14/10/2024
Mums are worried when baby stretches to poo or farts and cry in pain.
Several factors can cause that but the commonest can be colic pain. Baby can cry for hours lasting for several hours in a day.
Some causes may be allergic reaction, gas, overstimulation to noise or light, developing brain etc.
The most avoidable we want to learn today is that which is from Gas.
Mummy is now learning to position and attach baby to breast and baby is also learning to suckle so when baby isn’t well attached air easily gets trapped in the food tract.
Because the *food tract is immature* , the little air trapped makes them feel uncomfortable and that makes them cry and stretch.
We should also see the food tract as a pipe tube, once air enters, it can only come out through the a**s as fart or air or through the mouth as belch. So when baby farts or belches a lot, it means baby might have taken so much air when breastfeeding so we need to watch out.
As baby and mum master the act of good position and attachment and good suckling, such things reduces gradually and stops gradually on its own as the food tract matures.
So for the mean time, Learn to position baby well to breast, when breastfeeding and you hear any noise like phew phew, it doesn’t mean baby is enjoying the milk, it means baby is sucking air.
Just as when air bubbles comes and makes noise when put in a bucket of water, the same happens when baby is sucking air.
So when you hear that sounds, break the suckle and reposition baby again.
When baby is well attached, you won’t hear any noise when suckling.
Burp baby by gently massaging or rubbing the back with baby on your lap or your shoulder after each feed and at your leisure. As frequently as you remember you just do it.
*When you need to report*
•When baby has fever
• When baby vomits repeatedly after each feed
• When baby has blood in stool
• When baby is weak and unresponsive
• When pain interferes with breastfeeding
• When baby doesn’t gain weight
We should note that most of the over the counter drugs doesn’t cure it, it goes naturally as the brain and food tract develops.
Let’s report if we are not comfortable rather than giving over the counter drugs.
