Flatulence is a disease that often plagues people of all ages. Failure of the intestines leads to the accumulation of a large amount of gases in it. Under normal conditions in a strong body, they go away on their own. However, in seriously ill patients and newborns, gas accumulation is a very painful moment and causes pain in the abdominal cavity. This phenomenon is called flatulence. This disease can cause a rapid deterioration in a person’s health. In addition, the disease often affects the respiratory and nervous systems, and also leads to destabilization of body functions. A cleansing enema is often used as a means for short-term relief of flatulence. However, its use is limited by a number of contraindications. In addition, it only allows you to forget about the problem for a while. In most cases, doctors recommend using a device such as a gas outlet tube. What is this device? Who is allowed and recommended to use it? How to use a gas outlet tube? These and other questions can be answered in the article.
What is a gas outlet tube and what is it for?
In the first months of life, infant colic causes a lot of trouble for both the baby and his parents. A tube to remove gases from the intestines helps many people cope with unpleasant symptoms. It is a special device made of soft materials with a hole inside, which is inserted into the baby's anus to relieve bloating, release gas and stimulate bowel function. Its length ranges from 18 to 22 cm, and its diameter is about 2-3 mm. It is most convenient to use disposable tubes that do not require prior sterilization. It is also important to choose the correct diameter of the tube so as not to damage the baby’s soft tissue walls. For newborns, tubes of size 15-16 are used, for older children - 17-18.
Important! You should use the gas outlet tube very carefully, only after carefully studying the instructions. And the first procedure is best done under the guidance of a pediatrician.
You can't use it often. A gas outlet tube perfectly relieves one-time problems and alleviates the baby’s condition; for a more comprehensive approach, you should talk with your doctor and choose an alternative method. Studying and eliminating the causes of colic in the baby’s body will help in this matter. Incorrect latching of the mother's nipple, excess air entering with feeding, some foods present in the mother's diet - all this can cause excess gas formation.
Indications for use of a gas outlet tube
List:
- Most often, children aged 1 to 4 months need this device.
- That is, as soon as the baby experiences gas or colic, due to the accumulation of a large number of air bubbles in the intestines and stomach
- When a child is restless, groans, tucks his legs under him, or cannot go to the toilet, we recommend using a gas outlet tube
Windy
Preparation before use
The most important thing to do is to carefully study the instructions, understand the whole process and be confident in your actions, while carefully monitoring the child’s reactions.
The second is sterility and hygiene. Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap (preferably laundry or antibacterial). The tube must be boiled for 10 minutes and allowed to cool. If you use disposable specimens, there is no need for boiling, you can immediately begin the procedure.
Third, prepare the place. The surface should be comfortable, stable, safe, of medium hardness - the baby should be comfortable. The help of relatives with distracting rattle toys will not be superfluous. It is better to cover the surface with oilcloth and a soft sheet. It is necessary to place disposable absorbent diapers under the child and stock up on wet and dry wipes, since feces can also be released along with gases.
After this, you can proceed directly to the procedure.
Application time
The gas outlet tube is inserted into the anus with soft, smooth rotational movements. This reduces the risk of pain. After insertion of the device, there is a high probability of release of liquid substances located in the rectum. That is why, in order to prevent contamination of the surrounding surface, the tip of the device remaining outside should be placed on a special rubber vessel or, if it is not available, on a cloth folded several times. The gas outlet tube can remain inside the body for such a period of time until the bloating in the abdomen decreases and the formed gases escape. It must be remembered that the device is kept inside for no more than two hours. This precaution is paramount to avoid the development of bedsores in the rectum. However, you can repeat the procedure several times during the day. As a rule, the break between sessions is from two to four hours.
How to use a gas outlet tube. Recommendations
The first thing you should remember when deciding to use this remedy for a child is caution and attentiveness. How to use a gas outlet tube for newborns can only be explained by the instructions included in the kit and by a medical professional (nurse or attending pediatrician caring for the newborn). The help of an experienced and knowledgeable person during the first use is very valuable and will help to avoid many problems in the future.
To use the gas outlet tube you will need the following items:
Everything you need should be within reach and conveniently located.
To figure out how to insert a gas tube into a newborn, you should follow these steps:
- Place the child on the prepared surface. Very small children are placed on their back with their legs raised and bent at the knees, older children are placed on their left side with their legs pressed to their stomach.
- Generously lubricate the tip of the device, leaving no dry spots.
- Carefully insert the lubricated tip into the newborn's anus 1-2 cm (if there is no division on the tube, you should mark this size yourself and strictly ensure that it does not go deeper). If the baby allows, is relaxed and not worried, we continue the process.
- Very carefully we twist the tube in one direction, and then in the other direction, while massaging the baby’s tummy and promoting the release of gases. The “bicycle” exercise with your baby’s legs also helps stimulate intestinal function. If everything goes well, air will begin to leave the intestines almost immediately.
