Probiotics?

So funny! After my son was born I seemed to get extra gassy on top of super bloated. I found that I couldn't eat garlic at all or I would swell up like a balloon! Do you eat a lot of garlic? I also recommend taking that soy out of your diet, it's pretty much poison, you can read more about it here http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/avoid_soy.htm
Probiotics are a good idea too. Especially if you were on any kind of antibiotics recently.

Anyhow, good luck and I hope this helps! Enjoy the snow!

Probiotics are probably a great idea.

I'm curious though about the possibility of a wheat allergy. The wheat that we currently ingest now contains over 50% gluten...back in pioneer days it was more like 2%. According to some studies out there right now, over 85% of us don't properly digest this amount of gluten and we tend to eat up to 5 servings of it a day...AND it is hidden in so many of the processed foods we eat.

It may be that you need more veggie fiber and less grain!

If you think this could be something, check out Gluten-free Girl by Shauna James Ahern. I have really enjoyed learning about this issue and find that limiting my gluten consumption has helped me calm my belly in a huge way!

They certainly wouldn't hurt. I would suggest getting Primal Defense, they are the best. You may experience extra gas and bloating for a week while your body battles the bad bacteria (their destruction leaves a gas by-product), but once things start to level off, you should notice a huge improvement. Also, cut out or at least cut back on sugar (definitely cut out refined sugar) and white flour during the transition. The bacteria and yeast in your body thrive on them. If you ever take antibiotics, it's good to get on the probiotics afterward to rebalance your body. It's also good to have the powdered kind for children on hand. If your son develops thrush, you can add a little water to the powder and rub it in his mouth to alleviate the symptoms and pain right away. Since you are nursing, it is possible for his system to get out of balance if yours is.

Hi R.-
You aren't the only one;-)) I just starting drinking more water, that helped- but Probiotics help too. They can't hurt and I gave them to my son from 4 months on.

I've had TONS of digestive problems. The main thing I use for gas is digestive enzymes from Enzymetica called Digest Gold. I love it, because I'll go from a LOT of gas to very little in a short amount of time (like 1/2 hour) and it won't bother my stomach. Beano, which has been advertised on TV doesn't work at all. But for what you are describing, digestive enzymes will work much better for you but I would also take probiotics if I were you either in Kefir, or by tablet (I like Dr. Ohira's probiotics the best - they knock out yeast infections) and also EPS probiotics by Jarrow. In my opinion they are the most potent.

Did you know the nitrites in sandwich and other meats can cause gas? The chemicals in the meats can cause you to have all kinds of weird digestive problems as well. I cannot eat regular hamburger meat. I have to go to Central Market and purchase non-hormone and non-antibiotic meats. This is better for your kids as well. Now that I don't eat hormones and antibiotics, I don't get digestive problems as much.

Probiotics help more when you can't go or if you have yeast problems as in an infection. Also eating live fruits and vegetables that haven't been cooked help a lot for the gas problem. Pineapple (fresh, not out of the can) is the greatest because it has bomelain which is another enzyme that helps digestion and also is an anti-inflammatory enzyme.

Hi, R.. Probiotics will definitely help. Make sure you get the kind that needs to be refrigerated (as those are live cultures).If you try yogurt, opt for organic so you can bypass all those growth hormones and toxins. Also, up your veggie intake and decrease your grains a little. And definitely stop drinking soymilk. Soymilk gave me tummy aches and gas when I used to drink it. Try ricemilk instead. I drink organic Rice Dream. Hope this helps!

I'd try some kefir too. Kefir populates your intestines with "flora" and has immensely more cultures than yogurt. It's really really good for you, when I was pregnant it was the only thing that eliminated my morning sickness, like magic.
good luck,
-Colleen

You might have a problem with wheat and not milk/cheese. It also causes intestinal/digestive problems like bloating and gas. You can either eliminate it from your diet, or have a simple food sensitivity test at the naturopath to determine the cause.

yes pro-biotics will help. Talk to a knowledgeable supplement person as not all pro-biotiics pass through breast milk. If you want some something cheaper eat a lot of Nancy's yogurt. If you get their plain it is virtually sugar free. It is the best around for culture count which is why it is soooo tart. You could also try some digestive enzymes. Good luck. If you are in Salem go to Life Source and talk to Michael in supplements if he is still there, he is amazing.

