Diagnosis
The diagnosis of flatulence can also be made by a layman. It is important to know that flatulence is only a symptom and not an independent disease. The baby should be well observed for the diagnosis in daily use.
If an increased discharge of gas is noticed, this indicates flatulence. These can be both odorless and malodorous. The flatulence is accompanied by a round, bulging abdomen and possible restlessness caused by accompanying abdominal pain.
Associated symptoms
Accompanying symptoms of flatulence in babies are caused by the increased accumulation of gas in the intestine. The gas causes the affected intestinal loops to expand, which in babies is reflected in an increase in the volume of the abdomen. Parents can therefore often observe a round, bulging abdomen in the baby.
If the dilatation of the intestinal loops is very strong, this can lead to pain in the baby. If the intestinal mucosa is stretched too much, this leads to irritation of sensitive nerve endings. This irritation is processed as a pain signal.
A further symptom is therefore also increased crying and moaning. Babies often try to get rid of the flatulence themselves. If they feel pain, they instinctively put their legs on more and move restlessly from one side to the other.
The effect is to set the intestinal loops in motion and thus transport the gases towards the rectum. The tightened legs unconsciously facilitate the exit of the gases. Especially in the context of so-called “3 months colic” babies often show this behaviour.
It is noticeable that the babies relax and behave completely inconspicuously at the same time once the gases have escaped. Any signs of inflammation and fever are not typical for flatulence. They indicate an infection.
When the flatulence stinks
Unpleasant smelling flatulence in babies is caused by intestinal bacteria that break down proteins. The proteins reach the bacteria in the intestines through breast milk or food. In contrast to odourless flatulence, gas mixtures such as hydrogen sulphide or ammonia are produced in small doses during the digestion of proteins. These are very odour-intensive. However, they are harmless and should not give cause for concern.
What can you do?
In itself, flatulence is harmless and should not give rise to intervention. Only when the baby makes an unhappy impression or even expresses pain should various measures be taken to intervene. The gentlest way is to gently massage the abdomen.
To do this, the baby’s abdomen should be gently stroked in a clockwise direction with circular movements. This stimulates the natural transport of the stool and gases and makes excretion easier. In addition, the baby should be allowed to move freely.
Babies know instinctively how to help themselves in case of flatulence. A restless turning from one side to the other or an increased tightening of the legs indicates that the baby itself is trying to move its intestinal loops back and forth by moving them and thus loosening possible congestion in the intestine. To a certain extent this should be tolerated.
However, if the baby is weeping or behaves noticeably differently, one should intervene with household remedies or, if necessary, medication. The basic principle should always be to support the baby as gently as possible. Herbal preparations should therefore be given priority and their suggested dosage should always be followed.
The form of administration should be selected according to individual tolerance and best effect on the baby. It is therefore up to the baby’s own experience whether drops or suppositories should be preferred. Drops for flatulence are drugs with different active ingredients.
In general, a distinction is made between antispasmodic and defoaming agents. Anticonvulsant agents such as Buscopan help to relax painful muscle cramps in the bowel. Defoamers such as Lefax or sab simplex, on the other hand, help to reduce the surface tension of gases in order to enable absorption via the gastrointestinal mucosa.
With this form of administration, the effect sets in within half an hour. Homeopathic remedies for flatulence are administered in the form of globules. Globules containing the ingredients of chamomile have proven to be particularly helpful.
They are available in pharmacies under the name Chamomilla. However, electrolytes in the form of magnesium can also help. They are available as Magnesium phosphoricum.
Both ingredients have an antispasmodic effect and can provide relief in cases of slight flatulence. Somewhat less known are globules with Okoubaka. This is a jungle tree whose bark has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients.
Thus these globules can relieve flatulence with an additionally irritated mucous membrane of the intestine. To ensure that all homeopathic remedies are dosed correctly, a doctor should always be consulted regarding their application. With babies it depends strongly on their size and weight in which dosage they can be given.
In addition, globules should only be used in cases of slight flatulence and should be replaced by medication in cases of severe symptoms. The best known household remedy against flatulence is probably the so-called “four winds tea”. It consists of a mixture of fennel, caraway, aniseed and peppermint.
The main effect is the antispasmodic component of the plants. If the tense muscles of the intestine are loosened, the body’s own peristalsis can resume its normal activity. The intestine can thus relax and rebound in rhythmic waves and the gases can be better distributed.
Thus, a portion of them can be absorbed through the mucous membrane and breathed out through the lungs. The other part can be better manoeuvred towards the rectum and excreted there. However, it is only suitable for children who already take in liquid in addition to breast milk.
These babies can also be offered some basil with their food, which also has a flatulence reducing effect. If these measures do not help or are not possible, heat is also a good option. The heat should be used very carefully, as it can quickly lead to burns when applied in the form of heat pads.
It is therefore advisable, especially for small babies, to wear clothing that warms them appropriately. The heat ensures better blood circulation in the intestine. It activates the intestine and helps to mix the digestive pulp well. Gas bubbles are thus no longer trapped by the stool and can either be absorbed through the mucous membrane or transported further as described above.
