Baby and Gas...

I am a breastfeeding mum and this is the first time I am able to do it exclusively. It wasn't planned for it, but it fell in place. So, like every other first newly nursing mums, I read a lot to get to know what I should be doing, for little Iggy. As I was reading this particular book, I found that this information is rather helpful and wish to share it with you.

It may sound odd that I want to talk about gas, but bare with me and you will see why. Everyone of us has gas, yes, sometimes it can remind us in an embarrassing way.

"Generally, most gas created in the intestines is absorbed into the bloodstream; then part of it is filtered out by the liver, and part is expelled through the lungs. Excess gas that is not absorbed will be passed. Prior to solid food, the breastfed infant who is not reacting to any foods in his mother's diet should pass very little gas. More gas is produced when a child is fed when not hungry, when the child is fed harder-to-digest infant formulas on early solid foods, when digestion and adsorption are reduced by food sensitivity reactions, and when undirected milk lactose is passed into the large intestine in the much older children whose lactose enzymes are no longer sufficient."

With my first two boys, I fed them, like clockwork, as advice by my mum. That was how they did things, in their time. The fatter the baby, the better. But now with Iggy, and the abundance of resources, I choose to make alternative decisions in certain matters, like feeding.

Iggy used to feed every hour, when we came home from she hospital. It was crazy difficult for me. I had to keep eating, feed, rest, eat, feed and rest. It was not the ideal picture I had in mind. All the books I read made nursing sounds like a mothers dream. But after a rough start, things started to work out fine. And I am glad I stuck it out. I guess what I wish to share is that, if its workable for you, be patient and breastfed your baby, for both your benefits. 

credits for picture

Book: The Baby Bond by Dr. Golden Palmer