Baby belly rumbling after feed
Liquid Sloshing Around Baby’s Tummy - What Is It?
Have you had the surprising experience of hearing the sound of liquid sloshing around baby’s tummy?
You are bouncing your baby on your knee or your toddler is jumping around … and you could swear you hear a pool of liquid sloshing about in there.
What is this, and should you worry?
Read on to learn more about your baby’s normal digestive process, and what causes the sound of liquid sloshing around baby’s tummy.
Your baby’s digestive system
Eating and digesting food are new experiences for your newborn baby.
During pregnancy, nutrients and oxygen pass through the umbilical cord from your placenta to your baby directly.
After birth, your baby needs to eat and process breast milk or formula to meet nutritional needs.
While in the womb, your baby swallows and pees out amniotic fluid. It sounds gross but it helps to form the gastrointestinal tract and also gives your baby a taste of the food you ate.
Studies show what you eat during your pregnancy even influences your baby’s food preferences.
Swallowing amniotic fluid also creates what becomes your baby’s first poo – the sticky meconium a newborn passes over the first few days of life.
Colostrum – the thick, yellow substance that precedes breast milk in the first few days after birth, has a laxative effect. This helps move the meconium through the bowels and excrete excess bilirubin, to prevent jaundice.
Colostrum and breast milk also contribute to a healthy microbiome by colonising your baby’s gut with helpful bacteria.
Within moments of birth, your baby breathes air into his lungs. He also swallows air into his stomach, and the air then moves down through the bowels and intestines.
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Why does my newborn’s stomach make noises?
The noises a newborn baby’s tummy makes can be a little alarming for new parents. Gurgles, grumbles and sloshing liquid sounds can seem loud, coming from such a little body.
Usually, what you hear is not actually coming from the stomach. They are just the normal sounds of your baby’s lower digestive system functioning – a sign everything is working properly in there.
Your doctor or midwife will listen to your baby’s tummy during the first newborn exam and at follow-up pediatrician visits.
They are listening for bowel sounds in all four areas of the abdomen. These sounds begin about 15 minutes after birth as air enters the gastrointestinal tract for the first time.
Is it normal to hear baby’s stomach gurgling while feeding?
When you’re feeding your baby, often in the dead of night, sounds are amplified. But even during the day, with a noisy toddler nearby or the radio on, you can still hear your baby’s stomach gurgling during feeding.
Gurgling sounds are simply the movement of food or liquid moving through the intestines. They are the normal sounds of your baby’s gastrointestinal system working.
In between feeds, you’re likely to hear gurgling or tinkling sounds every 15-20 seconds.
I can hear liquid sloshing around baby’s tummy
If you notice the sound of liquid sloshing around baby’s tummy and feel really worried, you’re not alone. Many new parents hear this noise and worry there’s something wrong.
We’ve all experienced the ‘growling’ and ‘rumbling’ in our stomachs when we’re hungry.
This rumbling sound happens when the stomach is empty, starts to contract, and moves air around.
When you can hear liquid sloshing around baby’s tummy, think of a bottle of water that isn’t full to the top but has some air in it. You can hear that water sloshing around as it moves. It’s the same with baby’s tummy.
Tummies are noisiest right before and right after eating.
Other causes of tummy noises in babies
All the variations of tummy noises already mentioned are completely normal. If your baby shows signs of distress or pain, however, there could be something else contributing to tummy noises.
Most often this is due to swallowing excess air. We often refer to this as being ‘gassy’.
Reasons a baby might be gassy:
- Overactive letdown from the breast
- Bottle feeding with a fast flow nipple
- Excess crying
- In need of improved gut flora, after taking antibiotics
- Allergy to something in formula or breast milk
- Tongue-tie
- Needs help to relieve gas or burp.
Overactive letdown and gas
Some breastfeeding mums have a forceful flow of milk at the time of letdown; this happens at the beginning of a feed.
It can cause babies to gulp and sputter as they try to keep up with the fast flow. Gulping can cause them to swallow more air, which leads to gas and tummy upset.
Strategies to deal with overactive letdown include:
- Getting a good latch
- Using laid-back nursing positions
- Nursing more often
- Burping your baby after every feeding
- ‘Catching’ the fast letdown milk.
Read more details in Overactive Letdown – 6 Tips To Manage It.
Bottle feeding and gas
Many bottles have a nipple opening that’s larger and allows breastmilk or formula to flow too quickly. This causes gulping and excess swallowing of air during feeds.
Be sure to use a bottle with a ‘slow-flow’ nipple. This allows the baby to work his mouth and jaw muscles appropriately, while decreasing the amount of air swallowed.
