Why my baby grunts? Is it something about bad digestion?

As a new parent, you listen to every little sound and movement your baby makes. While most of the time your newborn’s gurgling noises and squirms seem sweet, when they grunt you may begin to worry if they are in pain or need help.

Newborn grunting is usually related to digestion. The baby is simply getting used to their mother’s milk or formula. They may have gas or pressure in their stomach that makes them feel uncomfortable. They have not yet figured out how to relax the pelvic floor while also using abdominal pressure to move stool and gas through their system.

Their abdominal muscles are weak and they must bear down with the diaphragm against their closed voice box, or glottis. This leads to a grunting noise. Your baby grunting shouldn’t be confused with constipation. They will grunt until they can figure it out, but it may take a few months for your newborn to produce a bowel movement or pass gas without grunting.

Some people call this grunting baby syndrome (GBS). Rest assured it’s fairly common and rarely a sign of something serious. Some doctors will recommend that parents help their newborn by providing anal stimulation. This involves use of an anal thermometer or a piece of cotton to help stimulate the bowel. While this method will usually work to help your baby have a bowel movement, it may have negative side effects in the long run.

As with many types of laxatives, your baby may eventually become dependent on this method in order to have a bowel movement. According to some doctors, repeated use of this method will delay your infant’s ability to learn the correct process for passing stool.In most cases, the grunting will start in the first months of life and resolve on its own after a few weeks. Every baby is different. It all depends on how long it takes for your newborn to master the coordination of its bowel movements.

While most grunting is normal, if your baby is grunting with every breath, has a fever, or appears to be under distress, see your doctor. This may be a sign of a more serious respiratory problem and needs immediate attention. Grunting with breathing could be a sign of:

Grunting may seem a little scary, but it serves a very useful and healthy purpose for your baby. See your doctor for a check-up if you have questions or concerns about your grunting baby. Check for other signs of respiratory distress or illness to determine if your baby’s grunts are normal or a sign of another problem. Other signs of respiratory problems include: