Why is my breast milk making my baby so gassy?

Understanding Gassiness in Breastfed Babies
Breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial way to nourish your baby, but many new mothers find themselves puzzled when their little ones seem to be gassier than expected. If your breast milk is making your baby gassy, several factors could be at play.
The Nature of Gas in Infants
First and foremost, it’s essential to recognize that gas is a normal part of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. All babies experience gas at some point, and it can manifest as fussiness or discomfort. For breastfed infants, gas can arise from a variety of sources, including how they feed and what they consume.
Feeding Techniques and Air Swallowing
One significant contributor to gassiness is the way your baby feeds. If your baby is eating too quickly or swallowing air during feedings, this can lead to increased gas. Babies often gulp air when they latch improperly or when they are overly eager to feed. This air can accumulate in their digestive system, causing discomfort and gas.
Maternal Diet Considerations
While the idea that certain foods in a breastfeeding mother’s diet can cause gas in her baby is a common concern, research suggests that this is not universally applicable. Some mothers may notice that specific foods seem to affect their baby’s gas levels, but this varies widely among infants. Foods like dairy, beans, and cruciferous vegetables are often cited as potential culprits, but the evidence is largely anecdotal.
It’s advisable for mothers to monitor their own diets and note any correlations between what they eat and their baby’s gassiness. However, drastic dietary changes should be approached cautiously and ideally discussed with a lactation consultant.
Other Potential Causes
In some cases, gassiness may indicate a more specific issue, such as a milk protein allergy. If your baby is consistently gassy and shows other signs of discomfort, it may be worth consulting a pediatrician to rule out allergies or intolerances.
Additionally, the oversupply of breast milk can lead to gassiness. If a mother has an abundant milk supply, the baby may receive a lot of foremilk, which is lower in fat and can lead to digestive issues.
Conclusion
In summary, while gassiness in breastfed babies is common and often normal, it can stem from various factors including feeding techniques, maternal diet, and potential allergies. If your baby seems particularly uncomfortable, it may be beneficial to explore these aspects further, possibly with the guidance of healthcare professionals. Understanding these dynamics can help you create a more comfortable feeding experience for both you and your baby.

What is the best position to breastfeed to avoid gas?

Use positions for feeding that keep baby’s head higher than her tummy, such as a laid-back position or having baby diagonally across your chest in a cradle hold. Avoid positions that have baby bending at the waist, putting more pressure on her tummy.

What foods should breastfeeding mothers eat to prevent colic?

It is most important to consume a diet with plenty of water and an adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy sources.

How can I make my breast milk less gassy?

What are the treatments for breastfed baby gas?

1. Burp frequently. Adding a few extra burps to feeding times is typically an easy adjustment to make.
2. Turn to tummy time.
3. Perform baby massage.
4. Bicycle their legs.
5. Feed while baby’s upright.
6. Check your latch.
7. Try to reduce baby’s crying.
8. Consider over-the-counter remedies.

Why is my baby grunting and squirming while breastfeeding?

Many mothers report that the grunting and squirming stop after a few weeks. It is a case-by-case situation, and it is different for every child. The grunting can start right after birth or a month later, but if this phase lasts longer than a few weeks, contact your doctor and ask for guidance and support.

How to know baby is not satisfied after breastfeeding?

Inadequate weight gain is one of the strongest signs that a baby is not getting enough milk. 6. After 7 days, your baby has fewer than 6 wet diapers and 4 stools per day, their urine is dark yellow or specked with red, or their stool color is still dark rather than yellow and loose.

How do I know if my breastmilk is upsetting my baby’s stomach?

If symptoms occur such as fussiness, irritability, crying, gas, increased spitting up and/or drawing their legs up due to tummy pain, write down everything you ate that day. This lets you carefully look at your diet instead of getting rid of foods that may not be the cause of your baby’s distress.

What foods should I avoid while breastfeeding a baby gassy?

If you notice that each time you eat something your baby becomes fussy, try avoiding the food for a while and see what happens. Many mothers have reported foods such as kale, spinach, beans, onions, garlic, peppers or spicy foods cause infant gas, while many babies tolerate these foods just fine.

Why is my baby so gassy from breast milk?

Babies often swallow air when sucking on the breast or a bottle, especially if they drink too quickly or don’t have an optimal latch on the nipple. They can also swallow air when crying. Food sensitivities. Hypersensitivities or allergies to certain types of food in mom’s diet are less common causes of baby gas.

Can breast milk irritate a baby’s stomach?

“There’s just not enough food proteins in breast milk to cause such a reaction. But there is enough to cause gut issues.” If your child is allergic to cow’s milk, for them to experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, they would have to drink cow’s milk on their own.

How do I know if my baby is not tolerating breast milk?

MSPI symptoms

​fussiness or excess crying before, during and after a feeding	​stools may be infrequent, watery, have mucous, or be bloody
​reflux	​spitting up
​nasal congestion	​skin rash, eczema, hives, dry skin
​weight loss	​repeated vomiting
​sudden waking with discomfort	​