- Do not rush to stick the tube out, repeat the rotation several more times slowly and carefully until the baby’s tummy becomes soft. The procedure time is from 2 to 10 minutes. Often, feces can leak out along with the gas.
- After the procedure, we remove the tube from the butt and take the baby to the bathroom for final hygiene procedures.
Remember that the most important thing is your child’s condition. If he begins to scream, twitches sharply, or shows other strong disturbances, the procedure should be stopped immediately and returned to it at a more favorable time.
Vapor tube for newborns: how to make it yourself?
Please note that now there are tubes on sale that are not quite standard, but new ones that resemble a narrow rod that gradually expands. Such tubes are very convenient for the simple reason that they are disposable and made of thick, waxed cardboard. They are used in the same way as rubber tubes, but after use they are not sterilized, but are immediately thrown into the trash.
Instructions:
- If you are not prepared and have not purchased a gas outlet tube for your child, you can make it yourself. For this you will need a small bulb with a capacity of approximately 50 ml. Its marking is one. She is the smallest in the pharmacy.
- You need to buy a bulb with a rubber tip. Next, you need to cut off the bottom, boil it, and use it in the same way as a regular rubber tube. Lubricate the tip with a thick cream or oil and insert it into the anus, the gas will come out.
- The only difference is that there is no long tube that goes down into the water, and no bubbles are visible. But the funnel performs exactly the same functions. It can also be reusable. Before the next use, it must be boiled and treated with antiseptics.
Doctor Komarovsky's tubes
How often can I use it?
Despite the ease of use and accessibility, you should not get carried away with this method. If increased gas formation and difficulties with bowel movements are constant, it is worth discussing this problem with a doctor, identifying and eliminating the true cause. A device for removing gases does not solve the problem, but only helps to alleviate the condition. And excessive and frequent use is fraught with serious problems in the future.
Therefore, the best option would be to use it only when the situation arises, and in no case on a regular basis. If colic is severe, for example, a gas outlet tube will help relieve the child’s condition in a short time and save parents from unnecessary screaming. And for the prevention and comprehensive elimination of symptoms, alternative methods should be used in consultation with the treating pediatrician.
The gas vent tube should only be used for compelling reasons and no more than once every 3-4 hours or 1-2 times a day.
Reviews about the use of a gas outlet tube
This device is quite simple, but not everyone has encountered it. Those who used it were mostly satisfied. Below you can find reviews from young mothers about the use of a gas outlet tube.
Reviews:
- Elena, 28 years old. This is my first child. I got acquainted with the pipe when the baby was one month old. We suffered greatly with colic and gas. The gas outlet tube was recommended by the pediatrician, and we purchased the most affordable option, which is made of soft, transparent rubber. It’s quite convenient to use, nothing was hurt, the child didn’t even bother while inserting the tube. There is an effect, but it is not significant. Our child did not suffer from colic and gas, but from other reasons. As it turned out later, he had problems with neurology. Unfortunately, we suffered with these tubes for up to three months, and only at 3 months, at an appointment with a neurologist, the disease was discovered.
- Oksana, 35 years old. This is the second child in our family. We use the tube quite often, about 2 times a week. Sometimes the child has severe constipation and also suffers from gas. The baby is bottle-fed, which may be why he experiences frequent constipation and stomach problems. Gas tubes are a lifesaver, and they help better than Espumisan and products that reduce gas formation.
- Olga, 32 years old. We purchased gas outlet tubes quite recently, when our baby was 2 months old. He cried a lot, tossed and turned, tucked his legs under himself, and could not go to the toilet normally. We used dill water and also Bobotik. The funds helped us. At the next appointment with the pediatrician, the doctor suggested using a gas tube. Really good device, the child became less anxious, we reduced the use of medications.
Massage for colic
The device really makes the mother’s work easier and improves the baby’s condition during colic, as well as the formation of large amounts of gas. Even if the child is breastfed, often due to insufficient lactose in the intestines, a large accumulation of gases is observed. This is due to insufficient flora. Therefore, sometimes it is advisable to use gas outlet tubes.
Are there other options to help the child?
If purchasing a gas outlet tube is not possible, you can make it yourself from the most ordinary children's enema, cutting off its bottom. For these purposes, you should buy the smallest size (No. 1) at the pharmacy. Its tip is very soft and flexible, and the extension will not allow it to be inserted too deeply into the baby’s anus. This is a completely worthy replacement option.
But before resorting to such serious methods, it is still worth trying more gentle ones that help improve the functioning of the child’s intestines.
The following methods will help you cope with gases:
To improve bowel function and combat constipation, you should use the following:
Medicinal enema.
- to reduce the inflammatory process in the colon
- for introducing medicinal substances into the body for a long time.
Bleeding from the digestive tract.
Acute inflammatory processes in the area of the colon and anus.
Fissures in the anus or colon prolapse.
— Sterile syringe Janet.
— Rubber can with a capacity of up to 200 ml.
- A sterile rubber gas tube or catheter that is connected to a syringe.
— Vaseline, oilcloth, apron.
