Seeing your baby writhe and squirm with discomfort may be discomforting for you as a new mother till you realize “breastfeeding diet for gassy baby"  can release you from the grip of worries.

Formation of Gas - Gassy baby and breastfeeding diet

Mother’s milk is known to be the all-in-all nutrition for the baby- easily digestible, absorbable etc. Then what are the causes for flatulence or gas in the baby?
Some possible explanations are:

•    Improper latching of the baby to the mother’s nipple creating a suction that allows the entry of air into the baby.

•    Mother’s dietary inputs reflect on the child as well, even through breast milk. Gaseous edibles such as cabbage, garlic and other foods known to cause flatulence can cause the same reaction in the baby as well. But gas formation in the baby is normal just as in adults when they consume such foods.

•    An overflow of breast milk can be another cause for gas formation in the baby as it leads to 'lactose overload' resulting in gas.

•    Another point to keep in mind when you are on breastfeeding diet for gassy baby is about food allergy. Certain foods may cause allergy in the baby manifesting into allergic reactions such as runny nose, skin rashes, diarrhea etc. These symptoms may also surface in the way of gas formation.

What should a gassy baby’s breastfeeding diet be?

While charting out the “breastfeeding diet gassy baby”, it is important to find out about the cause for the gas.

•    As mentioned above, gas formation can either be a normal reaction from the GI tract or it can even denote food sensitivity. Eating cabbage, broccoli or the gaseous foods may trigger a reaction (flatulence, gas-releases etc) in the mother’s body, but that doesn’t mean that the baby is necessarily suffering from gas-trouble because of that.

•    Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and foods containing casein, whey and sodium caseinate may be culpable for producing excess gas in the baby.  Even peanuts, fish, eggs and corn can trigger reactions.

•    Look out for food sensitivity. If you suspect that certain food you are taking is causing such reactions then you can abstain from that food for a week or so, as a part of the breastfeeding diet for gassy baby. Watch if your baby’s returns to normalcy in a week or 10 days after avoiding a particular food for some time. Remember any food takes about a week to get fully evacuated from the body system but also keep in mind to try the same food after leaving a good gap to help your baby fight the sensitivity.

•    Be watchful about lactose overload while you are sketching a “breastfeeding diet gassy baby”. If you have more-than-sufficient breast milk, try breastfeeding your gassy baby through the “small meal” pattern. Increase frequency and give little quantity of milk at a time.

Breast feeding diet gassy baby – The position and posture of breastfeeding

Apart from dietary inputs of the mother other pointers about breast feeding diet for gassy babies include:

•    Ensure proper suction by making the baby latch on to the breast properly, so as to disallow entry of air.

•    Gassy breastfed babies should be subject to proper burping techniques- practiced more frequently than their non-gassy counterparts

•    Positioning the baby properly at the time of breastfeeding (at an angle of 45 degrees) can help a great deal in preventing refluxes due to poor positions.
 

Gas formation is a normal reaction in any infant as it adapts to the transition – from womb to the world outside. But if its far above normal then the above tips on “breastfeeding diet gassy baby” can provide relief;  though a consultation with the care provide becomes imperative if the baby’s condition “bloats and breaks wind” out of proportion.

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