Gas Pain In Babies Can Be Caused By Food Allergies
Child allergy specialist. Dr Gizem Atakul said food allergies can be one of the causes of gas pain in babies.
What is colic?
Colic is used to refer to long bouts of crying or restless for no apparent reason in the first few months of life. The “rule of three” is the most commonly used definition of colic. This is used for abnormal crying that lasts more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, and more than 3 weeks. Crying fits for colic usually start suddenly and become more intense in the evening. The howling sound is higher and higher than normal. Classically, the baby with colic grows normally and has normal stools. It occurs in about 30% of infants. These crying episodes improve in 60% of babies by the age of 3 months and in 90% by the age of 4 months. Colic has no known long-term harmful effects.
If your baby has colic, he may pull his legs toward his stomach during crying spells, arch his back, tense his arms and legs, give gas, and have a tight, bloated stomach. This behavior and uncontrollable crying usually starts a few weeks after birth.
Colic and cow’s milk allergy
Colic is a possible symptom of a cow’s milk allergy. As a result of a late allergic reaction, colic-like crying spells can occur within hours or days of exposure to cow’s milk. If fed only with breast milk, the baby will come across cow’s milk through the food the mother eats. If the baby is bottle-fed, these formulas are made from cow’s milk and the baby will encounter the same protein as cow’s milk in this way.
Colic is just one of the complaints in babies with cow’s milk allergy. The crying fits seen in allergies have a few differences from the seizures in colic.
1-Time: Colic crying usually starts in the late afternoon or evening and lasts at least 3 hours a day. In allergies, crying fits do not have a specific time interval and can occur at any hour of the day.
2- Accompanying symptoms: There are no other symptoms associated with colic. It is a completely healthy baby. In allergies, there are other symptoms such as eczema, diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the stool.
3-Nutrition: Colic is influenced by nutritional techniques. Over- or malnutrition, such as swallowing air from a bottle. Symptoms in allergies are independent of the feeding technique.
4- Poop: In babies with colic, the poop looks normal. It is golden yellow in color, has a smooth runny consistency and is gritty. If there is an allergy, there may be constipation, diarrhea, bright red blood in the poo, and a slimy appearance.
5-Diet: Gas pain is generally unrelated to the food consumed. In allergies, if the food responsible for the complaints is not consumed, the symptoms completely subside. Every time it is consumed, the symptoms start again.
Consult a pediatric allergist if you suspect an allergy. Unnecessarily elaborate diets adversely affect both the nutritional properties of breast milk and the health of the mother.
What can I do to calm a baby with colic?
The following methods may be helpful in calming a baby with colic. Remember that every baby reacts differently, so you may have to try different techniques before you discover what works best for your baby.
Half swaddling or wrapping your baby in a thin, large blanket will make him feel safer because it mimics the feeling of the womb.
Carry your baby in front of your chest using a kangaroo or sling while you walk. Body contact and movement are soothing. Place your baby on your knees while gently rubbing his back to allow for easy burping.
Steady, rhythmic movements are soothing. Cuddle your baby as they rock in a chair, or try a baby swing or a vibrating baby seat.
Create the relaxing womb environment with soft music, white noise, fan or heartbeat audio recording.
Help your baby find his hand, fingers, or thumbs to suck on, or consider giving him a pacifier to calm down.
Massage your baby. Babies love skin-to-skin contact and research shows that babies who receive regular massages cry less and are less fussy.
If you are still having trouble calming your baby or are concerned about their health, contact a doctor for further advice.
