In the first months of life, 70% of babies have digestive problems, namely flatulence. This is due to the immaturity of the digestive system, in particular, with the intestines. It has not yet been populated by a completely useful intestinal microflora, the enzyme system is weak, and colic, constipation, and stomach swelling of the gases occur in a newborn baby. This exhausts the child and parents thoroughly. But it is worth noting that flatulence in infants up to 3 months is a physiological process.
Signs of colic in the abdomen in a newborn
The child bothers with legs, screams piercingly, cries for several hours in a row, refuses to breast, or, conversely, eats a lot, is restless. The complexion becomes burgundy, the baby squeezes the legs to the stomach, the stomach becomes like a drum, there is no stool for several days or its volume is small, many mothers notice such symptoms.
Should I immediately resort to the handset?
The tube is a last resort. First you need to try to calm the baby and try other ways:
- massage the tummy by stroking clockwise;
- apply a warm diaper to the stomach;
- put the baby on the stomach;
- give dill water;
- make the baby a bicycle;
- give medicines, for example, Espumisan, Baby Kalm.
Only if all this does not help, you can resort to a gas outlet. A catheter does not cure the problem, but only removes gases, alleviating the condition of the child.
What are they like?
The vent tube is called a medical probe, catheter, rectal tube. In pharmacies, they are quite a large selection from different manufacturers. You need to choose the right size. This, of course, is not length, but diameter. In addition, they are single and reusable.
When used correctly, the handset is a completely safe device that acts almost instantly. For newborns, the size of the tube should be No. 15-16. From six months you can use No. 17-18.
The most primitive tubes are rubber, without a limiter, so it is quite difficult to determine the depth of their entry into the rectum. Will have to measure it with a ruler. The more modern generation of catheters have a stop ring, which is much more convenient.
Today, pharmacies most often sell rectal catheters, domestic and Swedish, less often from the Netherlands.
Apexmed rectal probe
Manufacturers - the Netherlands or China. The tube is disposable, sterile, transparent, 20 cm long, made of thermoplastic PVC, which is further softened at body temperature.
The end of the introduced tube is rounded for safety of insertion, 2 lateral openings for the exit of gases. In addition, divisions up to a maximum mark of 5 cm are applied every 10 mm to control the depth of administration.
The tube is sterile and does not require pre-boiling. For newborns, sizes 06, 08, 10 (diameter from 2 to 3.3 mm) are suitable. Benefits:
- external size is minimal;
- sterility excluding boiling;
- closed end for added security;
- size is determined by color;
- there are marks on the tube by which the depth of administration can be controlled.
Cons: higher price, the depth of introduction needs control.
Gas rectal tube from the Russian manufacturer Alfaplastik
It is reusable, rubber, orange. Length 35 cm, for a child up to 3 months, size 15 and 16 are required. Up to a year - 17 and 18.
The wide edge is the outlet for gases, the narrow part is inserted into the ass. When using it for the first time, you need to boil the product for 20 minutes. Re-only wash with soap or treat with peroxide if used at home for only one baby.
In hospitals, the tubes are constantly boiling. The tube should not lie in the sun, next to materials that destroy rubber: grease, alkali, gasoline, etc.
Pros:
- cheapness;
- You can choose the minimum size.
Minuses:
- the need for boiling for sterility;
- no marks for depth;
- even the smallest tubes are wide enough for the baby’s butt.
WINDI catheters
These catheters are manufactured by Astra Tech from Sweden. The WINDI Rectal Catheter for Newborns is a breakthrough in medical devices for children.
The advantage of their patented products is that the anatomical features of the intestines of infants are taken into account, and the product is absolutely safe. This rectal catheter for newborns belongs to the first class of products.
The WINDI tube is made of thermoplastic elastomer. This means strong plastic and elastic rubber. In addition, the material is hypoallergenic, there is no latex in it. In addition, the material in contact with the body is further softened.
The length of the catheter is only 9 cm, the inserted part is 2.5 cm, which allows you to reach the muscle, the tension of which prevents the gases from leaving freely.
WINDI Rectal Catheter for Newborns Disposable. It allows the use of one tube during the procedure. Then it needs to be changed. The catheter device is such that the sound of the outgoing gases is detected by ear. But his greatest advantage is that he has a restriction of administration, which is very convenient for parents. The rounded tip of the tube does not damage the mucosa.
The surface of the catheter is embossed, does not slip in the hand. Swedish rectal catheters for newborns are sterile, single-use, there is no need to boil them. Minus is only in price.
General precautions for all catheters
Particular caution is required in the application, because there is a risk of damage to the walls of the intestine, followed by peritonitis, bleeding and infection. This is especially true for Russian products. In no case do not leave the phone overnight in the baby’s ass to ensure a good night's sleep.
How to use?
It is advisable that for the first time, a nurse or doctor shows you how to use a rectal catheter for newborns correctly. In any case, a reusable catheter should be boiled for 10 minutes.
There should not be any other initiative in the form of additional incisions and extensions: it must be installed in the form in which it is sold.
