One of the most common misconceptions in Iraqi society is that puncturing the abdomen of infants and newborns can help relieve gas.
The truth of the matter is that injuring a child's abdomen or cutting it with an instrument, such as a knife, does not help release gas.
Kamran Ahmad, a pediatrician and neonatologist, states that there is no scientific basis for this practice.
Ahmad considers this practice to be a danger to babies' health, as it can cause inflammation of the wound. He explains that gas does not come out because it is located in the intestines, which are deeper inside the body. The stomach is made up of multiple layers, so cutting them all is necessary to reach the intestines.
"Scratching is injuringthe surface layer of the abdomen."