Paced bottle feeding allows your baby to bottle feed with less risk of getting too much air and also has other benefits.
Read more about paced bottle feeding and more in Bottle Nursing-6 Steps To Better Bottle Feeding.
Excess crying and gas
Your baby might be crying because of gas pain. He then swallows more air, which leads to more gas: what a vicious cycle!
Crying happens for many reasons. Responding promptly to soothe your baby reduces the length of crying episodes.
If you think your baby is crying because of gas pain, read on for some ideas about how to bring your baby relief.
Antibiotics, decreased gut flora and gas
If your baby has been on antibiotics for any reason, or if you received antibiotics during labour, your baby might need to replenish helpful bacteria in the gut.
Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact are the first ways of keeping your baby’s microbiome healthy.
There is some evidence that probiotics can be helpful for babies who have colic symptoms, especially if they are breastfeeding from someone who has a dairy-free diet.
Many formulas include probiotics.
Allergies and gas
Most breastfeeding parents can continue to eat a variety of foods without affecting their baby’s digestion.
If your baby has other signs of food allergies, along with fussiness, with guidance from your healthcare provider you could try eliminating things from your diet to see if it helps.
Signs of food intolerance include:
- Eczema or rashes
- Blood or mucous in stools
- Congestion or a wheezing cough
- Family history of food allergies.
Your baby might also be sensitive to an ingredient in the formula.
Contact your healthcare provider to solve problems possibly related to allergies.
Tongue-tie and gas
Babies with an oral restriction, such as a tongue-tie, might swallow more air as they work to move milk from a breast or bottle.
Read Tongue Tie-9 Facts You Need To Know for more information.
Always consult with a certified lactation consultant for a thorough assessment.
How do I know if my baby has gas?
Many parents hear about crying babies having gas and wonder whether there are other signs to look for.
Babies sometimes go through stages of crying for no apparent reason, so other signs of gas to watch for include:
- Arched back
- Straining to pass gas or have a bowel movement
- Lifting the legs
- Swollen stomach
- High pitched “eh, eh” vocalisations
- Squirming and fidgeting
- Spitting up after each feeding
- Fussiness when they aren’t hungry or tired.
How can I relieve my baby’s gas?
Here are some things you can try to help your baby feel better:
- Hold him in positions that put gentle pressure on the belly, such as over your shoulder or in a ‘football hold’
- Pat him firmly on the back
- Burp him more often, between switching sides and after every feeding
- Lay him on his back and ‘bicycle’ the legs up toward the tummy
- Wear your baby while you move around
- Try infant massage on the tummy
- Give it time and patience!
What about reflux and tummy noises?
Most babies experience some episodes of reflux, when the stomach contents come up into the esophagus. This is usually normal and doesn’t require medications or strategies other than the ones mentioned above.
As midwife and IBCLC Emilia Smith says:
“Often what parents think is reflux, is actually just a normal baby reaction to position at the breast, or a forceful letdown. When this is the case there are a variety of things to try to improve the feeding experience”.
Consult a certified lactation consultant or your pediatrician if your baby doesn’t get relief from these things or if tummy noises seem abnormal to you.
5 Tricks to Relieve a Gassy Baby
As a new mom, one of the things that surprised me about my babies was how gassy they were. My sweet, little cherubs would toot and grunt and pass gas a lot. At times, it was hard not to laugh. How can such a little baby make such a big noise! The truth is babies pass gas 13-21 times a day, so it’s totally normal.
They could be feeding in an awkward position, eating too fast, eating too much, ingesting too much lactose (found in foremilk), swallowing air from a baby bottle, or they could have a slight intolerance to proteins found in breast milk. Remember, your baby’s digestive system is still developing too. Her intestines are still forming the micro flora she needs to effectively digest foods, even after she’s born.
Other things that can cause gas include normal baby stuff like crying, sucking on a pacifier or simply getting the hiccups. Anything that causes baby to swallow excess air can trigger gas.
When you know what to look for, it’s not hard to tell if she’s in discomfort due to gas. Babies will do involuntary things like grunt or strain. Sometimes they cry out or clench up their bodies. If your baby is happy one minute and crying the next – for no apparent reason – it could be gas pain.
Other tricks mamas use to figure out if baby has gas is listening to her tummy – you can actually hear her stomach gurgling! Or feel her tummy to see if it’s bloated, distended and hard.