Before administration, prepare:
- a container of water to control the release of gases;
- bottle with sterile vegetable oil or petroleum jelly for lubrication;
- Wet wipes and cotton balls.
Disposable tubes should be used immediately after opening the package. Everything must be done with clean hands. Cover the table with a diaper, on top of which lay the oilcloth. Before the introduction of the tube, you need to massage the baby’s tummy three times on the right and left. The movements are directed from the side to the center, then from the center down. This will help the gases go down closer to the exit from the intestines.
Lubricate the narrow end of the tube and the baby’s anus with oil, the child should lie on his left side. The legs are bent at the knees, raised. With the fingers of your left hand, slightly extend the buttocks of the baby, and with your right hand gently, with rotational movements, enter the tip of the tube first to a depth of 1-2 cm, the second end should be lowered into the water.
With the introduction of the tube, continue to stroke the stomach in a clockwise direction or make a “bicycle” with the legs of the baby. This is necessary to stimulate the intestines. Exhaust gases will gurgle in a glass of water.
In this case, the baby’s stomach is flattened, softened. If gases do not escape, carefully advance the tip a couple more centimeters, but not more than 4 cm. If you feel an obstacle, you can’t move the handset! If the baby cries and does not calm down, do not insert any tube.
Gaziki come out within 2-5 minutes, after which the tube is carefully removed. Press the legs at this time to the tummy so that the gases come out by themselves and to the end. Wash the baby and pat dry.
Even if the goal of the procedure was only gases, the stool after the catheter is often within 15-20 minutes. Therefore, it is better to continue the procedure for 10 minutes until defecation begins. Then take out the probe on a napkin. The used rectal catheter must be washed with soap (household) and put in a clean bag.
When you reuse the tube for your baby, boiling it is no longer necessary. Dr. Komarovsky, for example, believes: if the tool is used exclusively for one child, there is no point in constantly boiling it.
When the handset is not shown
The handset cannot be placed in the following cases:
- anal fissures;
- infectious diseases;
- inflammation of the anus;
- intestinal bleeding.
How often can I use
This question often worries parents. Dr. Komarovsky states that often.
Parents are worried if there will be no getting used to the tube after this, and will the intestines stop working independently? This is out of the question.
Numerous reviews of mothers indicate that there is no addiction, and the baby's condition is eased. If necessary, the tube can be used 3-4 times a day, they talk about the rapid relief of the baby's condition.
The probe does not create interference, it only helps. But this does not mean that the tube can be inserted every 15 minutes, the break should be at least 4 hours.
Upon reaching the age of 4 months, especially after the introduction of complementary foods, the need for a catheter disappears itself.
A bit about WINDI rectal catheter instructions
There is a detailed instruction on the packaging. Before use, it is necessary to disinfect the tube with alcohol or boil for 15-20 seconds, then cool to room temperature.
Cold sterilization with special Milton or BebeConfort tablets is acceptable and convenient. You just need to dissolve them in water and lower the catheter there for 15 minutes. Most parents tend to reuse the catheter by boiling it. It is believed that this is the course of marketing, and they want to earn money on them.
But the manufacturer does not guarantee the safety of the elastic material after heat treatment. It is necessary to strictly follow the attached instructions for a rectal catheter for newborns, it should not be ignored.
pros
The pluses include the following:
- sterility;
- the presence of a limiter;
- the length and shape of the tip are specially designed to stimulate a muscle that prevents gases from escaping;
- thermoplastic material;
- non-damaging rounded tip;
- the gas outlet is audible and there is no need to control a can of water.
disadvantages
WINDI has only 2 minuses: there is no possibility of secondary use, relatively high cost. But he fully justifies this price.
Reviews of the WINDI rectal catheter indicate that it is just perfect, the baby's condition eases quickly. The device is very convenient to use.
The WINDI rectal catheter has an optimal length, its insertion is 2.5 cm. The tube is so thin, it does not cause any inconvenience to the baby.
He himself is very soft, supple, special protrusions are made on the tube, which prevent the fingers from slipping during insertion.
What to replace in case of emergency?
Sometimes it happens that there is no rectal catheter at home, and the baby needs it now. Then, in a small children's enema , the bottom can be cut off - for the release of gases. A greased tip, as usual, insert into the baby's ass. Preliminary boiling is mandatory.
Catheters for adults
Rectal catheters are sometimes needed not only for children but also for adults. They are often necessary, for example, for patients with prolonged bed rest, weakened, who cannot move on their own, etc.
In such cases, a rectal Diaflex catheter, a Primed kit, is used to remove feces. It is indicated for bed patients, people in a coma, elderly paralyzed after strokes, etc. A catheter (probe) rectal facilitates the care of such patients, it is more hygienic than diapers. Comfortable, prevents unpleasant stool odors.
Rectal catheter "Assomedika" is intended for the same purposes. The same company also produces a pediatric catheter No. 8 (Pediatric gas vent tube).
A catheter is often the only way to alleviate a patient’s condition. Some mistakenly believe that its use will adversely affect the health of the child. This is not true. It is proved that adaptation does not affect the functioning of the body in the future.