Causes of constipation in infants. Treatment of constipation in infants

Is a painful condition characterized by slow and difficult bowel movements.
The body of a newborn is so different from the body of an adult that sometimes mothers face an insoluble problem: is this or that condition of her baby the norm or is it necessary to sound the alarm.

In the understanding of adult medicine, the diagnosis of constipation can be made when:

absence of a chair for more than a day;

a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestines after a bowel movement;

solid feces;

application of effort (straining) in the process of emptying the intestines.

Inexperienced parents, when applying these criteria to their newborn children, often completely in vain begin to suspect that they have intestinal disorders. It's good if after that mom goes to the pediatrician and asks his advice. It is much worse when the diagnosis is made independently and treatment begins based on the advice of friends, grandmothers and Internet forums.

In order to understand what condition in an infant is actually constipation, it is necessary to consider the normal functioning of the baby's digestive system.

The first days of life. A newborn's first stool is called meconium. It is the remnants of intestinal cells and the digestion products of amniotic fluid, which the baby accidentally swallowed. Normally, meconium begins to drain immediately after the first feeding. The color of the first stool is dark, in some cases almost black, odorless, and resembles toothpaste in consistency.

In the first 1-2 days of life, the baby empties the intestines infrequently - 1-3 times a day. After the meconium has completely passed, the stool character begins to change depending on the type of food that the newborn receives.

When breastfeeding, the stool is thin, reminiscent of mustard or pea soup. Color - yellow, yellow-brown, greenish tint is acceptable. Has a pronounced smell of sour milk. May contain undigested curdled milk lumps and small amounts of foam.

In bottle-fed babies, stools are darker in color, have a fecal odor and a thick consistency.

The first 2 months of life. When breastfeeding, the options for the norm are quite wide: from bowel movements after each feeding up to 2 times a day.

Stricter requirements are imposed on children who are feeding on milk formulas. The norm is considered to be a daily bowel movement at least 1 time.

From 2 months to 6 months. With the age of the child, the frequency of stools per day decreases: from 5 times a day in 2-month-old babies to 1-2 times a day in half-year-old babies. In some infants, breast milk is so well absorbed that they can empty their bowels once every 2-3 days. It is considered normal if the child is cheerful, eats with appetite, gains weight well, defecation occurs without effort, and the stool is soft and does not have a putrid odor.

Children over 6 months old. After the introduction of complementary foods, bowel movements are considered the norm 1-2 times a day. At the same time, the characteristics of the stool change markedly. When switching to solid food, feces begin to form. They acquire a dark color, an unpleasant fecal odor and a denser texture.

Thus, summing up everything written above, we can draw the following conclusions.

For breastfed babies:

the number of bowel movements per day in infants before the introduction of complementary foods is strictly individual;

when assessing the condition of the baby, one should focus not on the number of bowel movements, but on the general condition and monthly weight gain;

For bottle-fed babies:

the chair should be at least 1 time per day.

When can a delayed bowel movement be considered constipation?

A diagnosis of constipation can be suspected in the absence of stool in the newborn, accompanied by the following symptoms:

anxiety of the child and loss of appetite;

strong straining while trying to defecate;

redness of the face, crying, squeezing the legs while feeding;

discharge of intestinal gases with a putrid odor, unpleasant stool odor;

poor weight gain.

It does not matter how much time has passed since the last bowel movement.

Constipation in breastfed newborns is associated with:

Bowel disease

These include congenital anomalies of the digestive system: megacolon - Hirschsprung's disease, absence or narrowing of the anus, lengthening of the sigmoid loop.

Diseases of other organs and systems

Insufficient production of thyroid hormones - rickets, lesions of the nervous system - all these diseases negatively affect intestinal motility and cause constipation.

Immaturity of the nervous system

Often babies are born with immature nerve endings in the intestinal wall. As a result, it cannot contract properly, pushing the food gruel towards the anus. This is a physiological condition that passes by the 2nd month of life without special treatment.

Mother's diet

Everything that mom eats affects the quality of breast milk. There are foods that have a firming effect in a newborn.

Foods that cause constipation in babies:

fatty cheeses;

whole cow's milk;

fatty meats;

White bread;

nuts (peanuts, cashews);

pastry products;

strong tea, coffee;

medications (no-spa, remedies and treatments, diuretics, iron preparations).

Increased gas production

Various processes occurring in the intestines of a newborn can lead to increased gas production during the digestion of food. Gas bubbles, accumulating in the lumen of the intestine, impede the normal movement of intestinal contents.

This can be caused by:

the mother's consumption of foods that cause increased gas formation (radishes, cucumbers, hot spices, chocolate, carbonated drinks, cakes, fresh onions, black bread, cabbage, grapes, legumes, bananas);

violation of intestinal microflora.

