Ds is 4 weeks old, exclusively breastfed on demand, putting on weight nicely etc Problem is he's incredibly windy (his sister didn't have this so it's all new to me)I think it causes him pain at times and I don't know what to do about it. Is it normal? Is it something about what I'm eating or how he's latched on? He does want to feed alot from 7-10pm - or at least to suckle for comfort. His main period of farting seems to be about 5am.
Would be grateful for any thoughts....

OP posts:
pabla · 26/06/2005 07:50

I was advised by a midwife to try drinking fennel tea so it passes into the breastmilk - a friend also said she had a German friend who gave it directly to her baby when he was old enough to have a beaker

KiwiKate · 26/06/2005 08:05

Like Littlefish, the only thing that worked for my DS was Woodwards Gripe Water, and the dummy for when it was very bad(I was also one of those never-a-dummy-for-my-child). Gripe Water also was followed by the hugest tummy rumble, and sometimes a burp and/or fart, and then PEACE! The tummy pains disappeared around 4mnths and DS was not interested in the dummy after that.

Be careful of other types of Gripe Water (some have ALCOHOL in them! EEEK).

A local chemist also made up a gripe water type mixture with a hint of ginger that was very good.

Good luck!

KiwiKate · 26/06/2005 08:08

Oh, just remembered, when DS was having a particularly bad night, hissy NOISE helped him. Turning on the radio slightly off-station (that static sound) - or running water. Some people even say that vacuum cleaner noise can help - but I couldn't bring myself to try it (too irritating for me). Also after a bit of trial and error, we found some soothing music that helped.

Feffi · 26/06/2005 10:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lunachic · 26/06/2005 10:53

FENNEL TEA IS ALSO GOOD FOR BREAST MILK PRODUCTION SO YOU CANT LOSE ! sorry for shouting(ds pressing buttons!)

Original poster
welshmum · 26/06/2005 14:17

thanks all - great to have such a variety of things to try, will start to work my way through slowly. much appreciated, welshmum x

OP posts:
Original poster
welshmum · 26/06/2005 21:34

Thought I'd report back.
Ds was sound asleep 2 hours earlier than normal. I gave him some Teethas, did a bit of 'bicycling' and some firm winding. Doubt very much if there's a pattern but I'll try the same tomorrow. I'm also going to buy in the Woodward's gripe water and the Infacol and book a cranial session.....I'm a firm believer in taking action then if nothing works at least I'll know I've done my best and fingers crossed it'll wear off pretty soon. (at least he can be quietened by suckling at the moment)
Thanks again all.

OP posts:
Guard · 27/06/2005 14:28

Sounds like you're doing a great job. DD2 was v windy + found burping tough (still does @ 12 months) - I found drinking chamomile tea helped when BF (I couldn't stomach fennel tea ) as well as the gripe water etc - but apart from that I didn't find diet made much difference (even cutting out dairy/wheat which some said migh work...!)

Original poster
welshmum · 27/06/2005 15:45

I'm drinking fennel tea as I type.....why is the advice never drink champagne or Pina Colada?

OP posts:
3boysmum · 28/06/2005 13:42

I have some of these problems with 4wk old ds, windy baby mostly bottom end, crying during feeding and when laid down on his back, explosive frothy poo, hv advised he may be lactose intolerant and prescribed sma lf, so far seems to be working hope this helps....

Original poster
welshmum · 28/06/2005 15:44

Things change with babies from hour to hour I know BUT we had a much easier evening yesterday - with no squealy crying and a better start to the night - that followed starting him on Infacol and me on fennel tea.
As I say wouldn't dare to draw any conclusions yet but thought I'd post in case it helps anyone else.

OP posts:
redheadmum · 03/07/2005 01:37

hello

got v windy baby too sleep deprivation killing me!!!

how soon can i give a dummy????? ds 10 days old

Original poster
welshmum · 04/07/2005 10:32

HI Red - meant to reply to you on the post natal board. I don't know much about dummies BUT I think what I've been doing has been helping - ds's wind has definitely decreased alot. I used a combination of things suggested here and by another mum who'd spoken to a paediatrician. Before feeds I give either 2.5ml of gripe water or infacol dose (alternating at each feed). I'm also drinking fennel tea alot - 6 a day? and hoping that's getting to him - it's definitely having a good effect on my system. When he has his windy moments I bicycle his legs too which helps him get rid of the pressure in his system.
Although I'm doing all this part of me still thinks that the wind is mainly down to an immature digestive system - as the bigger he gets the better he is. I think as parents we need to feel like we're doing something though.
By the way I love the name you chose - just gorgeous.
Let me know how you're getting on Red - take care.

OP posts:
tiktok · 04/07/2005 10:42

redhead - give more details, and maybe we will come up with something. Not sure how you can be sure that wind is a cause of distress as early as this.....

Original poster
welshmum · 04/07/2005 12:09

Didn't mean to suggest that everything I was doing would necessarily be suitable for your very little one Red x

OP posts:
redheadmum · 04/07/2005 20:05

hey - thanks for the tips, so far have been trying chamomilla and chamomile tea (don't have fennel in the house - YET), the tiger hold (gave forth much burpage - ta) another tip I got which I didn't see on here is that when feeding keep feeding from the same breast for up to two hours and then switch. This helps to stop them from overfeeding. (bit painful on the old nipples though! Tried this last night and I think it helped)
got an osteopath appt on Friday.

Any other tips gratefully recieved, as my poor little love does seem in distress and for a 12 day old baby is sleeping so very little, he looks exhausted.

