My 1 Month Old and Gas

I had this exact same thing with my kids. Cut out the dairy and then they were fine. Plus I discovered how much I love vanilla soy milk on my cereal and in my oatmeal, so I still use it today 10 years later!

For the first six to eight weeks I had to watch how much dairy I ate. I didn't cut it out entirely but I droppped my consumption way down - no glasses of milk, no yogurt, no eating of cheese slices/cubes, etc. I slowly reintroduced it and he's been fine since. I didn't have a lot of luck with the gas drops but you can try those too. I would also burp after feeding and in between switching sides.

The best way to burp my son was to sit him upright on my lap. With my right hand I would put my index finger and thumb under his chin, supporting his head by resting his chin/jaw on those fingers. I would tuck my remaining three fingers (middle to pinky) under his arm which was furthest from my body. Without any patting on his back he would let out big burps quickly. Hands down that was the most effective method for my son. Google methods of burping if you aren't finding a burping method which works. It is how I learned that method and there are lots more suggestions out there. Good luck and congratulations on your new baby.

I had to go through a lot of changes in my personal diet for my first child when I nursed. My second child seemed unaffected on the other hand. With my first baby I couldn't eat fried food, dairy, acidic foods like tomatoes or oranges, onion & garlice, and many kinds of veggies. I got to the point where I was eating grilled meats, pasta with broth, peas, asparagus & corn, rice, salad and lots of water. (Remember to drink a large glass of water each time you sit down to nurse.) The good part of this kind of diet is that you lose your baby weight in no time (2 months for me) - the bad part is that any small "infraction" and baby is in agony. But it is so worth it to eliminate stuff from your diet and have a happy baby.
BTW - not sure if you pump but it's uncanny to see the variations in the color of the milk based on the foods I ate.

Dairy. Eliminate dairy from your diet for 2 weeks and see if he feels better. Both my kids were sensitive to dairy as babies, it caused terrible gas for them.

If his body gets stiff and you're unable to do bicycle wheels with his legs, then it's likely NOT gas. It sounds more like acid reflux or GERD. I would NOT try gripe water or any medications at all until you've had your baby seen by a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. They can help you out with a nutritionist as well.

My boys had gas drops almost from the beginning. I used Target brand. They have the same ingredients as the name brand and a lot cheaper. I put it right in their bottles, but they would also take it right out of the syringe. My boys also outgrew the need for drops by 4 months. They weren't really good burpers, and would get angry if I tried to remove the bottle before they were done. Dairy could also be the culprit. I would try the gas drops first see if that works, than try cutting dairy. If you do both at the same time, you won't know which one is fixing the problem.

I would try the herbal route. Try using Gripe Water, I swear by it. You can find it at Target, any drug store, walmart... I got the Mommy's Bliss brand, but Little Tummy's also makes a Gripe Water. OR, you can make your own... Here's a general recipe...

Gripe Water Recipe
-Measure out 1 or 2 tbsp. ea Crushed Fennel seeds, dill seeds, chamomile & ginger. (Peppermint, Lemon Balm and Cinnamon Bark can also be added if you choose.)
-Place all ingredients in pot along with 3 cups water.
-Bring the water to a boil and let it boil for two minutes.
-Turn the heat down to a simmer and let the gripe water simmer for 10 to 20 minutes.
-Strain herbs from water
-Add honey (if over 12 months) or sugar to sweeten the water if you like.
-Cool to room temperature.

Yes, use the simethicone drops before each feeding and consider cutting out dairy.

K.,

Not being a doctor myself, here is what I have found.
cruciferous family veggies will cause gas if he can't handle them (wiki them - there's a long list!)
dairy will cause gas but more often than not crying and pain too.
eliminating these two things may help him a lot - or just a little.

look up the I love you massage (simplistically it is tracing his colon very carefully - 'I" is from HIS right hip up to his right rib, gently moving your thumb on his skin - "L" tracing in a new gesture from his right rib to his left rib, then down to his left hip - "U" - tracing in a new gesture an upside down U from right hip, up under ribs, down to his left hip. If he's constipated he'll probably have a bm.

if you are looking for pro-biotics for yourself, look for a supplement, not stuff added commercially to food (like yogurt, milk, etc.)

contact La Leche League, they have some good advice too - and can tailor it to what you haven't said here.

good luck, and congratulations!
M.

PS: soy is something no baby should have in their diet, through you or added. It is chronically hard to digest (easiest way to put it). Look up weston a price foundation for blog entries on it. You won't go back. : |

I assume you are burping him, but maybe a different way. My daughter needed her paci, in order to relaxe enough to get the burps out. You can try that with this:

1. Sit him on your lap, hold his head by his chin and gently bounce while rubbing his back. The postion allows for him to get the burps up. And rubbing his back, should relax him.

2. Lay him across your lap, on his tummy and gently bounce your legs, while rubbing his back.

Burp more often?

Are you giving him anything in a bottle ( I know you are Breast Feeding, but we gave my son and daugther bottles from the start) If so, maybe change the bottle. I could not understand why my son was so gasey when we bottle fed him, but okay when I nursed him. It was the bottles. It took us a while to realize that becuase I nursed him most of the time.

They usually ask you to wait 6 weeks before the gas drops. I think we gave them to our kids earlier than that.

Are you sure it is gas and not reflux? Keep him upright for 30-45 mins after feeding for a day or two and see if that helps. ( I know, overwhelming when he is up every 2-3 hrs for food.)

Good luck & Congratulations.