Imagine not knowing what that rumble in your stomach is, or that feeling of pressure on your bottom! In the initial days/weeks after birth, baby's bodily functions such as burping, pooping and peeing are new sensations to her and she might fuss or cry. She will quickly get used to these sensations and stop making a fuss. However, air trapped in baby's tummy can cause her to be uncomfortable even after she's used to the way her body works.

It is normal for babies to swallow some air during feeds. A common belief is that this air causes the baby pain, but in reality, it just makes the baby feel fuller because some space in the tummy is taken up by air. It is uncomfortable but not painful.

Always burp your baby after a feed. Some breastfeeding mothers burp baby when they are switching from one breast to the other. Formula-feeding mothers sometimes take a break after a few ounces to burp the baby.

Signs that your baby needs burping during or after a feed:

• Baby hesitates or refuses to continue feeding from the other breast or take the rest of his bottle

• Baby squirms or has a distressed look on the face when you try to feed

• Baby stops feeding, fidgets, fusses

At around two months of age, your baby's digestive system starts going through some changes. As a part of this process, essential bacteria are produced by the gut which is a good thing for baby's health. However, it results in increased gas. Unfortunately it takes the baby's system some time to get used to this bacteria and until then, baby will pass quite a bit of gas! This might make him cry.

Ease your baby’s discomfort

• Some believe strongly that gripe water or other home remedies such as jeera water, etc. will get rid of the gas. If you do choose gripe water, read the ingredients carefully and make sure there is no alcohol content.
   
• Try giving baby a tummy massage. Lie baby down and gently massage the tummy in circular motion clockwise.
   
• Bicycle legs – lie baby down on his/her back and make a bicycling motion with the legs. This helps the gas move down through the digestive tract where it may be trapped.
   
• Take extra time to burp your baby.
   
• If baby is constipated, there will be gas build up in the gut. Make sure baby has plenty of fluids to help relieve the constipation and gas built up in the stomach.

Whatever method you choose, be assured that this maturation is a natural part of your baby's digestive development, and the phase of excessive gas will pass on its own in a few weeks time.

If you feel that baby truly has stomach pain/colic, check with your pediatrician rather than trying to diagnose it yourself.

To understand other reasons why your baby could be crying, do go through the other articles in this series.

"Interpreting your baby's cry: Hunger"
"Interpreting your baby's cry: Sleep"
"Interpreting your baby's cry: Other Discomfort"