Tik tok - Details: He's amazingly windy - full on frothy farts and huge burps. He' s obviously in distress - his tummy is very tight and he's crying in an "I'm uncomfortable' way as opposed to I'm hungry. He's on anti-biotics and will be for goodness how long, and the midwife said that this can cause windiness as it effects the gut.

What it's majorly effecting is his sleep (and mine!!) He feeds looks blissed out, I try and wind, put down. Within 5 mins he is awake and uncomfortable. Wants to go b ack on breast again and so the cycle begins. It usually takes at least 2 hours to wind him, especially at night (of course) when it's worse. Overall he's v uncomfortable on his back. have tried laying him down on his side, this is better but not by much. Have hesitated to put him on his tummy as advice not to. The only time he's comfortable is when I put him outside in the pram and he will sleep for a couple of hours.

sorry so long - but you DID ask ;)

Nimme · 04/07/2005 20:11

I would try the Infacol. Worked wonders with DD2. I started using it virtually from birth as she was very uncomfortable and took ages to bring up burps - and then often accompanied by a biggish amount of milk (definitely not posseting as they call it)! Used before every feed an the burps came up beautifully when sitting her upright. If you try it and it works for you don't stop when you think she doesn't need it - I did too soon and she was back to square one within a day!

Hope you find something that works for you.

Lizita · 04/07/2005 21:08

My dd wasn't as windy as yours redheadmum or welshmum, i.e. not in pain etc, though there was a phase now I think about it that she was uncomfortable during feeds and i couldn't work out why.... but all the action you're taking is making me feel guilty for just getting on with it when I was worried about similar thing! I couldn't burp her either, and for the same reason you're talking about red, i just stopped bothering when i wanted to put her down to sleep cos it always woke her up. This made her pretty farty in the night but for some reason i decided not to worry about it...she was a little older too, a few months old... oh dear was i a bad mum?? (She's now nearly 2. giving me knots in my stomach remembering those days!)

tiktok · 04/07/2005 21:36

Thanks for the details, redhead. It all sounds potentially normal, though - if he is comforted by being on the breast, then it's fine just to go with the flow and keep him close with easy breast access. A baby waking up in distress after 5 mins may just want the closeness (and the milk). The movement of the pram may be a reasonable substitute for this, hence the longer sleeps there. It would be worth a try giving as much skin to skin and holding as you feel able, to see if things are better.

1andrea · 09/11/2007 22:20

Hi All
Really looking for some advice! My lovely boy is 11weeks today and over the last week has really struggled to get his wind up. Before now he was very windy and managed ok, not usually in any discomfort. Now he has started arching his back and crying when I try to wind him and also has really horrible crying fits for about 15 minutes when he is obviously trying to fart. I have started using infacol which I thought has worked, so stopped but then he was in pain again, so I have started again.
I am worried that he may have developed reflux. Can he do this? I thought babies got reflux in the first couple of weeks. Spent the day really upset as I have tried everything to make him feel better and I hate seeing him so distressed!

Dalrymps · 11/11/2007 22:25

My baby has been almost perfect for his first 2 weeks, despite being hard to wind it hasn't really bothered him, he was breastfeeding then pooing then sleeping for 3/4 hours then feeding again, now he suddenly keeps crying and looks like he has trappped wind/has to fart, i spend ages winding him and only ever manage to get 1 or 2 tiny brps if that, he farts quite a lot but just doesn't seem to be getting it all out, then he just wants to feed again when it's been less than an hour since the last feed, if i do give in and feed him again it only seems to add to the trapped wind prob and it starts again, plus he takes too much then throws it up when i try to wind him, i am feding on demand but can't just keep feeding him and not being able to wind him enough? the only other thing that keeps him quiet us letting him suck my finger but he creis again when he stops, he does eventually settle but it takes ages by which time he's almost due a feed again!He only seems to have been like this the last few days and i can't understand it, i've tried laying him on his back and pushing his legs up and down which occasionally eases some wind but not enough, considering a dummy but they say not to use one until baby a month old when breastfeeding? I'm getting worried cause my dh goes back to work in 3 days and he works 12 hour shifts an hour away, don't know how i'll cope if i can't settle the lo. Any advice gratefully recieved!!!

Dalrymps · 12/11/2007 12:34

bump

hobnob57 · 12/11/2007 21:41

I know that this is an exception, but my dd went through all of this from day 1 and I waited and waited until the magic 3 month mark.... and it just continued! It turns out she was sensitive to dairy and gluten in my diet and had silent reflux. The dead giveaway for the silent reflux was that when I was trying (in vain) to wind her, she'd stiffen up like she was doing a ski jump, and arch her back. The good news is that meds and diet can pretty much sort it (if that's the cause) - there are so many other potential culprits though. I do sympathise - I remember listening to her belly grumbles and not being able to tell if they were from her or DH they were so loud! The more we massaged out of her, the more the wind seemed to regenerate....

DanielJohnston · 12/11/2007 21:46

You could try this, get the legs and put them into a 'frog' position with the thighs horizontal and the lower leg vertical. Then gently squeeze the lower legs, pushing the thighs in. This will sometimes cause the baby to fart.

saggers · 12/11/2007 21:49

Both my DDs were soloely breastfed, and windy for the first three months. I rode it out with the first, but 2nd time around cut out garlic and spicy food completely and put her to sleep propped on her side. If she seemed distressed, I used to take her nappy off and wipe her bottom as if she'd done a poo. I found that as I pressed gently just behind her anus (hate that word!) wind used to shoot out at an unbelievable rate. Sounds a bit odd maybe, but it worked for me. Good luck.