As the old saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover. And the same rings true for babies and their bowel movements. While it might be hard to tell what’s going on inside your baby from just looking at them. Thankfully an excess of gas isn’t something that you need to continuously monitor their progress on. Gassy baby is not a trouble always, but you should know the reasons for it.
There are certain symptoms that can indicate that something is not quite right with their bowels. It’s important to know about these things as early as possible to take action and offer your baby the best help possible. As uncomfortable as it may seem, gas in your baby’s bowels is completely normal and very common. In fact, they will pass gas around 20-25 times in a single day which shows just how much they produce of it. If there are any indications or concerns with their bowel gas, however such as if it smells particularly bad or comes with other concerning symptoms—then it would be worth keeping an eye out for any future signs of trouble.
What constitutes bowel gas in babies?
First, let’s go over what bowel gas actually is in order to define the symptoms that it brings with it. Bowel gas is the result of all the natural digestive processes that happen in your baby’s tummy. It comes from the food that they eat, bacteria living in their intestines, and other substances that are naturally occurring in the body.
The gases that are produced by these processes are normally broken down and absorbed by the body. However, some of this gas is inevitably released through the baby’s rectum and out into the world. There are multiple different types of gases that can be found in your baby’s digestive system. These include methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.
What to look for when you have a gassy baby?
If you are worried about your gassy baby, there are several symptoms to keep an eye out for. These include:
- Increased or Excessive Flatulence
Your baby may start to produce more gas than normal which is often passed out through the rectum . It can be heard as loud farts and passing stinky gas.
- Increased or Excessive Gas in the Stool
If your baby’s intestinal gas is getting into their bowels, it might also be found in their stool. This can result in a greenish or even blackish color to the stool or odd-smelling stools.
- Increased or Excessive Gas in the Baby’s Burps
If the gas travels up to their mouth, it can be released in their burps. This can result in bubbly sounding burps that contain a strange odor.
- Increased or Excessive Gas in the Baby’s Breath
If the gas travels up to their mouth, it can be released in their breath. This can result in a bubbly or frothy-sounding breath that smells particularly bad.
When to worry and speak to doctor?
If you are noticing that your baby is passing a lot of gas or that their bowel gas smells particularly bad.
If your baby’s excessive gas is accompanied by other symptoms such as a change in their bowel movements or in stool’s consistency.
When your baby’s excessive or smelly bowel gas is accompanied by a sudden change in their mood or behavior. For example, if your usually cheerful baby starts to appear grumpy and irritable, then check for any digestive problems as the cause.
Runny stools in babies and the cause of their bowel gas
If your baby’s bowel movements have changed and they are passing noticeably runny stools, then this could be caused by excessive gas in their bowels. It can indicate a serious problem if your baby’s excessive gas is accompanied by other symptoms.
Bowel infections and bowel diseases are two of the most concerning causes of runny and watery stools in infants. If your baby’s stool has changed and they are also producing excessive gas, it would be a good idea to speak with a doctor about it.
Hard and dried out bowel movements in babies
If your baby’s bowel movements are becoming hard and dried out, it could be caused by excessive and constant exposure to intestinal gas. This is something that should be monitored closely as it can lead to a serious condition known as Meconium Ileus (MI). MI is when a baby’s bowels become hardened and dried out inside of their intestines and is often a sign of severe digestive issues.
If you notice that your baby’s bowel movements have become hard and dried out, it’s best to monitor their progress closely and speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
Other signs of bowel troubles in infants
There are some other symptoms to look out for that can indicate bowel troubles in infants. If your baby is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is best to speak with a doctor to rule out digestive issues: –
- Your baby has a change in their appetite and/or is eating less – While it is common for babies to have a fussy appetite, it is important to pay attention to any drastic changes in how much they are eating. If they are eating less than normal, it can indicate a digestive issue.
- Your baby seems lethargic – If your baby is generally less active than usual, this could indicate a digestive problem.
- Your baby’s poop is green or blue – If your baby’s bowel movements are green or blue, this could indicate a serious condition known as Hemolytic-uremic Syndrome (HUS).
- Your baby is crying excessively – If your baby is crying more than normal, this could be a sign of pain.
Conclusion
Overall, while it may seem like a daunting task to sanitize everything in sight in preparation for your new baby’s arrival, it is important to remember that your baby is not as fragile as you might think. They are a natural-born sanitizer and are capable of dealing with all kinds of germs, bacteria, and other nasties. While it is important to maintain a clean environment for your baby and to keep an eye out for any concerning symptoms, it is equally important not to panic and to trust in your baby’s natural abilities.
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