Are there home remedies for gases? What are the causes and how to alleviate this disorder?
DOES YOUR BABY HAVE GAS? CHECK OUT THESE TIPS
It is very common for new moms and for those who have already been on more than one occasion, to notice that their babies have flatulence, air in the belly, or excessive presence of gases.
To describe the disorders caused by what is generally called “air in the belly,” doctors use different terms such as: aerophagia, meteorism, and flatulence.
WHAT IS AEROPHAGIA?
It takes place when the child eats or drinks very quickly, or when he is very distressed and cannot eliminate the air he breathed in.
WHAT IS METEORISM?
The term meteorism is used to indicate the excessive presence of gas in the intestine that causes pain. It may be due to swallowed air, that is, to aerophagia, or to the fermentation of the food that was eaten.
WHAT IS FLATULENCE?
It occurs when the body tries to free itself from the accumulated air, due to aerophagia or meteorism. It is produced in two ways: air can be eliminated through the mouth, with belching, or through the anus, with the sometimes noisy expulsion of smelly gases.
THE SYMPTOMS
The main symptom of these disorders is a swollen abdomen and pain that, in some cases, can be very intense. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the amount of air that causes pain, but rather the sensitivity of the intestine, which in some babies is more pronounced than in others.
In most cases, gas is formed in the area of the large intestine, after the action of bacteria that are normally present there. When food is ingested, in addition, during digestion, amino acids and proteins, when divided, form hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane.
Sometimes, in addition, flatulence derives from intolerance to certain foods, such as milk. By reducing the amount of milk, or eliminating it from the child’s diet, always under the pediatrician’s instructions, the situation will improve.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Gas emission is usually an embarrassing situation but, from a medical point of view, it is not worrying. Once the cause is known, action must be taken on a case-by-case basis:
- Teach the child to eat slowly
- Eliminate gas-producing foods
- Drink water after meals
- Give her the special anti-colic bottle.
However, it is advisable to contact the pediatrician when the child has gas frequently and the cause is not identified and/or when he loses weight.
Does your baby have a lot of gas?