If your detective skills lead your to believe your baby is having a bout with painful gas, here are 5 tricks that should help her feel better:
Move those little legsIf your baby is lying on her back, gently move her legs back and forth to imitate riding a bicycle. This exercise helps with intestinal motion and can expel trapped gas. You can also bend her legs and gently push her knees up towards her tummy. If she’s on her tummy, you can help ease into Child’s Pose (just like in yoga) and that motion will have the same effect.
A gentle tummy rubBaby massage is a method nurses use to soothe infants with gas bubbles. It’s called the “I love you” massage. Lie your baby down on her back, then start rubbing her tummy in a circular motion and mimic writing the letters “I,” “L” and “U” with two or three fingers across her belly. By “spelling” the words across your baby’s tummy in a smooth, gentle motion, you’re triggering activity in her abdomen that can help her pass those trapped gas bubbles.
Because baby’s gotta burpOf course, the best go-to for any fussy baby is to burp them. Sometimes one good burp will do the trick. It may not happen right away, so burp her, lay her down for a few minutes, then gently pick her up and try again. Keep giving tummy time a try.
Little Remedies® to the rescueIf your magic hands aren’t soothing her, you can try products like Little Remedies® Gripe Water or Little Remedies® Gas Relief Drops. If you think your baby is gassy because she was crying a lot, try Gripe Water, a mixture of water and various herbs. It’s perfect for colicky babies because it’s a gentle herbal supplement, which eases stomach discomfort. Gas Relief Drops soothe unhappy tummies and can even be mixed with formula or water. The simethicone helps breaks up bubbles and gives gas that extra little push to work its way out.
Be mindful of feeding timesTry to feed your baby before you start hearing her hungry cries. This can help her eat at a leisurely pace and not gulp down her breast milk or formula too quickly. If you’re a breastfeeding mama and your milk lets down quickly, you may want to unlatch baby for a moment and then re-latch. That can help her manage your milk flow more easily.
Do you have tried and true tricks you use to soothe your gassy baby? Let us know in the comments section on the Boudreaux’s Butt Paste® Facebook page.
main causes and remedies :: SYL.ru
After the birth of a child, parents experience great anxiety about his condition, especially colic, lack of milk, and many other problems of newborns can be a cause for concern.
In the first months of life, babies begin to suffer from many problems associated with the digestive process. This is because the digestive system is still poorly formed. That is why painful colic often occurs, increased gas formation is observed and rumbles in the abdomen of the baby. During these disorders, the child suffers greatly, sleeps poorly, eats, cries all the time. It is very important to know why the baby is rumbling in the stomach, when it is considered the norm and how to help the baby. nine0003
To understand why a baby's stomach rumbles, you need to know the main reasons that can provoke such a condition. The most common cause is swallowing air during feeding. This happens due to improper attachment of the baby to the breast or due to the fact that the milk runs very hard and the baby simply does not have time to swallow it. In addition, the baby's tummy may growl due to the accumulation of gas in the intestines. Gizzard accumulation may occur:
- if the mother consumes foods that increase gas formation;
- if there is not enough fluid in the body of the newborn;
- if there is a lactase deficiency.
If a newborn has dysbacteriosis, this means that the composition of the intestinal microflora is disturbed. When breastfeeding a woman, a woman needs to follow a certain diet, give up sweet, fatty, salty and smoked foods. In addition, rumbling in the abdomen can be provoked by an improperly selected or prepared formula for breastfeeding. nine0003
Many young mothers are interested in why the baby has a lot of rumbling in the stomach, and there is also bloating. This can happen due to the fact that the baby has eaten a lot, and his digestive system simply does not have time to digest food, which causes fermentation processes. If a baby’s stomach growls during feeding, then in most cases this is considered the norm. And if rumbling begins only half an hour or more after saturation, and is also accompanied by other disorders, then this may indicate the presence of problems with digestion. To determine the presence of a pathology, it is necessary to take into account factors such as:
- rumbling time;
- whether this process is accompanied by gases;
- whether there are stool disorders;
- whether the child has colic;
- whether the appetite decreases.
Violations can occur for a variety of reasons, which is why it is necessary to consult a doctor and conduct a comprehensive treatment.
Rumbling due to hunger
If the baby has a lot of growling in the stomach, then this may be due to hunger. If the child wants to eat, then the stomach begins to secrete juice, the digestive tract requires good nutrition, and as a result, a rumbling sound appears. nine0003
To get rid of this condition, you need to feed the child. It is important to remember that breast milk is considered the best and healthiest food for a baby. If it is not possible to normalize lactation, then it is important to choose the best adapted mixture for the baby. In addition to a strong rumbling, the child's hunger is evidenced by its piercing and demanding loud cry.
