Young parents face various problems that arise in the process of newborn growth. One such situation is constipation in infants. Why does it arise and how do parents react to this?
Features of constipation in infants
Parents should such a situation urgently need to take specific measures. The problem will not disappear spontaneously, and the accumulation of vital products in the body of a newborn can lead to the development of severe intoxication. What to do - does a baby have constipation?
In most cases, this condition in a child is not a disease, but errors in diet and care. It is enough to carefully study the diet of the baby, add changes and the process of emptying will improve.
If constipation is chronic, then treating it with a balanced diet and safe medications will not work. Perhaps the child has colitis, dysbiosis and other pathologies.
How to behave to parents in a similar situation, can only tell a gastroenterologist after a full examination. Only after this, the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Causes of constipation
In newborns, this concept requires explanation. If in an adult 3-4 bowel movements per day is regarded as diarrhea, then in infants this is a completely normal phenomenon.
In a breastfed infant, constipation may be the result of complete digestion of food. It manifests itself in the absence of feces for 1-2 days.
The causes of constipation in a 2-month-old baby are significantly different from a 9-month-old baby. This may be caused by:
- insufficient amount of milk in the mother or mixture;
- lack of fluid in the diet;
- errors in the nutrition of mothers, which led to the peculiarities of breast milk.
One of the varieties of stool retention is hungry constipation, when everything in a baby is completely digested. In this case, feces are not formed. This situation occurs when feeding a child with artificial mixtures, if the need for nutrients increases. If constipation in an infant is 3 months old and it is large, then the amount of baby food is incorrectly taken into account.
A newborn releases a significant amount of fluid, which is due to more intensive processes of skin respiration and evaporation of fluid from the surface of the body. He needs water in sufficient quantities.
The most common causes of constipation in infants include:
- Changing the feeding regimen (replacing the mixture, switching to artificial nutrition or improper feeding).
- Insufficient amount of breast milk in a nursing mother.
- Dysbiosis leads to bowel movements. The severity of symptoms largely depends on the severity of the pathology.
- Difficulty defecation can cause lactose deficiency. A child cannot metabolize sugar in milk.
- Elevated body temperature. It accompanies every infectious disease and reduces bowel tone.
- Abnormal structure of the digestive system. This may be congenital bowel obstruction or other pathology. It is rare, but sometimes leads to constipation.
- Inadequate physical activity of the baby. Due to tight swaddling or tight diapers, bowel function deteriorates. Rare walks and lack of gymnastics.
- Medicines taken by an infant or nursing mother. Delayed emptying can cause Polysorb, Smecta, and others.
All of these symptoms should be carefully considered. If a serious illness is suspected, parents should consult a pediatrician.
Symptoms of constipation
Identifying this condition is quite simple. Constipation in an infant 2 months and older is manifested as follows:
- The child grunts, and his face turns red due to attempts.
- The baby's chair resembles balls without moisture.
- The baby has a stomach ache, cramps and bloating.
- Under normal conditions, the baby should empty the intestines at least once a day. Depending on individual characteristics, the indicator may vary. However, the absence of stool for 3 days is considered a sign of constipation.
- The appearance of blood impurities in the feces of a child can also indicate difficulties with bowel movements. In a newborn, the walls of the rectum are particularly sensitive, and solid feces can lead to their rupture.
If there is constipation in a month-old baby while breastfeeding, he urgently needs help.
In the future, parents need to make every effort to treat and prevent this condition. The child needs to be shown to a specialist, because in addition to physiological constipation, there are also pathological ones. If in the first case the condition is treated with the help of nutrition correction, then in the second case the reasons lie in the defects of the digestive system. Their manifestations can be reduced only after establishing the cause and proper therapy.
What is constipation dangerous for a newborn?
The appearance of problems with bowel movements in infants is a serious situation that needs to be eliminated. Constipation in infants is dangerous:
- Poisoning a child's body with toxins. In such a situation, it is necessary to combat not only constipation, but also intoxication.
- The motility of the digestive tract is impaired. This condition can cause vomiting, which causes dehydration.
- The occurrence of pain and fissures of the rectum. In such a situation, the child reflexively retains dense stool.
- Violation of the blood circulation in the rectum. This can cause hemorrhoids.
- The development of mechanical bowel obstruction.
It is necessary to solve problems with bowel movements quickly, given the harm done to the body.
First aid
In most cases, constipation in infants can be managed on their own. The first thing to do is to help push the baby and empty the intestines. To do this, press the bent legs in the knees to the tummy and thus support 10-30 seconds. This should be done carefully, without forcibly overcoming the resistance of the baby.
To eliminate constipation in a newborn, massage is used. The procedure is carried out several times a day. It is recommended to do this before feeding and after sleep. 1-2 minutes are enough for newborns, 5 minutes for babies older than 6 months.
The procedure is carried out several times a day, alternating it with stroking the tummy clockwise around the navel. When properly performed, the baby exhausts gases, and then feces. If the procedure does not help, then go to the next step.
