In my 15 years of practice as a childbirth educator and a lactation consultant, I have met new parents regularly and addressed and resolved a variety of concerns, regarding their newborn baby. In the last few years, the complaints for gassy discomfort, colic, and reflux, have been very high.
Prolonged belly discomfort is a cause of concern for both the baby, and the mother. Here’s a simple table to identify a gassy baby:
| Symptom | Frequency | Indication |
| Gassy, belly discomfort | Once or twice a week | Normal |
| Gassy, belly discomfort | Thrice a week, for more than 30 minutes a day | Gassy baby |
Infant gas is a common occurrence and a normal part of the growth cycle of a newborn baby. However, when left unaddressed and untreated, I have noticed specific patterns and progressions, that can escalate quickly.
Let us take a look at the trajectory of symptoms for a gassy baby.
Patterns and Progressions of A Gassy Baby:
At three days old, a newborn baby frequently passes gas, without symptoms of crying. When unresolved, the gassy discomfort increases, with a set pattern of crying in the evening. This quickly escalates to extended hours of discomfort and crying from morning to midnight, at the 15-20 day mark. At over a month old, the symptoms of a gassy baby advance to frequent crying, frequent and large amounts of curd-like spitting, as well as over-feeding. By the time the newborn gassy baby is two months old, there is a noticeable reduction in milk intake due to an aversion to feeding, with an increase in spitting post feed – especially after lying flat.
Underlying Reasons for Gas in a Newborn Baby:
There are several reasons that can lead to gassy discomfort in a newborn baby, such as:
- Improper attachment of the baby during feeding
- Fast bottle feed and paladai feed
- Frequent baby formula feeds
- Mother’s stress and anxiety during early parenting years
- Foremilk and Hindmilk Imbalance
- Milk Intolerance
There are a few peculiar behavioral patterns of newborn babies, that indicate underlying gas issues. Mothers often discuss these complaints and observations during doctor visits, unaware that they actually indicate baby gas. Identifying some of these patterns can help in identifying a gassy baby.
The Mother’s Lingo:
Here are some of the things that mothers say – observations and complaints – that are in fact, signs of a gassy baby.
- Frequent Flatulence: Loud and frequent farting in newborns is often due to inhalation of large amounts of air during feeding, and results in gas.
- Uneasy Sleep: When newborns get frightened in their sleep, and suddenly wake up crying, it is a sign of baby gas.
- Frequent Hunger: An hourly demand for feed is a common sign of a gassy baby. This results in a cycle of overfeeding and more gas.
- Sleepless/Fussy Night: A gassy baby will have a familiar pattern of discomfort and sleeplessness, from 5pm – 1am.
- Habit of Hold: Most mothers assume a newborn’s reluctance to lay in bed as a habit of hold, but in reality the baby has gassy discomfort.
- Crying in Pain: Deep-belly crying and cough-like crying are due to baby gas.
- Bloated Belly: Baby gas can cause bloating on the sides of the baby’s belly.
- Excessive Leg Movement: Gassy babies usually pull their knee towards their shoulder, for relief.
- Sleeping on One Side: Babies turn themselves on one side, to get relief from gas.
- Burping Sessions: Irregular burps and difficulty in burping are due to baby gas.
- Struggling to Pass Motion: Constipation, green stool, and small amounts of stool while farting, all indicate a gassy baby.
- Wetter Diapers: Frequent urination – upto 10-15 times a day – is a sign of baby gas.
Baby gas can be a cause of distress for the baby, as well as the mother. However, it is important to remember that it is not a disease, but rather a discomfort, which can be easily resolved with timely intervention.
Be mindful of the behavioral patterns of your baby, identify the symptoms and stay away from possible causes to avoid baby gas.
Happy parenting!