Incorrect feeding, overfeeding and food sensitivity are not the causes of gas formation.
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If the breast or the feeding bottle is not positioned correctly, there is a chance of the baby swallowing too much air. It can also happen when the baby sucks the milk in too fast. There are also some babies who either turn intolerant or allergic to some of the ingredients in the breast milk or the formula milk used for feeding. Whenever you observe any issue with feeding or the gas pain does not subside after trying such simple measures, it is advisable to consult the pediatrician.
By which of the following ways you can give relief to your baby when he/she cries due to gas formation?
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One common and effective way to alleviate the discomfort is to make the baby burp regularly, during and after feeding. The bicycle exercise approach is about making the legs of the baby move like a bicycle so that the trapped gas in the stomach gets out. Giving a warm bath also helps to relax the abdominal muscles of the stomach. To get the combined effects of all the three procedures mentioned above, you can try applying heat pack.
Does mother s diet affect the baby?
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Changing the diet of the mother can bring about a huge difference in the tendency of gas formation in the baby s stomach. A breastfeeding mother should always avoid foods containing caffeine, dairy products, broccoli, beans, and nuts. Though such an idea is not proven and considered to be a myth, there appears to be considerable improvement in making such changes. Hence, this could be tried to relieve the baby from gastric pain. The mother can consult a pediatrician or a nutritionist to get an idea about the right kind of food which she should eat while breastfeeding a baby.
Does a baby cry only due to gas pain or there can be other reasons as well?
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It is true that a baby cries due to all of the above reasons, as they have no other means of communicating their needs. As a parent, you will be able to differentiate between the above three and the pain caused by gas formation. In case of the latter, the pain is bothersome. The cry will be more intense, frantic and sharper. There will be other signs of discomfort like clenching the fists, pulling the leg towards the stomach, flatulence, and burping and also squirming around. If all or some of the above symptoms are seen, it is better to go for any of the methods mentioned above of reducing gas.
There is no medication for gas relief.
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There are medicines available for gas relief, however, it first you should check with your pediatrician, and give your baby only what has been prescribed by the pediatrician.