The absence of feces for several days or its difficult discharge is called constipation. In children from birth to six months of age, the act of defecation occurs on average up to three times a day. As they grow older to 1.5 years, their number decreases to one. Normal consistency of feces of medium density, porridge-like, due to imperfect bowel function. If the baby begins to squeeze, grunt, cry and feces acquire a dense dense texture, sometimes in the form of hard balls, then the child has constipation. What to do in such a situation? First of all, parents should calm down and not panic. It is not recommended to take any measures on your own, all actions must be coordinated with the attending pediatrician.
Causes of constipation
In rare cases, constipation occurs due to a violation of the structure of the intestine associated with a genetic or acquired pathology. The most common cause is considered to be functional disorders that are associated with a passing violation of the intestine and its immaturity. The failure is due to:
- early weaning;
- quick transfer of baby to nutrient mixtures;
- insufficient amount of fluid consumed by both the baby and the nursing mother;
- frequent change of mixtures;
- thick foods;
- improper food processing;
- excess protein and fat in the baby’s food.
In addition, the occurrence of constipation contributes to:
- damage to the nervous system during delivery or bearing a baby;
- rickets;
- hypothyroidism;
- anemia;
- dysbiosis;
- allergic reactions to food;
- parasitic diseases;
- hemorrhoids;
- psychological factor;
- uncontrolled intake of certain groups of drugs.
In all of the above cases, muscle tone of the intestine is impaired. When it is strengthened, compression and spasm are observed. As a result, the intestines are narrowed, and the passage of feces becomes difficult. As a result, bowel movements take the form of small hard balls. With a decrease in tone, peristalsis slows down, the intestinal walls expand and a fecal mass of a large dense consistency is formed.
A month-old baby has constipation
Young parents, having first encountered such a situation, do not know what to do. A child has constipation per month - this is a fairly common occurrence. The reasons that provoke him:
- imperfect digestive tract or abnormalities of its organs;
- gastrointestinal pathology;
- hereditary defects;
- psychogenic factor;
- taking antibacterial agents;
- errors in the nutrition of a nursing woman and a baby.
With the abuse of the first chocolate, nuts, strong tea or coffee, as well as other products with a fixing effect, a lack of fiber in the mother’s milk, problems with bowel movements occur in the baby. With mixed or artificial nutrition, constipation is associated with insufficient water or indicates that the mixture is not suitable for the baby. Constipation in a month old baby - what to do? Consult a pediatric doctor who will prescribe treatment. If its reason lies in the mother’s improper diet, then the diet should be adjusted. If the baby eats the mixture, then it must be changed or increase the amount of water between feedings. The doctor may recommend several massage movements to help deal with the problem. They are made up to three times a day:
- with bent fingers, make clockwise circular movements around the navel;
- palms to rub the tummy from right to left, from top to bottom;
- pinch slightly;
- with gentle circular strokes to finish the massage.
Of the drugs, the doctor can prescribe glycerin suppositories, a mild laxative, which includes lactulose and a probiotic. With the ineffectiveness of the above measures, they put an enema.
How to deal with constipation in the first weeks?
Constipation in a baby at 1 month - what to do? The first month of baby's life is one of the most difficult. He adapts to new conditions of existence, so the main task of mom to help him:
- review the diet;
- exclude taking medications that affect the baby's stool;
- drink more fluids and water the baby;
- take baby in hands more often;
- Do not wean early from the chest;
- gently apply laxatives for constipation.
The best prevention of constipation in newborns is proper nutrition for mother and baby, walks in the fresh air, massage.
Now you know what to do if the baby is constipated. The main thing is to remember that the occurrence of this ailment is not a reason to refuse the natural feeding of the baby. However, if the child is on artificial mixtures, then it is recommended to change them.
Constipation in a three month old baby
The most common cause of constipation at this age is a lack of fluid, low intestinal motility. In addition, a provocative factor is:
- taking antibiotics;
- the introduction of complementary foods;
- excommunication and transfer to the mixture;
- malnutrition;
- non-compliance with a nursing mother's diet.
