Upset Tummy

Updated on November 18, 2015
R. asks from Corpus Christi, TX
30 answers

Hey Ladies:

My little boy is 5 weeks old now and for the last two weeks at night he gets a really upset tummy and strains to pass gas. I have tried the Little Tummy's drops and they seem to help a little bit, but not enough. He is breastfed and this doesn't seem to bother him during the day.. it's only at night... any suggestions or has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks.

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So What Happened?

Hey ladies:

thank you for all of your input! I've appreciated every bit of it. We had a pedi appt today and it is basically colic: which is unexplained fussiness.. generally blamed on the tummy. He is having good bowel movements and I am opposed to meds unless necessary so we are going to try.. me keeping a food diary... tummy massage on the right side focusing...and just love love love.. she did recommend that if he doesn't seem to be having bowel movement or if i think he needs some help that 2oz water mixed with 2oz pear juice in a bottle will cause an "explosion" and help alot as does using a "lubed" thermometer to take a rectal temp or even "massaging" the area around *not in* but around his anus with a lubed finger to help stimulate rectal pushing. Thank you for all!

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K.G.

answers from Fayetteville on

My daughter had acid reflux and like the post before she had to sit "up" and on her side. we lifted her bassinet (by putting something under it) at a 45 degree angle and it really seemed to help. She slept like that until she was at least one. If you can find a triangle to help him stay on his side it will make things much easier.

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M.G.

answers from Alexandria on

Hope you son is feeling better! If you have any more problems with fussiness at night, look for the homeopathic teething tablets, they have chammomile in them & work wonderfully!

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B.C.

answers from Beaumont on

My son had horrible gas/tummy aches when he was an infant. My sister-in-law recommended fennel tea. You get it at health food stores. I would make up a bottle of it and give him just a few sips after each meal. It worked wonders!!

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A.P.

answers from Austin on

Hi! My daughter also had this same problem. What worked for us (in addition to the Mylacon drops) was having her sleep on an incline. We simply put a towel under the bassinet mattress so that she was raised just a little bit. Good news is - she outgrew it as her digestive system matured!

Remember when you're breastfeeding to watch your diet carefully for gassy foods and/or caffiene as these can cause tummy aches in our little ones (my daughter would get gassy with me even eating something as harmless-seeming as popcorn)!

Best of luck and enjoy your precious little one!

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L.M.

answers from Wichita Falls on

R.
Both of my kids had reflux. The had gas really bad at night. My doctor told me to put them in the car set and set it in thier bed that way they were setting up-right so their tommy didn't hurt The gas drops helped but I finally had to get a perscription to help out. My son would wake up every hour during the night. so I was willing to try anything The car seat helped. I know how you feel beleive me Good Luck If I can help in any other way Just ask
L. M

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A.L.

answers from Beaumont on

R., My daughter who is now 5 years old would literally cry for 2 straight hours every night and you could tell it was gas. Besides the perscription drops the doctor finally gave us, my huspand would hold her with one hand under her head and the other on her bottom and then hold her between his legs and swing her slowly back and forth like it was a swing. It immediatly calmed her.

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R.A.

answers from New Orleans on

Have you tried Mylacon Drops? They are a life saver. Give the drops and follow with the pacafier:) They don't absorb into the baby system so you can use them as often as you need to. If it had not been for the Mylacon I would have never had a second child...LOL:) Good Luck

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R.M.

answers from Austin on

My 15 yr old had this problem when she was an infant, and what worked for me was I took one of those peppermint candies and dissolved it in a 4 ounce bottle of warm water and gave it to her. It seemed to do the trick and she felt better after a bit. Something about the warm peppermint water just made her feel better.

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L.

answers from Little Rock on

Ask your pediatrician if it might be reflux. Babies who have reflux will often grunt in their sleep and appear to be straining. It could also be a milk protein intolerance, especially if your baby is having a lot of gas. Again, ask the pediatrician.

If you have non-medical questions, such as how to soothe the baby, how to find her "off button", why her eyes cross, why her skin looks strange, how to get her onto a schedule, how to encourage her to sleep longer at night, you can email me privately and I can tell you about my consulting services.

Good luck and enjoy that new baby,
L.
Newborn Specialist, Parenting Coach, Infant Sleep Trainer
www.NannyForNewborns.com

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J.A.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Try to use peppermint candy mixed with warm water,make sure he is getting burped and lay him on his stomach,you could also rub his belly. That usually worked for me hopefully it workes for you.

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F.D.

answers from San Antonio on

My son is 4 months now but I had the same problem. I also tried the drop and it only helped a little bit. My grandma told me to try rubbing olive oil on my baby's tummy and his back. I didn't like the idea but I thought it was worth a try and it did work for my son. If you do decide to try it only use a little bit of olive oil and usually twice a day is good. Good Luck!!!

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K.H.

answers from Houston on

I know you went to the pedi. but you could also rty this old mammas remedie.............when my 12 yr old had colic when she was about 1 month old i gave her 4oz of water with half of a opeppermint stick dissolved in the water. really soothed her and she would actually sleep through the night. also 4oz. of water and a teaspoon of corn syrup works too......i know these are made of sugar but they really work without having to give medicine. i do know that peppermint soothes a tummy ache. hope this helps.....unless the issue is resolved!

congrats on your new bundle of joy!