The occurrence of colic
If the baby's stomach growls after feeding, this may be due to increased gas formation and colic. Basically, this condition in a baby is observed for 2 months after birth. After this time, colic disappears in most children. However, some children may suffer from this disorder for up to 6 months. nine0003
Colic in a child can occur for a variety of reasons. Immediately after the birth of a child, his intestines are completely sterile and contain absolutely no bacteria. With the first nutrition, dairy products enter his body, contributing to the normalization of the intestinal microflora. Since there are no beneficial bacteria in the body yet, fermentation can increase significantly, and as a result, bloating occurs. Treatment of this condition is not required, you just need to wait a while until the intestines begin to work normally. nine0003
Lactase deficiency
If the baby's stomach growls, this may be one of the manifestations of lactase deficiency. In the first months of life, the newborn eats exclusively milk food containing lactose. It is an enzyme that helps digest food. If these enzymes are not enough in the body, then the baby's tummy will make a rather strange rumbling sound. In addition, the baby may have too liquid or green feces, while eating, he can abruptly throw his chest, cry, tighten his legs. nine0003
To determine the presence of lactase deficiency, you need to undergo an examination and pass a urine and stool test. When confirming the diagnosis, the doctor recommends changing the diet of the newborn. To date, there are special adapted milk formulas designed for such children.
Lack of enzymes
If the baby's stomach growls, this may be due to a lack of enzymes in the body. Usually this condition occurs in babies under the age of 2 months and manifests itself during the introduction of complementary foods. For normal digestion, the human body must secrete certain enzymes. If the body lacks certain substances, then the food is not digested, but enters the intestines unchanged. As a result, fermentation begins and the amount of gases increases. nine0003
Enzyme deficiency can be corrected very easily. There are certain drugs to compensate for the lack of substances. However, they should be prescribed only by an experienced specialist after a comprehensive examination.
Rumbling due to dysbacteriosis
If a baby rumbles in the stomach during feeding, this may be due to dysbacteriosis, and it also becomes frothy and loose stools. This condition occurs due to a violation of the microflora in the intestine. In addition, the normal digestive tract is populated by beneficial microorganisms. If the pathological microflora is actively developing, then dysbacteriosis may occur. nine0003
Doctors usually take a stool test before prescribing a certain drug. Only after confirming the diagnosis, medications are prescribed that normalize the intestinal microflora.
Main symptoms and signs
Determining the presence of a problem in a child is quite simple, as it often rumbles in the baby's stomach immediately after feeding. In this case, distinct sounds appear, especially if you put your hand on the baby's tummy. In addition, along with rumbling, other rather characteristic signs appear, in particular, such as:
- discomfort and pain;
- moodiness;
- deterioration of sleep;
- feeding problems;
- weeping;
- leg tuck;
- swelling;
- stool becomes watery.
Based on all these signs, after a comprehensive examination, it is possible to determine the exact cause of such violations. That is why it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner for a diagnosis. nine0003
First aid for rumbling in the stomach
It is important to understand not only why the baby's stomach rumbles during and after feeding, but also how to help him cope with this problem. A heat compress can be used to relieve and eliminate colic. To do this, a soft tissue is heated with an iron, applied to the tummy, and then the baby's legs are pressed against the chest. The procedure helps the child to calm down and fall asleep.
The child should often be laid out on his tummy, do special exercises with him, walk with the baby in his arms around the room, where there should be subdued light and soothing music that has a good effect on the nervous system. In the evening, you can give the baby a small massage on the back or tummy with light massaging movements in a clockwise direction, without pressing hard. Particularly careful should be movements in the navel. nine0003
It is also recommended to rhythmically bend and unbend the legs, as this helps the food to pass into the small intestine much faster. If all these remedies do not help, then you can prepare dill water or a decoction of chamomile for the child. In exceptional cases, a gas outlet tube is used.
How to prepare dill water
To relieve colic and eliminate excessive gas formation, you can prepare dill water for your child or buy it ready-made in a pharmacy. To prepare dill water, you need to take a teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds, put them in a glass jar, pour boiling water and sweat a little for 20 minutes in a water bath. You can also prepare dill tea from fresh herbs, which must be finely chopped and pour half a glass of boiling water. You need to insist tea for an hour. nine0003
Carrying out treatment
Every mother wonders if her baby's stomach is growling, what to do. If such a condition is observed quite often, then it is imperative to visit a doctor who will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment in accordance with the existing violation.
