From the very beginning…
USDA Advice on Colic and Gas
So I was looking for a nutritional guide for mothers who are breastfeeding and are experiencing issues with gas in their infants. I’ve been told by my pediatrician’s office to look for anything involving colicky babies, because this can also work with gas issues. Well, I found a site on the USDA’s site where I can ask if they knew of a guide I could use. Here is their response:
Dear Jackie,
Thank you for contacting the Food and Nutrition Information Center. Regarding your question about gas and colic in your breastfeed infant, it is important that you see your pediatrician to rule out serious conditions such as an ear infection, hernia or GERD.
If this has already been done there are several things that you can try. While breastfeeding, finish the milk in one breast before moving to the other breast, this may decrease the amount of gas in your son. When you eat high fiber foods which may cause gas for you, the fiber does not enter into the breast milk, so it shouldn’t cause gas in your son. However, foods like cabbage, onions, broccoli, and garlic may cause gas for your son when you breastfeed. A food journal may help you identify the foods that cause gas and distress in your son.
Colic is a little different. If your son is experiencing crying spells that last 3-4 hours at a time, you may try eliminating cow’s milk from your diet for at least a week, especially if there is a history of food allergies in your family. Also, switching to formula feeding instead of breastfeeding has been shown to increase colicky behavior. Finishing the milk in one breast before switching to the other may also help with colic. The “sleep tight†method developed by Dr. Karp may help you as well. Information regarding his method can be found at BabySlumber.com.
I found this information in Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession. Good sources on the Internet include the La Leche League and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The La Leche League can also help you find a lactation consultant if you continue to have problems. A good resource from the AAP is the New Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, RD, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).
I hope this information is helpful, if you have any additional questions please contact us again,
Heather F.
Student Nutrition Information Specialist
WIC Works Resource System
Food and Nutrition Information Center
USDA/ National Agricultural Library
It’s not really a nutritional guide, but she did give me some other places to look. I’ve heard about La Leche League before, so I’m definitely going to check them out. Also, I’ve found that Hot Pockets are a very high source of gas for infants (I found out the hard way, so take note). I haven’t been able to find that Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding at Barnes & Noble or Amazon, so if you do find it, let me know.
I sent another question to Heather, which she responded to, so I thought I would include it as well.
Question:
Thank you for your response. I have already consulted with my pediatrician and they were the ones that suggested I look for a nutritional guide on the Internet. I have greatly reduced my dairy intake and that does seem to have helped, but my biggest concern is the reaction the gas has on my son. There are times when the gas comes and goes and it doesn’t really bother him; however, there are other times when it bothers him a lot (this tends to happen at night) and he cries as a result. Are there certain foods that tend to cause, for lack of a better word, harsher gas than others? Is it only cabbage, garlic, onions, and broccoli that have this impact on infants or are there other types of food as well?
Response: