Gas Pain in Infants and Newborns

Burping and Belching

Burping is a natural way of expelling gas built up in the stomach and you should encourage your child to burp during and immediately after a meal. However, if your baby hiccups, burps, belches or spits up excessively, it may indicate that too much air is being swallowed during feeding.

Bloating

Gas has buoyancy and trapped gas essentially acts like a cork in the intestines, causing the flow of gastric juices to slow or stop. A swollen abdomen could be a sign that gas is trapped in the intestines, causing built up pressure to accumulate. Built up pressure thus causes bloating of the abdomen, resulting in pain and discomfort. A baby’s immature digestive system may be unable to cope effectively and some babies may experience painful cramps.

Excessive Fussiness

Crying is simply how babies communicate a need. As such, crying occurs frequently and for any number of reasons, like hunger, discomfort, loneliness, pain, tiredness, or gassiness.

According to the “Dunstan Baby Language” system, a baby will cry out with an “Eh” sound if gas is trapped in the stomach and needs to burp, whereas an “Eairh” crying sound will be uttered if gas is trapped in the intestines. Though not scientific, this system or language may be helpful for some parents.

Parents tend to describe a gas cry as sharper and more acute as if a baby is in pain. With intestinal gas, you may notice your baby’s face turn red, fists clench, knees pull up into the chest, or straining and grunting sounds.

If your baby cries for three or more hours per day and at least three times per week he or she may have colic.