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H.H.

answers from Little Rock on

I've heard gripe water can work wonders for some babies, and others it just has no affect. I've also seen this technique to do right before burping.. kind of message his tummy and stretch him out and rub his tummy, then burp him. My friend did this with her newborn and it really seemed to help. She said it helps all the gas and air to gather in one spot in there so it can all come out at once, helping relieve them more. Worth a try I thought.

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C.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Hi R.! My baby now 6 months went thru all the collic symptons. My pedi had him tested and he had reflux, and i had to take all the dairy out of my diet. My son couldn't handle the proteins in cows milk. the medicine helps but i order gripe water online and it is the best thing to happen to our family!! it is called colic-ease and it works for introducing new foods as well. the website is www.colicease.com it really works! it's all natural and i breastfeed as well, it doesn't take any nutrients away from the baby. good luck and it does get better

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R.G.

answers from San Antonio on

you might want to check your diet as well....remember what you eat effects him also. Such as brocilli, I loved it, but yet effected two of my children when I nursed them. My oldest would get the runs and my middle child would get gas (painful crying type). So endless to say that was the end of that till I bottle fed. Try to think about what you've eated with the times he really has the problem.
Good luck!

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F.G.

answers from Austin on

My baby did that same thing around 5 weeks. It was every night at the same exact time. Never happened during the day. She's only 9 weeks now, but it seemed to go away on it's own. She was having trouble eating and sleeping because of the gas and she would get really crabby. I would just try to help relieve her and comfort her as best I could. Hopefully it will pass for you too. Goodluck!

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

R.,

This was a problem with my first daughter. (Her name is R., too.) We put warm, wet washcloths on her tummy and it helped some. We also made sure to wrap her pretty tight in her blanket and held her to apply firm (but gentle) pressure on her abdomen. This helped relieve some of the pressure as well. After that, we just had to wait it out until her digestive system matured to the point that it was no longer a problem. That took about 4 weeks.

Best of luck,
S.

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A.U.

answers from Houston on

Talk to your pedi. My daughter did that and she ended up with acid reflux. With reflux they can get bad gas and once they try to push it out it will cause their tummy to cramp up and it can be hard to relax it. With my daughter we had to get a prescription from the pedi to help her. But if it is reflux you need to know now! My daughter was diagnosed at 4 weeks. If it is reflux let me know and I can give you some tips to sooth her. Good Luck!

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A.B.

answers from San Antonio on

my daughter had the same problem and had terrible reflux even though she was breastfed we tried the mylanta drops but that really does nothing... she ended up needing medication from the dr but the gripe water which can be bought at health food stores like GNC does wonders! Try that and if nothing else works I say check with your ped.

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C.P.

answers from Lubbock on

I would suggest that there may be something you are eating for lunch or dinner that is not agreeing with him. If you eat a sandwich with cheese everyday, for example. Also, nothing in the world beats mylicon drops--Get the ones that are dye free and they taste pretty good. My baby loves them, I think he thinks it's dessert! haha

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Z.S.

answers from Shreveport on

We bought "gripe water" at the health food store. Sunshine Health Foods on Youree and on Airline (North of 220) carries it. Call first because they were out of stock at one point, so when it came in, I got 2 bottles :)
We had tried everything. Warm compresses on his tummy, holding him on his stomach, drops etc...we even switched his formula (I did not breastfeed). My son was completely miserable with gas and this worked like a miracle!
You can use this before his bottle or after, at any time-it works :)
Good Luck!!
Z.

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N.

answers from San Antonio on

My son had that also....they told me to give him gas drops then that didn't start working I was told to give him Mylanta. Ask your Dr the cause for my son's tummy problems was that he had a form of Reflux.
N.

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L.B.

answers from Lubbock on

R.,

If you have a Walgreens close by, they tend to sell a natural herb for babies called "Tummy soothers". Its over the counter and that or mylicon seems to do the trick with upset tummies.

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B.K.

answers from Austin on

You've gotten lots of good advice. One more thing I will add for you to watch in your diet is sweets. No chocolate and certainly, no sodas.

Blessings, B. K.

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J.R.

answers from Lafayette on

My best friend is going through the same thing and her doctor told her its probably what she is eating and she mentioned no dairy/less of it and it turned out thats what it was she was trying to eat heathly and never realized it. She was drinking milk and eating cereal and things like that, but it is very important to watch what you eat especially when they are so young.

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S.M.

answers from Austin on

Hi R. I have learned recently that unless given at the time of feeding that it may be to late to give drops because the air has already made it past the stomach which the drops won't get to once the gas is in the intestines. There is some stuff I heard alot of great things about called grape water or great water I'm not sure but they say it is great for gas aswell as colic. Good luck.

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S.V.

answers from El Paso on

My advice is simple. Take a baby bottle (preferably 4 ounces) and fill it with warm water. Put a tea bag of chamomile in the bottle and shake it. Once it's cool enough and has a hue of light green, take the teabag out and have your baby drink it. Don't add any sugar or anything to it or it would defeat the purpose. After he drinks it, burp him well. Some may come up but the chamomile should already be absorbing in his belly. Let him drink as little or as much as he wants. You should see a huge difference. It worked wonders for my son and he had the same problems. Good luck!

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K.S.

answers from Boston on

I suggest babies magic tea. It was great with my gassy baby.. Also use it yourself and pass the effects through your breastmilk.

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C.C.

answers from Austin on

I would hold my daughter like a football with my hand supporting her pelvis and her head resting in the crease of my arm. Just like the regular cradle hold except she was facing the floor. i think it is the slight pressure on the belly that helped. I would hold her that way and bounce on one of those big exercise balls. She loved being held that way.

C.

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