"The child is 3 months old constipation, what should I do?" - parents ask the doctor. First of all, remove the provoking factors. And the best prevention at this age is breast milk, you should not rush to transfer the baby to artificial feeding and introduce complementary foods. The baby’s digestive system will be ready for other foods a little later, closer to five months. To alleviate suffering, the child needs to be given a lot of water, it will help soften the stool.
The child is constantly constipated, what should I do?
Parents and pediatricians are often affected by constipation. To eliminate this phenomenon and the selection of treatment find out its cause. The frequency of stool per day, which is considered to be the norm, depends on the age of the baby:
- from birth to nine months - up to 10 times. With natural feeding, bowel movements are more common, and with artificial feeding less frequently;
- from a year to three years - once;
- older than three years - once or every two to three days.
Regardless of age, the frequency of bowel movements affects the condition of the child. Intoxication of the body is a consequence of frequent constipation, as a result of which the condition of hair, nails, dermis worsens. The kid complains of a headache, is naughty, nervous, acne, seizures in the corners of the lips. For the treatment of constipation, various methods are used that depend on the factors that provoked it, and on the age of the baby.
Constipation in a child - what to do? Pediatricians and gastroenterologists are involved in the treatment. In some cases, neurologists, endocrinologists and psychologists advise small patients. Treatment is selected individually, depending on the cause. The main goal of therapy:
- regular bowel movements;
- painless bowel movement with feces of soft consistency;
- overcoming the fear of defecation.
Therapy of constipation includes compliance with:
- drinking regimen;
- proper nutrition;
- motor activity;
- taking medications recommended by a doctor.
Nutrition for constipation
If a one-year-old child has constipation, what should be done first? With frequent constipation, you need to reconsider the diet - this is especially true for children who are one year old. Up to this age, nutrition is difficult to diversify. It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- raw vegetables;
- bran bread;
- fruit;
- berries;
- any gourds;
- dairy products;
- oat, buckwheat and pearl barley;
- vegetable oil.
It is advisable to minimize the baby's consumption of sweets, muffins, whole milk, rice, tea and legumes. It is very important to adjust the drinking regimen. From the year the amount of fluid for the child increases to 200 ml per day. It can be partially replaced by juice, fruit drinks or unsweetened tea.
Exercise for constipation
If constipation is observed in a child, what should I do? Increase motor activity to stimulate bowel function. Useful exercises such as:
- flexion and extension of the body;
- crawling on the stomach;
- raising and lowering the legs;
- retraction and blowing of the abdomen.
To eliminate the problem of constipation, you can perform other physical activities, for example, games in the fresh air, swimming in the pool, ice skating, skiing, etc.
Constipation in children at 4 and 5 years old
Causes of constipation at the age of four to five years may be congenital anomalies, acquired diseases, functional causes. Often, psychological problems are a provoking factor. Children are uncomfortable, shy of going to the toilet in child care facilities. Thus, they restrain the urge to defecate and endure until they find themselves in a familiar and calm atmosphere. As a result, there is an accumulation of feces, they become dense and hard. If for three days there was no stool, then it can be assumed that the child is 4 years old with constipation. What to do in such a situation? You should visit a pediatric doctor who will find out the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Additional symptoms that are observed in the baby:
- pain in the abdomen, discomfort and discomfort in the anus when trying to defecate;
- nervousness;
- tearfulness;
- lack of appetite;
- the presence of blood in the stool (this is due to cracks in the anus as a result of trauma to solid fecal matter).
The consequences of prolonged constipation are dangerous to the health of the child and are manifested by the following symptoms:
- cracks and bleeding during an act of defecation;
- intoxication of the body;
- violation of the intestinal microflora;
- insufficient amounts of nutrients and vitamins;
- neurological disorders due to prolonged pain syndrome;
- circulatory disorders in the intestinal walls.
