What is causing gas issues in BF baby?

[*TLC*]

For the last couple of days DS has had hours and hours of really bad gas.  It usually starts 8 of so at night and runs well into the night.  He is in such pain.  Not sure where this is coming from as I don't think I have eaten or drank anything different recently.

Can you give me some ideas of what foods or drinks could be causing this gas?  Also, what tips can you give me to ease his pain?

TIA 

[Jocasta]

What end are the gas issues?  M(S)PI takes a while to rear it's ugly head - often around the two week mark, so that's something to consider.  Certain medications can cause constipation/gas pain, and reflux can cause gas issues top end   Any of this sound likely?

What are his BMs like?  Green poo can often be an indicator of overactive let down/foremilk imbalance...

[lisi's mum]

To be honest, Tracy, most babies have gas in the first 12 weeks or so, and it's said that boys get it worse than girls. I don't remember with Lisi, but certainly noticed that Norah's didn't start til later like around a couple weeks. In our case it was partially due to my let down being very fast and her swallowing lots of air whilst feeding.

Food allergy and intollerance is actually rarer than you may think (not saying it should we written out, just that it is rare).

There are a few things you can do to help - massage (see here: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=4859.msg26334#msg26334)
bicycling his legs, warm compresses, sitting with him stomach down with your hands on his abdomen if that makes sense, and jiggling a bit. Also lots of people swear by gas drops and gripe water, but I have no experience of them.

Keep an eye out for green frothy poo, that usually needs some breast feeding management.

xxx

[summersusu]

Not breastfeeding but my Ped said I could give my LO Mylanta 1/4 tsp, cause the gas drops weren't working.  This helped.

[Diana1981]

Tracy,
I rememeber ds was very gassy when he was just a few weeks old, and he was BF exclusively. Maybe something you ate and makes ds gassy???

[*TLC*]

Jo-what is M(S)PI?  He has has gas issue from the bottom.  Although the last few days he has spit up a couple of times which he never had done before.  The only med I am on is Lexapro, do u think could have any effect?

I have noticed that his poop the last few days from time to time has been green which it was never before.  I usually feed 15-20 mins on one side then switch.  Should I being feeding one side per feeding then switch to the other side the next feed?  Katie, is this what you mean by needing some breast feeding management?  Thanks for the tips on helping ease his pain.

I bf Ava and she has so much gas issues, I remember I tried to figure out what I was eating that was making her this way and I never really found anything, it finally just got better when she was 8 months but it was the longest 8 months of our lives and I don't want him to go through this or myself for that matter.  Is it possible that I create bad milk (probably a stupid question)?

thanks for all your help, I am starting to panic we are on the path we went down with Ava.

[lisi's mum]

No Tracy it isn't possible that you make bad milk  it is possible that your kids have not the greatest digestive systems, but not that your milk is bad - YOUR milk is the very best thing for YOUR baby.

MSPI = multiple secondary protein intollerance ie intollerant to proteins you eat (usually culprit is dairy and soy) something to check out on the allergies board.

As to some feeding management...
I wouldn't time how long you feed on a side for, let Evan feed on one side for as long as he likes, maybe putting him on the same side again when he bobs off. Try some breast compressions to speed things up a bit, and get as much hind milk (the super good fatty stuff) out (see http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=88759.0) I still do them now when Norah's getting impatient. Then once you're pretty sure he really has had a good go on that side, and only then offer the second. He may take it, he may not. Either way is just fine. A foremilk imbalance wouldn't be just the odd green poo, most babies will have the odd green poo.

Incidentally, read this too about gas http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gassybaby.html it may give you some more ideas about what and why.

I was reading up on Lexapro, Dr Hale (the big guy on medication and breastfeeding) does have some questions about its use with breastfeeding mothers, but more about it causing restlessness and bad sleep than digestive issues. Read here: http://66.230.33.248/discus/messages/43/184.html?1217428044

[lisi's mum]

ok, I should have read the most recent posts about Lexapro, seems he's got newer research and isn't so worried after all, but read for yourself just to be sure.

[*TLC*]

thanks katie, off to read 

[Jocasta]

Everything I would have said has been said   Hopefully something you read will ring true and you'll be able to find a solution that works for you guys - hugs

[shelliz]

How are things now Trac?  Hope they are going better!