Is Baby Having Gas Issues?

Is she breast fed or bottle fed? My first daughter was bottle fed and had a milk intolerance for the first 9 months or so. Had to give her soy formula and it solved the problem.

You need to take note of when the fussing starts and for how long it lasts , does it start soon after she has fed? When she does pass gas (from below) is it really smelly (smellier than it should be for a baby who's diet is milk) , is her tummy large and hard to touch? All of this will point to a gas problem or could even be a milk/lactose sensitivity. I would also try gas drops before each feed and then once she has fed burp her and place her in her bouncy chair or car seat for 20-30 mins rather than laying her flat and see if that makes a difference , if still the same then I would look into possible milk/lactose issues , do you breast feed? If so try cutting out dairy products , if she is formula fed then try a lactose free milk.

My 3rd child was the same way and would scream after being fed and her tummy was very big and hard , we switched to Similac Sensitive which is a lactose free formula and she was a different baby afterwards. She is now 2 1/2 and has no milk or lactose issues , I just think that when she was very young she had a sensitive stomach and could not take regular formula.

try milicon drops...worked like a charm with my girls...also, i would put her on the foot rest of the ottoman on her belly and rock her with a little pressure on her back and the burps would come out. you can also try bicyling her legs to get gas out too.

What time of day is she fussy and how long does it last? Is there any kind of pattern? Does her face turn red? Does she bunch up her legs or make a fist? She's at the age when colic often begins. True colic used to be defined as fussy for at least three consecutive hours every day for at least three weeks (so too soon to know for sure), often in the evening. In addition to what you are doing, you can try white noise, a vibrating bouncy seat and/or a swing (with supervision). You can also check with your pediatrician. I had two VERY colicky infants. That's why there wasn't a third. (-: Good luck!

We swear by The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp! Our first child was a screamer for hours upon hours. It wasn't until we used his "5 S's" method that we were able to find relief. Just had our second child and we use it with her too. The man is a genius!!!

I have four kids.. my youngest is 4 weeks old, my oldest is 6 years old. All of my children were breastfed and still had gas issues. They get that hard 'frog belly'. My youngest lets out the most righteous BM's that are mostly gas and have startled me with how loud they can be! My daughter that is now nearly 4 was just a fussy baby in general.. so it can be both.

Babies are born with unfinished digestive systems so gas is very, very common. Make sure you're burping often, feed some and try burping in the middle of bottles and buying bottles that reduce the amount of swallowed air. I suggest Gas drops (generic Mylicon) - these saved my sanity with most of my kids. Also talk to your pedi and see if it's possible she has reflux. Usually reflux babies stop crying when they are held upright, since the pain stops when they aren't laying down. I read that you changed from breast to formula recently -- the change can definitely cause more gassiness and tummy pain. Just give her time. Pick one formula and stick to it, changing between different formulas can also cause most babies more discomfort. Make sure she's getting enough to eat and gaining well. My 4 week old has a pretty big appetite! He eats sometimes many times in a short burst, other times he can sleep 4+ hours. Since you're no longer breastfeeding you might consider introducing a pacifier. If baby has just eaten and you're sure she's not hungry -- a pacifier can be very soothing and even help calm tummy issues.

Hope that helps, I know its hard to have your newborn cry.

Be sure to give plenty of time to burp her thoroughly. But digestion seems to be just plain uncomfortable for lots of infants, and some are also sensitive to too much light and other sensations.

Get hold of a book or video on The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp, who explains why he calls the first 3 months the Fourth Trimester. He believes babies are born, in essence, too early – so their big heads can make it through the birth canal. The first three months are just getting them to where they can begin to interact with the world.

There are some very helpful videos online showing his excellent techniques for soothing fussy babies. Watch these and related links:

How-to's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KnVPUdEgQ&feature=re...
Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0TtxO-ocY&feature=re...
Enhanced sleep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1

If she is fed, clean, and rested, I would try Happiest Baby on the Block. My son loved the bathroom fans and was really soothed by those.

Oh, and if it is gas, there are some holds and massages that can help.

It could be gas troubles. You could give her gas drops and rub her belly. Even just rubbing her belly might help her. Or you can lay her down and move her legs like she's riding a bike.

Could be from swallowing air as she feeds. This is more likely to happen if bottle fed, but can also happen when breastfeeding, if she goes too long between feedings, she will tend to gulp hungrily, swallowing air as she gulps. Feeding her more frequently may be all thats needed to relieve her. Also holding her either up over your shoulder, or over your knees or in your arm, facing out, so that your shoulder/leg/arm is pressing on her tummy will help expell any gas or air bubbles in her tummy.
If you determine it's gas, not air, it may be some ingredient in her food. If breastfeeding, try an elimination diet for yourself... start by eliminating the most common culprets, milk, wheat, peanuts, & gassy foods, if eliminating these foods don't work, it may be a less common allergy, (my one son turned out to be allergic to chocolate) so keep tryig to eliminate different things from your diet until you hit the right one(s). If formula feeding, switch formulas. The Gas X drops do work to temporarily help the pain, but they would be my last resort. Something is not agreeing with her, better to find out & eliminate what that is, rather than continue to irritate her system & cover up the sx with pallitive drops rather than cure the problem.