In the life of every baby, this unpleasant situation sometimes occurs, when his bowel movement becomes rare, his feces are dense, and his discharge can even be painful. It's about constipation.
What should be the frequency of the baby's stool? If the baby is breast-fed, then at least twice a day, in case of feeding with a mixture - at least once a day. In the second case, children are more likely to suffer from constipation.
Causes of constipation :
a) food related
- uniform nutrition of the child and mother, low content of fruits and vegetables in the mother's menu;
- underfeeding the baby;
- incorrect introduction of complementary foods;
- non-observance of proportions in the preparation of the mixture;
- low fluid intake by the baby;
- iron deficiency.
b) features of development
- Anatomical features and congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract;
- spasm of the anal sphincter;
- hypothyroidism;
- cracks and inflammatory changes in the anus;
c) insufficient child care
- uncomfortable conditions (cold pot, wet diapers, etc .;
- motor mode is insufficient.
It also happens that constipation in a newborn combines several reasons for stool retention.
Constipation in newborns and children in the first months of life occurs due to a spasm of the anal sphincter in combination with improper nutrition of the mother. The baby feels discomfort, abdominal pain, so he is capricious and worried.
If, when feeling the abdomen, one of the sections of the colon is found, in the form of a dense cord, urgently get a doctor's consultation.
What methods of treating constipation can help the baby? How to treat constipation?
Try to alleviate the condition of the newborn by applying the following methods of treating constipation:
- stroking the tummy clockwise;
- regular gymnastics, massage, laying the baby on the stomach;
- flexion and extension of the crumbs legs;
- taking a warm bath;
- accurate stimulation of the anus with a vent pipe (in exceptional cases, extremely rare);
- the use of enemas. Like the previous one, this method must be used if other methods have not helped, since frequent enemas inhibit the urge to be deformed. In order to cure the extinction of urges, it will be necessary to apply medication.
The treatment of constipation should be comprehensive. Constipation in a newborn can be a consequence of improper nutrition of the mother and child.
From the diet of the mother, it is necessary to exclude products that contribute to the accumulation of gases in the stomach (cabbage, brown bread, mushrooms, grapes and others). It is also necessary to reduce the amount of animal fat in the diet of a nursing mother and partially replace it with vegetable. The use of foods high in fiber (cereals, fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread and others) will contribute to the formation of a laxative effect. Products that cause constipation in a newborn can be a manifestation of a food allergy, in which case they should be excluded from the diet of a nursing mother. The introduction of prebiotics and probiotics into the diet is beneficial for eliminating the problem. Artificially fed newborns are introduced into the diet special mixtures containing lactulose, carob gluten , which ensure the normalization of stool. With the introduction of complementary foods, the baby is given juices from carrots, prunes, beets, which contribute to increased peristalsis.
A few words about the use of enemas.
Trying to cure constipation in a newborn with an enema, you can create an even bigger problem. Regular enemas inhibit the natural impulse to defecate, and the baby can no longer cope with the problem on his own. With stool retention caused by low contractile activity of the intestine, medical treatment methods will already be required.