Well...they couldn't hurt. I'm not sure Probiotics help with gas though, unless you have an intestinal issue. Maybe look into Beano with breastfeeding.

Probiotics are great! It is a very good idea for anyone to take. We have so many products in our food that cause problems, especially sugars, even if you have been taking antibiotics for anything, you need to replace the bacteria for your intestines to work correctly. I had a very soft consistency for a long time and my nurse prac. told me to take them for 6 months. It took a few weeks and it was so much better. No more stomache cramps either. Get them at a natural store and only one bottle at a time since they have to remain fresh.

I would think to eat more veggies? I am snowed in too so feel your pain!! LOL

Not embarrassing at all! It's what we are here for. Probiotics are good for everyone. But you may be battling a couple of things. I take the pro-defense kind and yes, after about a week, it does seem to help quite a bit. That said, you may be having a reaction to particular foods. Have you kept a food journal? Try it for a week or so just to see if you can narrow it down. I found that things like avocados and dried onions give me a problem. My doc says I probably have a leaky gut. I am also dairy sensitive. So taking a pill of probiotics is the only way I can get mine. Soy does seem to be more problematic for me as well. I found that I can't eat any energy/snack bars. I don't even know why but they give me horrendous gas. Anyway, that's my two bits. So you good that you are trying to do something about it. For years, I just thought it was normal for my family!

Hi, that is a lot of fiber in your diet which could cause gas, but it is such a healthy diet. Good for you -- I wish I were eating that well! I've read somewhere that probiotic pills are not nearly as effective as actual live cultures from food. So, if you really want to take care of the gas, I would suggest going for yoghurt!

You might be allergic or sensitive to soy. Soy is in lots of processed food such as luna bars. Also, sometimes deli turkey gives me gas. It might be preservatives.

I would turn to more fruits and veges before trying something that is man made. I would keep up the diet you have, just go to web MD and look up colon cleanse or something to that effect. Or google "veges with fiber" and see what it brings to you. I'm sure that nature will help clean you of the waist you have piled up in there.

I experienced (am still) the same thing. I can honestly stink the dog out too. That's bad!!!! So I feel your pain!! Just make sure to stay away from soda and coffee, milk products and add more fiber to your diet. You can also expiriment with Acai Berries. I have ordered mine and will let you know how they work. You'll just need to send me your email. Mine at home is ____@____.com

The other thing is to exercise a little more and not too much or you'll get exhausted and your milk supply will go down, but maybe 30 minutes every other day until you can rebuild your stamina back up. That will help joggle that extra weight around and may cause more gas, but it should help get the bubbles out along with the added fiber in your diet from veges and fruit to get you back to pleasant smelling.

Best of luck and just know, there are others out there who are suffering the same thing right along with you. If you want to know how that Acai Berry stuff worked, send me your email and I'll let you know pronto.

Kim B.

Look into enzymes- they helped my husband

R., Yes, I think Probiotics could help. You could also have yeast in your gut, which may require more than probiotics. If you see Naturopath they can usually diagnose it for you.

Good luck!

I don't think they can hurt taking acidophalous (sp?). I take it quite often b/c of my lactose intolerance. You may be allergic to soy too...a highly allergic food. So, you might want to check it out. Actually veggies may help your digestion, dark leafy greens are also EXCELLENT for you and the baby while breastfeeding. It also gives you the needed iron (from spinach) that you will need to replenish after giving birth (loosing blood). So, eat them veggies and give up the deli meat, not super great on your digestion either. Drink lots of water too...should help the gas/digestion. Probiotics are wonderful for the digestion. Make or buy kombucha...a wonderful source of real food/probiotics.