Wind

Written for BabyCenter Arabia

Approved by the Medical Advisory Board

Source: http://arabiaenglish.babycenter.com/baby/newborncare/wind/

• What is wind?
• How do I know when my baby has wind?
• Do breastfed babies get wind?
• How can I help my bottle-fed baby to avoid wind?
• How do I burp my baby?
• Why do some babies have more trouble bringing up wind than others?
• Can gripe water and other medications help?

What is wind?

Wind is simply the air in your baby's tummy. Much of it will be swallowed along with her milk when she feeds, but it also gets there when she cries and even as she is breathing. It can make her feel full before she has drunk enough milk and can also make her feel very uncomfortable.

How do I know when my baby has wind?

Some babies really suffer with wind and need burping after every feed. Others are fine and hardly ever have wind. During a feed, your baby may stop sucking on her bottle and cry, or resist going on the other breast. There may be a pained expression on her face and she may squirm and grimace, particularly if you try to lay her down after a feed.

Do breastfed babies get wind?

Breastfed babies tend to get fewer problems with wind than those on bottle feeds. This is because they can control the flow of milk at the breast and so suck at a slower pace, swallowing less air with the milk. They are also more likely to have smaller and more frequent feeds and may be fed in an upright position, both of which can reduce wind. Yet, even breastfed babies will often need to be burped, especially if they are fast feeders and/or your milk flows particularly quickly.

How can I help my bottle-fed baby to avoid wind?

The flow of milk from a bottle can make babies take in gulps of air between closely-spaced swallows. You can help reduce wind by giving your baby her bottle in as upright a position as possible and making sure that the bottle is tilted enough for the milk to completely cover the entrance to the teat.

How do I burp my baby?

If your baby is sucking happily, don't stop her feeding to wind her. She will probably cry and will swallow more air as a result. Make the most of any natural breaks in a feed, when your baby lets go of the teat in a bottle feed or during a breast change-over in a breastfeed. Wind her again when she is finished.

Patting or rubbing your baby's back is the most effective way to get her to bring up wind. (Remember: she may bring up some of her feed with it so always have a cloth or muslin handy to protect your clothes.) There are three positions most commonly used for burping a baby. Try all of them as most babies find one more effective than the others.

Over-the-shoulder: place the baby over your shoulder with her bottom supported by your arm on that side. As your baby is stretched out and upright, this is often the easiest position to get her to burp. With your other hand, pat or rub her back.

Sitting up: Sit your baby on your lap so she leans forward with her chin supported on your hand as you hold her far shoulder. Pat or rub her back.

Face-down on your lap: place your baby face down on your lap. Hold her firmly with one hand and pat or rub her back gently with the other.

Why do some babies have more trouble bringing up wind than others?

If your baby has not burped after a couple of minutes it probably means she doesn't need to. However, some babies do seem to have real trouble bringing up wind and will be obviously uncomfortable in which case you will need to persevere. It may be that your baby's immature digestive system is allowing air to travel further into the gut, making it harder to get out. You may have to try some good back patting and changing positions before she will give a resounding burp. Some babies seem only able to get rid of wind through hiccupping.

Can gripe water and other medications help?

If your baby seems to have a severe case of wind, your health visitor or doctor may suggest medication such as Infacol, which is also sometimes used to treat colic. Infacol contains simethicone. This is an "anti-foaming agent" that works by allowing the gas to be released in larger bubbles rather than lots of smaller bubbles that can get trapped in the stomach.

Gripe water is an old-fashioned remedy containing herbs (dill, fennel, ginger etc) and sodium bicarbonate. The herbs are said to warm the baby's tummy and break down air bubbles while sodium bicarbonate neutralises acid. Gripe water used to contain alcohol. Some experts believe it was the sedative effect of this that made gripe water successful in helping to sooth babies troubled by wind. Alcohol is no longer an ingredient, but many parents still swear by gripe water so it may be worth a try.

Most babies outgrow the need to be winded as they become able to move and find a comfortable position for themselves.