If a child has constipation at age 5, what should I do? Definitely a treat. The symptomatology of the disease is similar to the above. Home methods of therapy can be used if the baby is 4–5 years old without stool for a maximum of two days. To normalize the process of defecation, the baby's diet is initially revised:
- increase the amount of fresh vegetables, fruits, berries;
- cereals and bran containing a large amount of fiber are added to food.
Add foods with a mild laxative effect to the food: sea buckthorn oil, bananas, prunes, dried apricots. Of great importance for the thinning of solid feces and the activation of processes in the intestine is the presence of a sufficient amount of fluid in the child's body. Therefore, you should not limit the baby in drinking water. However, carbonated drinks, whole milk, coffee, tea are not recommended.
Children 4-5 years old are very well helped to cope with constipation by physical activity or any physical activity, as well as massage, which helps to accelerate metabolic processes in the body. If the reason for the lack of defecation is psychological in nature, then a consultation with a psychologist is necessary. Of the drugs, doctors can recommend Dufalac, Linex, Hilak Forte, candles with glycerin, sea buckthorn oil. In extreme cases - an enema.
Difficulty defecating at the age of six
How to determine constipation in a child at 6 years old and what to do? There are complaints of lethargy, abdominal pain. Calls to the act of defecation may be completely absent or, conversely, be frequent. The process of bowel movement itself causes fear, since the solid consistency of feces injures the anus, causing pain and burning sensation. Constipation lasting more than two days is fraught with intoxication, so therapy should be started immediately after identifying its causes, which may be the following:
- lack of fluid;
- allergy;
- dysbiosis;
- anemia;
- insufficient fiber intake;
- bowel disease;
- unbalanced nutrition;
- prolonged use of antibiotics, antiallergic or laxative drugs;
- eating disorders;
- low activity.
Constipation caused by errors in nutrition is treated by adjusting the diet, increasing physical activity. The doctor may recommend taking a laxative in the form of suppositories with glycerin or staging microclysters. With frequent and prolonged constipation, a specialist consultation is required.
Constipation in a child at 7 years old, what to do?
At this age, the cause of constipation is mainly a change in diet and quality of food, inadequate intake of fluids, lack of minerals and vitamins, and the absence of vegetables, fruits and berries in the diet. Schoolchildren begin to absorb more protein and fatty foods. First aid for a long delay in feces is an enema or the use of suppositories with glycerin. However, before using them, the child should definitely be shown to the doctor. The best prevention of constipation is considered dietary nutrition and drinking regimen. The next reason for the stool delay at this age is considered a psychogenic factor if the child went to school at the age of seven. In this case, it is advisable to visit a psychologist.
Enema
When milk mixtures are included in the baby's diet, it is necessary to observe the work of the intestine. With the occurrence of rare constipation, when the baby has no feces for one day, you can put an enema. If constipation is constant, then treating them yourself is not recommended. The volume of fluid injected into the intestines (ml) is directly related to age:
- one month - up to 25;
- up to six months - from 30 to 60;
- from six months to a year - 120-130;
- from a year to two years - 200.
Step-by-step instruction "How to make an enema for a child with constipation"?
- Rinse the pear with boiling water.
- Immediately before setting, check for the presence of hot water residues in it. Otherwise, a burn of the intestinal mucosa is possible.
- Put the baby on the back and lift the legs up.
- Collect the required amount of boiled water, not higher than 30 degrees.
- Remove excess air from the pear, squeezing it until fluid appears.
- Grease the anus of the child and the tip of the pear with petroleum jelly.
- At 3-4 cm, carefully insert the tip into the anus of the baby.
- Slowly squeeze the pear and inject all the water.
- Carefully remove the enema.
- Squeeze the baby’s buttocks for several minutes so that the liquid does not leak immediately.
- After a short period of time, the urge to empty appears.
Parents should remember that enemas are often not recommended for constipation in a child. What to do instead of her? Currently, a new drug called “Microlax” has appeared on the pharmaceutical market, which is a microclyster. The basis of the drug is a water-salt solution, softened with glycerin. Laxative effect occurs at least five minutes after administration of the solution.