Emergency care for constipation in a 4-month-old baby while breastfeeding consists in irritating the rectum, a cleansing enema, or using a laxative suppository. These measures apply only in special cases. Constant use with frequent constipation in infants can lead to disruption of the process of normal bowel movement.
Emergency measures
To irritate the rectum, a gas tube or a syringe cut off in the form of a funnel is used. The end of the device is lubricated with sterile vaseline or vegetable oil and injected into the anus of the baby by 1.5-2 cm. Mechanical irritation of the rectum occurs, and then defecation occurs.
Constipation in a baby, what should I do? You can apply a cleansing enema. For the newborn, they use the smallest syringe, which they must boil. Water should not be too cold or hot. The syringe is filled with liquid, the tip is lubricated with oil. 2 cm are introduced into the anus of the child. The syringe is slowly squeezed and removed in a compressed state. Parents clamp the buttocks of the child with their fingers for 3-5 minutes. This keeps water out. It is most convenient to carry out the procedure for a child when he is lying on his back with legs brought to his tummy. Emptying should occur within 30 minutes after the procedure.
Children's glycerin suppositories are allowed for use by infants older than 3 months, but if necessary, it can also be used for constipation in a month-old baby while breastfeeding. The permissible dose is 1/2 candle. It is introduced into the infant's rectum completely and the buttocks are clamped for several minutes.
Some grandmothers recommend using a bar of soap to empty the bowels. However, it has an irritating effect, so this method is not recommended.
Currently, the pharmacy can buy microclysters. They are completely ready for use and are designed for one procedure.
Laxative
Taking such medicines should be carried out as a last resort, when nothing helps. Most laxatives are not allowed for babies up to one year old. Approved for admission from the first days of life, Dufalac and its analogues.
To cause defecation, the child is given 5 ml of the drug. Nursing mothers can also take this remedy, because it is harmless to the baby. If the child is 6 months old, then parents can give him “Forlax”. It can be taken continuously for up to 3 months.
Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
A well-known doctor believes that there are two important conditions for the proper functioning of the intestine. The body must be provided with sufficient fluid and potassium. With dehydration, bowel function is ineffective. This can occur with high body temperature and insufficient humidity in the room.
With a lack of potassium in the body, intestinal motility is disturbed. This leads to constipation in the infant. Komarovsky advises including dried apricots, raisins and figs in the baby’s diet. After all, these dried fruits are rich in potassium.
When a child uses boiled water, mineral salts do not enter the body. The doctor advises in this case, cook stewed raisins and other dried fruits.
Diet for constipation should be aimed at eliminating foods that include protein from the diet. It is best to give the baby kefir, brown bread, yogurt and apple juice.
Taking yogurt overnight or using steamed prunes can eliminate constipation in 1 out of 4 cases. In this case, you can refuse drugs.
If all of the above methods do not have an effect, then Komarovsky recommends using liquid oils (castor or almond) and senna-based preparations.
Giving these drugs to the child, parents achieve daily bowel movements. It is best to give them before bedtime, then defecation will occur in the morning. A dosage is selected that would not cause the child discomfort when emptying.
Therapy and prevention of constipation
Parents should be aware that all of these funds do not cure constipation in babies, but only contribute to the occurrence of bowel movements. As a result, short-term relief comes. The constant use of enemas and other drugs harms the body of the child, as the natural process of emptying is disrupted. It is addictive. Emergency measures can be used as a one-time aid.
How to treat constipation in an infant? If the condition continues in the baby constantly, then serious intestinal pathologies must be ruled out. The specialist prescribes ultrasound and other tests that determine the root cause of constipation. If a congenital pathology is established, then they try to get rid of it with the help of conservative methods of treatment. But most often the operation is done.
If neurological disorders have led to intestinal atony, then the child is shown to a neurologist. For food allergies, parents and baby are advised to visit an immunologist. When identifying diseases of the digestive tract, consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary.
With constipation of a functional nature, experts recommend a series of events:
- Establish a diet for a nursing mother and baby, eliminating fixing foods. It is best to add dishes that stimulate the activity of the intestine to the diet. Mom needs to eat more vegetables and fruits, wholemeal products. Drink 2.5 liters of water. Eat several berries of prunes, figs or dried apricots.
- Give the baby mashed vegetables as complementary foods. Especially useful apples, peaches, apricot and juice from them.
- Restore intestinal microflora with the help of preparations with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. They can be taken by mom along with the baby. The menu needs to include natural yogurt and fresh dairy products.
- Observe drinking regimen. Instead of juices, the baby is best given drinking bottled water for children, it is not recommended to boil it.
- Do baby exercises and tummy massage.
Such measures are aimed at improving bowel function and preventing constipation.
Conclusion
Constipation in an infant is a condition that requires the correct response of the parent. After all, this gives not only unpleasant sensations to the baby, but also harms his body. With constipation, which lasts for a long time, the help of a specialist is necessary.