For young parents, one of the most pressing topics is the baby's chair. The fact is that babies very often have problems such as constipation or diarrhea, and many diseases can begin with these symptoms. The question of what to do if the baby is not pooping begins to worry adults almost from the first days of his life.
After birth, just a few hours later, the so-called meconium comes out of the baby - a homogeneous feces of dark or black color. After a few days, the baby's bowel movements will brighten. Normal during this period is feces of a yellowish tint, gruel-like, without any streaks of mucus or blood, with an acidic smell. If the baby is breast-fed, the consistency may be denser and the smell harsher. Usually a baby at this age defecates after almost every feeding and this is considered the norm. However, what to do if the infant does not poop for a long time?
Firstly, it must be remembered that constipation is the absence of a chair for at least 48 hours, before this time there is no need to take any measures. If the baby is breast-fed, then you should pay attention to whether he receives enough milk. This is calculated by measuring popes (in the first months of life they should be at least 12 per day), as well as an increase in the weight of the baby.
If everything is normal in this direction, but the newborn does not poop, the cause may be cramping in the intestine or rectum. To get rid of them, it is recommended to easily stroke the baby’s tummy in a clockwise direction, press your legs with your knees to your stomach and wait for another day. If the result did not come, then other help will be required.
When the baby does not poop in the first months of life, parents can use a vent pipe. It acts much softer and softer compared to an enema. In addition, this device will help with excessive gas formation. Its action is that, irritating the walls of the rectum, it causes their reflex contraction, the tube is pushed out with gases and, in most cases, with feces. The end of the device should be greased with cream or oil, it is introduced to a depth of not more than 8 cm. The result from its use should come after 15-20 minutes.
Of course, do not forget about the enema, which is in almost any home. However, one should not get involved in this procedure, besides, it is necessary to strictly observe the norms of water for use relative to the age of the baby. An enema is used if there is no stool for several days, while the child is pushing, and his stomach is hard. Since this is more of a medical procedure, it is best to consult a doctor before using it.
Currently, in pharmacies you can find microclysters containing a special solution to soften feces and stimulate the intestines. They have been used since the age of three months and are much more convenient to use compared to traditional enemas. If the baby does not poop, then it is quite possible to use them. Here's what you don’t need to do is use such folk methods as a bar of soap and a thermometer for other purposes. This procedure is not only unpleasant for the baby, but can also be dangerous.
It is worth noting that if the infant does not poop on its own, but only with the help of any of the additional tools listed here or other means, a pediatrician consultation and a thorough examination of the baby are necessary. After all, this symptom can talk about many diseases, including bowel obstruction. In the latter case, the temperature may rise and vomiting may occur.
I must say that if the stool is absent for 2-3 days, and the baby feels normal and does not bother him, then there should also be no particular reason for parents to worry, especially if the baby is breast-fed. However, it is important to monitor the frequency of the infant's stool in order to identify and eliminate any unpleasant diseases (including dysbiosis) in time.