We sometimes look at a baby's round belly, which looks cute, but as parents, we should still be aware of the seriousness of it, because it may be because the baby is bloated. Although babies already have physiological bloating, it may also be related to improper feeding methods by the mother or the baby's own digestive problems. So, what does it feel like for a baby to have bloating?
The feeling of bloating in the baby
Abdominal distension usually presents subjective discomfort. Due to the inability of newborns to express subjective feelings and the possibility of physiological abdominal distension in normal newborns, the key to judging and treating baby bloating is not simply to see if the baby has abdominal distension, but to see if it is accompanied by other abnormal phenomena.
Symptoms of bloating in babies
Infant bloating is manifested as the baby's abdomen being filled with gas, their legs lifting up, and screaming loudly. This is because the abdominal muscles are not yet fully developed, but the young abdomen needs to accommodate as many organs as adults. When the abdominal muscles do not have enough strength to support it, the abdomen will appear more prominent, especially when the baby is held, the abdomen will appear protruding and sagging.
If abdominal distension is obvious, accompanied by frequent vomiting, poor baby's mental state, not feeding, hard, shiny, and red abdominal wall, some small blood vessels may be visible (i.e. varicose veins), and a lump may be felt; Some cases may be accompanied by jaundice, white stools, bloody stools, tarry stools, fever, or the aforementioned "five no's" symptoms. These are all manifestations of the disease. Severe and stubborn abdominal distension often indicates a critical condition and should be treated at the hospital as soon as possible.
What should I do if my baby has bloating
1. Don't let your baby be hungry for too long before feeding
If a baby is hungry for too long, they will suck too quickly and swallow a large amount of air. So it is important to breastfeed the baby on time, and after feeding, gently pat the baby's back to promote hiccups and allow the gas in the stomach to be expelled through the esophagus.
2. Avoid the baby crying for a long time
When babies cry, they are prone to bloating. In such situations, parents should provide more comfort or hug them, and adjust their emotions to avoid the aggravation of bloating.
3. Massage the baby's abdomen more often
Massage clockwise for 5 minutes. Using wind oil or warm towels to cover the abdomen can also help with intestinal peristalsis and gas expulsion, improving digestion and absorption function.
4. Mom wants to reduce sugar intake
If there is too much sugar in breast milk, the sugar will ferment excessively in the baby's stomach, which can easily cause intestinal bloating. At this time, mothers should pay attention to limiting their sugar intake. In addition, if you suspect that your feeding may cause bloating in your baby, then breastfeeding mothers should eliminate suspected foods such as beans, corn, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and spicy foods from their diet.
5. Avoid inhaling air
Artificially fed babies should pay attention to filling the front end of the bottle mouth with milk, without any sloping surface, to prevent the baby from inhaling air. If a breastfed baby's mouth is not placed properly with the mother's breast during breastfeeding, the baby may inhale too much air, resulting in belching or bloating. The correct posture is to have the baby's face facing the mother's breasts to ensure that their mouth covers both the nipple and areola.
6. Reduce intake of foods that can easily cause bloating
Certain solid foods may also cause belching and bloating. For example, grains and coarse grains, as well as some vegetables such as pea puree and soybean puree, contain fiber that can cause bloating in the large intestine. Kiwi, pear, pineapple, fruit juice, and other foods that contain high concentrations of sugar are also causes of bloating in infants and should be consumed in moderation.
7. If necessary, seek medical attention
If Baobao experiences bloating accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, poor bowel movements, even fever, bloody stools, tenderness in the abdomen, or shortness of breath, or something similar to a lump can be felt in the abdomen, special attention should be paid and Baobao should be taken to seek medical examination and treatment as soon as possible.
