Now you have a baby, you were able to correctly organize breastfeeding, you may have had to overcome many difficulties and solve many new questions for yourself. One of the most common, which causes mothers to doubt, anxiety and anxiety: "the child can not poop!". This can last one day, or maybe 7. No words can describe the pain a child feels when suffering from constipation. It is especially intense when the baby is straining, but can not poop.
As a rule, the newborn defecates often from the first day, until it reaches the age of 2 to 6 weeks. After 2 weeks, the frequency of defecation of the baby decreases, because it now has a more developed digestive system, which facilitates the digestion and assimilation of nutrients contained in mother's milk. As a result, his need for food is reduced.
If the baby is breastfed, you can see that when he reaches the age of 2 to 4 months, the number of bowel movements decreases. However, this does not mean that the baby suffers from constipation. Colostrum and first breast milk acted as a natural laxative, making the baby's feces softer so that he can defecate with less stress. But from 2 to 4 months, the amount of colostrum in breast milk begins to decrease. Thus, a child cannot poop as many times as before. Some children may not defecate for up to 1 week. However, this does not mean that the child does not excrete waste from his body. Breast milk, as a rule, is completely absorbed by the body. This is also one of the reasons why a baby can not indulge in breastfeeding as often as in artificial breastfeeding.
You can understand that the baby has constipation, according to the following signs and symptoms:
• A baby cannot cough for three days if she is breast-fed.
• Dry, hard stools.
• Crying when trying to defecate.
What are the causes of infant constipation?
1. Inadequate fluid intake. If the child does not receive enough water, he will likely have difficulty with bowel movements. This is due to the fact that the body absorbs water from feces, making it dry and hard.
2. Feeding a baby with new food. With the introduction of complementary foods, the baby’s body will adapt to digesting solid foods, which cannot be digested as easily as breast milk.
3. The transition to artificial feeding. Some lactose-containing mixtures can cause constipation.
Parents who notice that their child often suffers from constipation should consult a pediatrician who may suggest diet changes, drug laxatives, or enemas. Most children have problems with stools within one to two weeks, although it is possible that constipation is caused by a more serious illness, such as hypothyroidism.
How to help your baby poke? You can use a proven remedy - plum juice, which is a mild natural laxative. In addition, give the child more water throughout the day. If the baby cries during bowel movements, you can help him: bend the legs in the knees and gently press him to the tummy. If this does not help, you can use another tool that does not cause side effects: in the anus of the baby, enter a small piece of soap.
Avoid the use of medicines that can cause negative side effects. For children older than 4 months it is necessary to give foods that are high in fiber: plums, peaches, apples and bananas. Gently massage the baby’s tummy clockwise. A warm bath will also help to cope with the problem of constipation - it has relaxing properties. Try doing the bike exercise, which also helps a lot with bowel problems.
But, in any case, if the constipation does not go away, the child is sluggish, constantly crying - urgently contact a pediatrician for examination and treatment if necessary.