— Medicinal substance (chamomile tincture, sea buckthorn oil, sodium chloride).
DEPTH OF INTRODUCTION INTO THE RECTUM:
Preparation for the procedure:
Establish a trusting, confidential relationship, ensure isolation.
Clarify the patient’s understanding of the purpose and progress of the upcoming procedure.
Warm the bottle of medicine in a water bath
Pour the medicine into a pear-shaped bottle.
Lubricate the gas outlet tube with Vaseline, place the can and the tube in the tray.
Help the patient lie on his left side, with the right leg bent at the knee and pressed to the stomach.
Spread the buttocks and insert the gas outlet tube into the rectum to a depth of 20-30 cm.
Attach a pear-shaped canister to the gas outlet tube and slowly introduce the collected solution.
Slowly squeeze the solution out of the syringe in small portions under low pressure until completely empty.
Disconnect the bulb-shaped cartridge.
Fill the canister with air, slowly introduce air.
Disconnect and remove the gas outlet pipe.
After the enema, the patient should lie on his left side for 20 minutes until the medicine is completely absorbed.
- To better retain the medicinal substance, the patient should breathe deeply through the nose.
- 20 - 30 minutes before the medicinal enema, a cleansing enema is given.
Should you worry about psychological trauma?
According to psychologists, the process of defecation at the very beginning of life is an important stage in development. After all, all a baby can do after birth is eat and poop. And it is with these skills that his knowledge of himself, his feelings, his body begins. And even if these processes are not established or go through difficulties, sometimes even causing pain, these are important stages in the formation of a personality for the future. During the release of gases, the baby experiences a burning sensation in the anus and he needs to learn to relax at this moment in order to release all waste products. This can cause a considerable degree of inconvenience and even pain for the child, but this is a process of learning to control one’s body that must be completed. And the use of a gas outlet tube can play a negative role in this matter. Every time discomfort occurs, the baby will wait for the help of his parents to alleviate his condition, instead of going through the whole stage on his own and learning to control his body.
This does not mean at all that there is no need to help the baby in such a difficult and important period and leave him to cope with problems on his own. In everything, and especially in caring for and raising a child, a balanced and sensitive approach is important. And every mother should intuitively understand when it is necessary to really help the baby and relieve painful symptoms, when to use more gentle methods, and when to help the baby only with support and love.
A gas outlet tube can never cause psychological problems in the future if its use is episodic and in no case is it used on a regular basis for a long period.
Adviсe
Before buying this device at a pharmacy, you need to carefully study its appearance. The surface must be flat, smooth, without any protrusions, made of high-quality soft and elastic material without any odors. Ideally, in individual packaging.
It is more convenient and hygienic to use disposable tubes. Such, for example, as offered by the manufacturing company Windi.
The Windi gas outlet tube is intended for newborns and slightly older children. Available in individual packages, there are sets of 10 pieces, but you can also purchase individually. Each package comes with detailed instructions on how to use a gas outlet tube for newborns with a photo. The main advantage is that it is disposable, does not require additional sterilization and is thrown away after use. In addition, it is made of environmentally friendly and elastic material, has a soft tip with a limiter, which makes it safe for a child even for the first time.
Important points to remember when using this device:
Reviews
Here's what moms write in reviews about using a gas tube for newborns:
Olga: “When the baby was 2 months old, the pediatrician advised me to try a straw, because the cries from colic had become simply unbearable for me. The first time was scary, and both me and my husband were nervous. Apparently that's why nothing happened. The second time my husband tried it without me, and either it really helped, or our colic period had already begun to pass, but there was an order of magnitude less screaming and crying. I can’t say that they used it regularly, but they used it a couple of times later.”
Natalya: “Just the sight of those tubes that are sold in pharmacies scared me! Even during the courses for pregnant women, we were advised to do a circumcision enema and were told in detail how to trim and use it. I tried it on a child - nothing complicated. First, gases came out, then feces. We were “saved” in this way for the first 3 months. Now the child is fine with both his intestines and stool, so those who are afraid that later the baby will not be able to poop on his own are mistaken.”
Diana: “We tried Windi. Quite convenient and nothing difficult to use. True, it didn’t help the baby much, unfortunately. We thought we were doing something wrong, so we consulted a pediatrician, but it turned out it wasn’t the tube. After examining the baby, they discovered lactase intolerance.”
Maria: “There were attempts several times. My son was arching, nervous, and wouldn’t let himself be controlled. So nothing happened. They saved themselves from colic with drugs.”
Irina: “Probably, there is no remedy that I would not try... I suffered from colic for up to 5 months. The gas outlet did not always help. And during an exacerbation, it is very difficult to put something into a child when he is restless... Therefore, my husband and I used “prevention” - if I saw that the stomach was already inflated, but the daughter was still in a good mood, they quickly undressed and released a little gas and stool. I can’t say that this is correct and that it helped in 100% of cases, but it alleviated the condition of the daughter and added a couple of hours of quiet rest for the mother.”
