Parents tend to blame gas for every other common ailment that their baby goes through. It is not always the gas. Most point towards gas particularly with gassy babies because parents get really worried as constant gas is linked with bigger health issues. However, that rarely happens. We have gathered some common ailments that people usually think are linked with gas but they aren’t. So let’s bust some of the gassy myths popping up in people’s head out there.
1. Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance usually happens because your body is unable to digest lactose which is a carbohydrate found in milk. Yes, it is true that gas is a symptom but there are very minor chances that a baby will actually be born with lactose intolerance. Most of the time, lactose intolerance shows up later in life or temporarily after a stomach virus gets rid of the enzyme that is needed to break down lactose. Parents should remain alert about symptoms like bloody stool, diarrhoea, stomach pain before they even think of this ailment. Excessive gas is not enough to say that your baby actually is lactose intolerant.
2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) happens when your stomach acid tends to move upwards into your esophagus and causes a burning sensation as well as pain. When babies undergo acid reflux, it is not at all a gas issue. It is beyond gas production issue. Gas usually takes a few hours to show but you will notice GERD symptom immediately. It usually lasts several hours after feeding and is quiet painful. Babies tend to feel uncomfortable during feeding or moments after feeding. When afflicted with GERD babies may vomit, spit up and they aren’t able to gain weight. GERD can also show other symptoms like arching the back while eating, crying while eating and avoiding eating altogether.
3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be defined as group of symptoms that affect the large intestine. Stress, food and a sensitive intestinal tract can result in Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS. Gas is certainly one of the symptoms and others include bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, cramping and abdominal pain. What is great is that babies are spared from these symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome does not occur in babies. It only occurs in children who are at least big enough to go to school. In case you have an excessively gassy baby, you can take Irritable Bowel Syndrome off the list of diseases you can think of.
4. Colic
Baby colic is when your baby undergoes buts of unexplained, continuous and excessive crying. Colic occurs in babies because they have immature gut which actually matures after they turn three months old. Babies are naturally gassy but they won’t be colic until they turn three weeks old. Your baby can be gassy the whole day but colicky babies tend to cry usually in the evening hours for three continuous days. Moreover, colic usually goes away as soon as you baby turns 3 or 4 month old.
