Woodwards Gripe Water Dual Action

What is Woodwards Gripe Water Dual Action?

Woodward's Gripe Water is a sugar free oral treatment that contains targeted ingredients that help to relieve trapped wind and gripe. Dill oil gently warms the tummy, breaking down the bubbles that cause pain, while sodium hydrogen carbonate neutralises acid in the baby's tummy and encourages wind to be released. Gripe water is a common treatment for colic and gripe.

What is gripe?

Muscle spasms and excess acid are created when air bubbles form in a baby's tummy and this causes gripe. When air bubbles become trapped in a baby's stomach, the stomach believes it is full of food and produces acids that would normally break down the food particles. These acids are unnecessary and may cause irritation. At the same time, because the stomach is full of air bubbles, the muscles cannot relax, resulting in cramps and spasms — this is where gripe water for babies can relieve symptoms.

What are the common symptoms of gripe?

Gripe can be frustrating for parents. It often leaves babies crying and fussy for long periods of time which is difficult to distinguish and manage as a condition; however, if your baby is usually easy to settle, this change in behaviour is an indicator that your baby’s stomach could be unsettled.

Common signs of gripe include:

• Intense crying that sounds more distressed than usual
• Crying for no reason and being hard to settle, particularly in the evening
• Flushed skin
• Body tension such as clenched fists, arched back, stiffened arms and tense abdomen

Episodes of gripe or colic usually peak at around 6 weeks and tend to become less common at around 3 to 4 months.

How quickly does Woodwards Gripe Water work?

Woodwards Gripe Water can take a few days to start working, but it depends on the severity of trapped air. Once your baby has started consuming gripe water, you should notice a difference in their mood as the relief of wind minimises pain and reduces trapped air bubbles. Always follow the recommended dosage and if symptoms persist speak to your doctor for further advice.

Alternatives to Woodwards Gripe Water

If you suspect that your baby has gripe, you may want to try alternative treatments before using Woodwards Gripe Water. However, these suggestions may not provide rapid relief of the condition itself, but simply make your baby feel a little more comfortable, and therefore using gripe water alongside these methods is often the most effective solution.

You can provide relief of wind and discomfort by trying the following methods:

• Hold your baby upright during feeds to prevent them from swallowing air along with the breast milk or formula.
• Burp your baby frequently to provide relief of wind and reduce discomfort as air bubbles form in their stomach.
• Try giving them a gentle massage to help with digestion. It’s best to do this when they are not distressed and crying, such as after a warm relaxing bath.
• If colic is triggered by an allergy, it may be a good idea to switch formulas. Speak to your GP or health advisor for more information.

Sources

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3611.pdf

How to use Woodwards Gripe Water

This oral medication is only for babies aged 1 month to 12 months. Follow the recommended dosage to relieve muscle spasms and release trapped wind:

1-6 months: 1 x 5ml spoonful

6-12 months: 2 x 5ml spoonfuls

• Give gripe water before or after a meal to reduce excess acid
• Use no more than six times in a 24-hour period
• Allow two hours before administering any other medications, if possible
• If your symptoms persist, see a GP or health advisor

In most cases, gripe water does an effective job at treating colic. Dill oil warms the stomach to break down air bubbles while sodium hydrogen carbonate neutralises excess acid.

Woodwards Gripe Water side effects

Although rare, with all medications there’s a small chance you’ll experience side effects. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your baby, stop using the treatment and seek medical advice.

Side effects may include:

• Itchiness or hives
• Watery eyes
• Constipation

An allergic reaction may show the following side effects:

• Vomiting
• A change in breathing
• Swelling of the face, lips or tongue

In this case, stop using the treatment and seek immediate professional medical advice.

Woodwards Gripe Water ingredients

Woodwards Gripe Water is an alcohol free and sugar free oral solution containing terpeneless dill seed oil and sodium hydrogen carbonate as its active ingredients. Further ingredients include maltitol liquid, glycerol, sodium salts of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (E215, E217, and E219), disodium edetate, propylene glycol and purified water.

Woodwards Gripe Water warnings

Although this product contains no sugar, it does contain maltitol, which may affect blood sugar levels. If your baby has an inherited intolerance to certain sugars, consult your doctor before administering this medication.

Woodwards Gripe Water could have a mild laxative effect.

This medication contains hydroxybenzoate derivatives (E215, E217, and E219), which may cause allergic reactions in some people (possibly delayed).

Each 5ml of this medicine contains 15.73 mg sodium (the main component of cooking/table salt). This is equivalent to 0.8% of an adult's recommended daily sodium intake.