3 Weeks Old and Really Bad Gas

If you are feeding from the bottle, I would try changing the formula to lactose free. That could be the problem. My son had the same thing. I change the fromula and it was so much better. If you are breast feeding then try watching what you are eating.

It is so common for newborns to have gas. You could try carrying him in the football hold (face down on your forearm with his head in the crook of your arm and your hand on his tummy) and pat him on the back. The combined pressure from your hand and patting usually helps. You can also try a heating pad or warm towel from the dryer on his tummy.

Hi,

one thing my pediatrician told me a long time ago was that we must understand a baby's digestive system. First, it's brand new... it doesn't start functioning until birth. I noticed all of my babies have been affected with seemingly painful farting. sometimes it's hard not to laugh even though they are writhing in discomfort... it's kind of amusing sometimes to see them lift a leg (though not on purpose) and rip something so loud it rivals those of my gassiest guy friends!

That being said ther are a few things you can do to help them push the gas out. Mylicon never worked for my kids either... not sure why this is, but I've always used Little Tummies. My ped told me you can't overdose a baby on this, though I would still follow the bottle directions. I gave it to my kids before a meal, which sometimes was about every 3 hours.

make sure you are burping well and often... even between bottles. crying can make them swallow air and need a burp too. I lay the baby on my chest so my boob is kind of putting pressure on their tummy... it's firm but forgiving at the same time :) I also walk with the baby upright on my chest and make exaggerated up and down movements to kind of dislodge tiny air bubbles within the stomach. these things will help prevent gas. but once it's in the intestines, you have a whole other monster on your hands.

I will give baby a little tummy massage using very gentle pressure.. wakling fingertips from left side to right and back again, working my way down... and also take the babie's legs and make him do a bit of a pedal motion, it helps push the bubbles through his intestines and out his cute little tushy in the form of those adorable shameless baby farts :)

He should get better at this with a bit of time... his little body is just getting the hang of digesting food.

Hope that helps :) Congrats on your new little boy!

~J.~

Hello. I am C.. I noticed your question, and my youngest son Isaac, (I have 3 boys) also had really bad gas when he was first born. It was new for my husband and I because our two older boys never had this issue. I gave him some over the counter stuff, but mostly we just rode it out. In our case, Isaac was not in a lot of pain. Just some discomfort. At about 5 months, it just stopped. Seriously overnight. Just like that. Hopefully the same will happen with your little guy!

Bicycle technique to move the gas through the digestive track. We also used Gripe Water (found at Trader Joes/Whole Foods). This worked soo much better than mylicon.

Other posters have some good ideas too...good luck.

My kids always have bad gas. I have a killer let down reflex and they swallow so much air trying to keep up it makes them miserable. Here's what I've learned. 1. Don't feed too often. I always fed them whenever they cried, even if they just ate half an hour ago, and that just makes it worse. I grouped the hungry cry, the tired cry, and the I have to burp cry together and just nursed all the time and that's not good. Try to keep feedings at least 1.5 hours apart, although 2-3 hours is better. Longer if you're giving formula. 2. Wake them after they feed to get all the burps out. I try to keep him up for a half hour to make sure he gets it all out. I know that's hard, mine fall asleep nursing and in the name of sleep I'm so tempted to let a sleeping baby lie, but if you wake them to burp and then rock them back to sleep they sleep sooooo much better. Good luck!!

If you are breastfeeding it could be coming from you. Keep a really close eye on gassy food that you eat.

If he is on formula it may be the formula. Soy is closest to mothers milk but if you have a milk based formula he may be lactose intolerant.

One last thing is if you are breastfeeding is that if you are nervous at all it can come out in your milk and cause the baby to get gas or colic.
I had to quit nursing when our son was 4 months old because of my nerves.

Hope this helps...

I think it is not only common, but inevitable for babies to have bad gas at first. Their bodies are just learning how to digest food and for the first few months, they let you know it! Don't worry. As long as everything is coming out okay, you are fine. I tried using gas drops and/or gripe water sometimes and it never seemed to make any difference. I think it was more so that I could feel like I was at least trying to help him more than I was actually helping him.

Good luck!
L.