If the rumbling is due to feeding problems, then the dosage and regimen must be adjusted. It is best to give food often, but in small portions. When breastfeeding, the mother should adhere to a proper and balanced diet. It is necessary to try to change breasts often or to pump yourself so that the baby receives not only foremilk, but also more nutritious hindmilk. When switching to artificial feeding, mixtures must be carefully selected so that they are well absorbed by the child. nine0003
In the presence of lactase intolerance, it is necessary to adjust the child's diet in such a way as to exclude the content of lactose in food. There are special diets and medications for this.
If the baby's tummy grumbles due to excessive accumulation of gas and colic, dill water or special teas based on fennel should be served to the baby. In addition, you need to do special exercises with the child, and during feeding, make sure that he does not swallow air. nine0003
In case of microflora disorders, it is necessary to pass special tests initially. Bacteriological culture can determine the presence of disorders and their type. Prebiotics and probiotics can be prescribed to eliminate the existing problem for the child. Also, the infection is eliminated with the help of special medications. In the future, you need to closely monitor the hygiene and nutrition of the baby. Any therapeutic measures should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor.
Preventive measures
To avoid rumbling in the baby's tummy, you need to take certain preventive measures. It is imperative to make sure that the nipple grip during feeding is correct. In the case of artificial feeding, it is advisable to purchase special anti-colic bottles. After feeding, you need to hold the baby upright for a while so that he burps air.
It is advisable to use special preparations that reduce the amount of gases formed and facilitate their exit from the body. In hot weather, you need to give the child, in addition to milk, also some water. nine0003
Why does the baby growl in the stomach?
Baby FartherUsually, rumbling in the abdomen of a baby during feeding and after is completely normal. However, in some cases, the baby may need your help.
Anxiety symptoms
If you hear that your baby’s tummy is growling during meals and some time after it, but at the same time the baby eats well, gains weight and is not naughty, then everything is in full with him okay. The fact is that such sounds are accompanied by the process of digestion: when the baby eats, the walls of his stomach and intestines begin to actively contract, which leads to rumbling. nine0003
Sometimes additional symptoms are added to the bubbling in the abdomen. If you observe at least one of them in your baby, you need to show it to the pediatrician:
- The child is naughty during feeding, refuses to breastfeed
- The baby's belly swells, becomes hard to the touch
- The baby has a sleep disorder
- The child draws his legs to his stomach, clenches his fists, arches his back
- The baby cries loudly in the evenings and cannot calm down nine0010
- Infant passes gas frequently
- The baby's stool becomes watery, green appears in it.
Causes of the “storm”
If rumbling in the abdomen causes discomfort to the baby, the cause may be colic and gas, a change in diet, lactase deficiency or the composition of the intestinal microflora. After consulting with a pediatrician and taking tests, it will become clear which of these reasons bothers your child.
- Infant colic They can appear in babies from the second week of life and last up to four months. The newborn does not have time to digest the entire volume of milk or formula that he eats at one time. Remains of food settle on the walls of the intestines and begin to ferment, causing spasms - intestinal colic
- Change of diet
If you first fed your baby with milk, and then transferred him to IV, this can provoke digestive problems in the crumbs. nine0160 Replacing formula and introducing complementary foods can also be a difficult test for a child's body. - Lactase deficiency
Mother's milk and most formulas contain lactose, milk sugar. When it enters the baby's body, its intestines begin to produce a special enzyme called lactase, which breaks down milk sugar. Babies often have problems with the synthesis of this substance, which is completely normal. By 4 months, the problem should resolve itself. If the child becomes worse, we are talking about lactase deficiency. This diagnosis must be made by a doctor. He will prescribe a special diet for the baby and prescribe medications. nine0010 - Imbalance of microflora
At the beginning of life, the baby's intestines are colonized by "beneficial" and opportunistic bacteria. If the latter exceed the norm, the baby begins to have problems with the tummy. It could be dysbacteriosis or an infection. So that the crumbs do not have complications, it must be taken to the pediatrician in time and tested.
Helping a baby
There are many ways to get rid of rumbling in the tummy. Your actions should depend on the reason that caused the crumbs discomfort: nine0003
- For colic Give your baby a tummy massage half an hour before feeding. While eating, make sure that the baby does not swallow excess air. After feeding, wear the baby in a “column”. To make the baby feel better, give him natural drops from colic "Koli Crocodile". They begin to act within 10 minutes after ingestion, relieve cramps and bloating, relieve pain.
- For dietary problems
Talk to your pediatrician and find the right formula for your baby. Eliminate foods from your menu that can cause digestive problems in an infant if he is on breastfeeding. Feed your baby more often and reduce portion sizes. - For lactase deficiency
If the doctor has confirmed this diagnosis, you will need to remove lactose-containing foods from the baby's diet and switch the baby to special dairy-free formulas.