Constipation in infants: signs, reasons, what to do when breastfeeding

The physical condition of the baby is judged by the stool, therefore, it is not surprising that the parents of infants have excessive control over the child's feces, and talk about constipation. However, there is no need to worry too much about this: for babies who eat breast milk, there is no "schedule" according to which bowel emptying occurs. Mother's milk, which has the property of constantly changing in density and composition, can cause a delay in emptying in a baby. Stool retention for a couple of days is a physiological process, it is acceptable, but under certain conditions: in a baby no symptoms of intoxication, hypersensitivity, excessive moodiness, weakness, which it recognizes mom.

Signs of constipation in babies

It is not difficult to understand whether the baby suffers from a delay in bowel movement: you need to know the signs characteristic of the problem. It is easy to recognize them, it is worth watching the baby.

Fecal consistency

For a baby's feces, a special consistency is characteristic, but when a delay in bowel movement occurs, it changes. The volume of feces decreases, they become hard, lumpy.

Baby behavior

Not surprisingly, delayed bowel movement affects infant behavior. A baby may experience a sharp change in mood, the baby will become capricious, cry often, and be in constant tension. Children's weight will drop dramatically or slowly gain weight.

The child's well-being

The disease affects the physical condition of the infant. Redness and peeling may appear on the baby's skin. There is a chance of rashes on the body. Increase in the temperature of the child is characteristic.

Causes of constipation in babies

The digestive system of babies is weak - a number of reasons can provoke constant delays in bowel movement. These include taking special medications, for which delayed bowel movement is a side effect. Abrupt changes in the diet of a nursing woman will become one of the causes of the disease. These include a change in the fat content of breast milk, too long a break between breastfeeding procedures.

With the elimination of all the reasons for the delay in bowel movement that disturb the baby, the child's stool will return to normal within 24 hours. If this does not happen, you should contact a medical professional.

Help for an infant

Try to cope with the possible causes of disruption of the digestive system, then resort to the use of medications. Please note: it is impossible to abuse drugs - this can significantly worsen the physical condition of the baby. You can help a baby with constipation in the following ways.

Compress

To help the child overcome the disease at home, you need to prepare a towel (nappies), ironed with an iron. Then soak the weave in warm, but not hot water, place on the baby's belly. The towel can be replaced with a warm heating pad.

Bath

Taking a bath helps the baby to relieve spasms: you need to collect water, add special herbs. After completing this procedure, it is not recommended to put on clothes that restrict movement on the child.

Gymnastics

You can get rid of constipation in babies by doing exercises with the child, which consist in pulling bent legs to the stomach. If a month-old child is uncomfortable during gymnastics, then you should not be zealous.

Abdominal massage

During the massage, the baby should be in a lying position on a flat surface. Make sure that the actions of the child are not constrained by anything. It is worth considering: you cannot carry out massage for more than 10 minutes. It is recommended to massage the abdomen, making gentle, stroking movements in a clockwise direction. Acupressure massage is done by making movements with the pads of the index fingers.

Vegetable oil

For a long time, delayed bowel movement in an infant has been treated with vegetable oil. It is enough to give half a teaspoon of liquid and wait for a positive result.

Constipation Relief Medications

Babies with a delay in bowel movement should be given laxatives related to prebiotics. Thanks to the drugs, the volume of feces will be able to increase, the problem will be solved faster. Please note: do not sharply increase the dosage of the drug, this can cause increased colic.

It is possible to deal with constipation in infants during breastfeeding by using suppositories with glycerin, which irritate the receptors of the rectum. Because of the suppositories, there will be an urge to defecate, the feces will pass painlessly.

It is unacceptable to treat a child for constipation if it is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, severe pain, fever, and other symptoms. Then the disruption of the digestive system is a consequence of a serious pathology, for the treatment of which the intervention of a professional is required.

Folk remedies

Babies, whose age has not yet reached three months, are forbidden to drink decoctions of herbs, except for dill water, which has a positive effect on the young intestines. Children who have reached the age of six months are recommended to give as a remedy for constipation - a decoction of prunes. Cooking will not take an hour: the fruit is soaked in boiled water for 10-15 minutes, cut into small pieces. The used water must be removed, then the prunes are poured with 200 ml of water, brought to a boil. The resulting liquid should be filtered, diluted with boiled water one to one. It is recommended to give the broth one teaspoon less than three times a day before feeding.

Before treating a child for constipation on your own, you should consult with a specialist, carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Doctor Komarovsky's advice

Doctor Komarovsky mentions medications: Lizalak, Normaze. The drugs recommended by a well-known pediatrician include Espumisan and similar ones. For the treatment of infants, the dose of the drug should not be sharply increased; one should start with a small dose, increasing to the one indicated in the prescription.

In the case when the child has reached six months of age, it is worth getting rid of constipation by feeding the baby prune puree. If the disease is caused by the appearance of milk teeth, then there is no need to worry too much about this: the problem will not last a month.

Mother's nutrition

To eliminate constipation in a breastfed baby, it is worth adjusting the diet of a nursing woman. The stool is triggered by insufficient consumption of foods containing fiber:

• Oatmeal.
• Fresh vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes), fruits, berries (apples, plums, apricots).
• Dried fruits.
• Bran.
• Bran bread.

Certain dishes should be excluded from the diet of a nursing woman, and their consumption should be reduced to a minimum. These are the following products:

• Sweets.
• Strong black tea.
• Bananas.
• Cocoa.
• Chocolate.

Prophylaxis

Not stopped constipation in infants during breastfeeding in time is the reason for the occurrence of a sufficient number of problems: it is much better to prevent the disease. It is enough to use the methods used for prevention.

Baby food

Eating a baby is something that needs to be monitored constantly: the slightest disturbances in the baby's nutrition provoke various problems. In a baby's food intake, the main thing is constancy, moderation. Do not try to overfeed, but make sure that the child is full.

Baby activity

In order to avoid a problem in a baby, it is important to monitor its activity. It is enough to carry out frequent exercises, then this problem will not be encountered. It is recommended to do gymnastics with the baby, massage the abdomen.

Mother's diet

A nursing mother monitors her diet: she does not want to harm the baby. To help him avoid constipation, she consumes more fiber-containing laxative foods.

Environment

Air is important for the health of every person, but for babies it is especially important. The air should not be too dry or warm: it contributes to overheating in a one-year-old baby. This can lead to persistent constipation.

How to treat it is impossible

There are known ways to eliminate constipation in infants while breastfeeding, so it is difficult to say: the information is true or false. Here is a list of myths that any parent has encountered.

Infant meal schedule is required

It has been established: it is more correct for a newborn baby to eat at will, and not according to a special schedule. Thanks to this, the newborn is given the opportunity to satisfy his needs, get enough food.

Soap will solve constipation problems

From the well-known folk method for combating constipation, people draw the wrong conclusion: with soap you can stimulate bowel movements. This will not help cure the baby - it will harm him.

The baby lacks breast milk nutrition

Remember, the only indicator of infant malnutrition is underweight. With normal development, it is not necessary to supplement with a mixture: with artificial and mixed feeding, constipation from the mixture or from cottage cheese is possible. The artificial constipation occurs more often.

Constipation in a newborn, one-month-old baby, with improper treatment, becomes the cause of diseases: it is much more difficult and dangerous to deal with them. It is better, before you decide to start treatment on your own, to understand whether you are ready to risk the health of your baby. It is much easier and more correct to contact a specialist who recommends the correct treatment for you, to follow the instructions of the pediatrician.