Breastfeeding Diet - What Causes Gas?

Updated on March 26, 2012
S.F. asks from Ogdensburg, NY
8 answers

My daughter is just a few days shy of 1 month old and has had pretty bad gas since birth. She is exclusivly breastfed and that is going great but she seems to have gas worse some days than others. Im pretty positive its not a lactose thing because I have tested and timed her gas and bowel movements in accordance to me consuming a large glass of cows milk or any dairy product and that really doesnt seem to fit with the problem. So I was wondering if any of you smart Mommas happen to know what foods that I consume that are more than likely to cause my little one to have gas. I hate seeing her in pain and if its something that I am eating than I definitely want to stop consuming it, at least until her digestive tract matures a bit more
Thanks in advance

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Featured Answers

L.M.

answers from New York on

broccoli, cauliflower, beans, fibrous foods, spicy foods.

Also this is a high gas time period age 2 weeks to 6 weeks, and it will be over soon, so keep that in mind too.

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More Answers

☆.H.

answers from San Francisco on

It depends on the baby. Onions and garlic were a no no for me when I was breast feeding.

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S.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

Cabbage/ coleslaw. Broccoli

1 mom found this helpful
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J.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried keeping a food journal? That's what we did with our son when he was an infant. I did end up cutting out all cow's milk just because we had such trouble with his colic. I read somewhere that it took two weeks for all the lactose that could potential bother your baby to leave your system, so it was just easier overall to cut it out.

The other thing we did was feed him the simethicone gas drops before we fed him, as a preventative measure. I think it helped.

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A.P.

answers from Dothan on

When my son was an infant, he would also cry with gas pains, and to be honest, it did not seem to matter what I was eating (or not eating). I know that a mom's food choices affect the baby having gas, but he just seemed to have it regardless. Someone suggested we try Gripe Water and it made a HUGE difference. It is sold online at drugstore.com but we bought our first bottle at the Women's Center at a local hospital (where they also sold breast pumps, baby slings, etc.).
Good luck and kudos to you for breastfeeding - it's a hard job!

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Be sure you are burping her really well.
Any food that gives you gas will give her gas. When I breastfed my 4 I didn't eat onions, green peppers, broccoli, cabbage ect. It was hard because I love those foods but a more bland diet is better.
I was always told that a pregnant and breastfeeding mom needs to consume lots of dairy because we lose calicum as we nurture our babies. But that could have changed. My babies are now 37, 35, 25, & 21. By the time she is 3 months old her body will be able to handle the gas better.
When she seems to be gassy take a washcloth, wring it out in very warm to hot water and put in a plastic bag, place it on her tummy and hold her against you. The extra warmth helps her muscles to relax and pass the gas more easily. A small hot water bottle works too.

Good luck and enjoy her -- the baby years go by way to fast. Congrats.

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L.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Ibuprofen and diet soda gave my little guy major issues. And of course the common broccoli and chocolate and pizza.

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J.L.

answers from St. Cloud on

Lettuce was the culprit for a friend of mine. I agree that you should keep a food journal and... a gas journal too :P A lactation consultant should be able to give you some advice too on figuring it out. Try moving her legs like she's riding bicycle, then push her legs into her belly to help move that gas out.

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