The reasons for the development of constipation in infants on artificial feeding

To the above, you can add the following factors:

Unsuitable formula

The most common reason for the development of constipation in formula-fed babies is an incorrectly selected milk formula. The best for the baby is breast milk, but if breastfeeding is not possible, then an adapted milk formula according to age should be chosen as a replacement.

Abrupt transfer to another mixture

Lack of water

If during breastfeeding, supplementation of newborns is not recommended up to 6 months and is used only in extreme cases (, heat), then when feeding with milk formula, the additional introduction of clean drinking water is mandatory.

What to do with constipation in a newborn?

If a mother is sure that her baby is constipated, then the first thing she should do is go to the pediatrician. The reasons for the development of difficulty in bowel movement can be serious diseases, which can only be identified by a specialist. The doctor may prescribe a blood test for hormones and vitamin content, recommend doing an ultrasound of internal organs, X-ray, or donate feces for dysbiosis. Then, depending on the results, prescribe professional treatment.

If during the examination no abnormalities were found, then it is highly likely that constipation is associated either with the immaturity of the baby's nervous system, or with the quality of breast milk or formula.

All methods of relieving constipation can be divided into the following groups:

changing the mother's diet or replacing formula milk;

medicines (duphalac, espumisan, plantex);

mechanical methods (gas tube, irritation of the anus, glycerin suppositories).

When treating constipation, it is best to start using these methods in order from first to last, but not vice versa.
Massage for constipation in newborns

Since the nervous apparatus of the intestine and the synthesis of digestive enzymes in the newborn are still underdeveloped, the best way to stimulate motor skills and improve the waste of accumulated gases is massage techniques. They are safe and easy to use.

Reception 1. The baby lies on the back. Stroking movements are made around the navel in a clockwise direction. Make 5-10 circular movements.

Reception 2. The child lies on the back. Alternate flexion-extension of the legs in the knee joints, while the front surface of the thigh is pressed against the tummy. The legs are best held by the ankle joints. Do 5 reps.

Reception 3. The baby lies on the back. Pulling the legs bent at the knee joints to the tummy and alternately straightening them. Do 5 reps.

Reception 4. Laying the baby on the tummy before each feeding for 2-15 minutes, depending on age and physical condition.

Reception 5. The baby is put on the tummy on the bed or on the knees of the parent. Make circular stroking movements with the palm from the area between the shoulder blades smoothly down to the sacrum. Repeat 5 times.
Mother's diet and mixture selection

For babies who are breastfed, you can solve the problem of constipation by changing the mother's diet. It is necessary to exclude foods that have a fixing effect, which are described above, and add foods to the daily menu that give breast milk laxative properties.

Foods that improve the digestion of a newborn:

fresh vegetable salads containing In cases where massage and diet do not have a sufficient effect on bowel function, medicines come to the rescue. Before using any of them, you should definitely consult your doctor.

These include:

Espumisan (other brand names are Bobotic, Sub-Simplex);

Plantex.

Glycelax suppositories (prescribed for lactose deficiency)

If the above methods do not show their effectiveness, then mechanical methods of stimulating bowel movements can be tried.

One of these remedies is glycerin suppositories. Their effect is based on irritation of the rectal mucosa, which increases its motility. In addition, melting under the influence of body temperature, they play the role of a lubricant, facilitating the passage of feces.

Enema is an extreme way to combat constipation. Their frequent use can lead to the development of intestinal dysbiosis, a lack of vitamins and minerals. For infants, the smallest syringe No. 1 with a soft tip is used. Boiled water at a temperature of about 30 ° C or a mixture of water and a few drops of oil is most often used as an enema solution.
Soap for constipation in newborns is an unacceptable method!

Very often, mothers follow the lead of their grandmothers or neighbors, trying to use a piece of laundry soap to combat constipation in their baby. This is an unacceptable method of bowel stimulation! Substances in the soap cause severe irritation of the rectal mucosa, which can lead to ulceration, bleeding and chronic inflammation.

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.

A frequent occurrence is constipation in babies, what should mom do to help him? Infants require special attention. Constipation in them can be the result of both malnutrition and various diseases.

How to tell if your child is constipated

Children from birth to one year of age can empty their bowels in different ways. This can happen several times a day, or vice versa - once every two days.

Therefore, the number of bowel movements is not quite suitable for determining the presence of constipation in infants. Komarovsky advises paying attention to the child's behavior during bowel movements and the consistency of the stool.

If, when emptying the intestines, the baby freezes, looks tense, turns red and cries, the stool is in the form of separate dense pieces? These are signs of constipation in a newborn, even if bowel movements occur daily.

Why Constipation Occurs

The causes of constipation in a baby can be gastrointestinal diseases, so it is important to be examined by a doctor

There are many reasons for constipation in an infant baby. They may be associated with the characteristics of the child's body and nutrition.

If we consider the causes of pathology in age groups:

The causes of constipation in newborns and up to four months can be congenital diseases or poor nutrition of the mother;
5-9 months is formed due to incorrect introduction of complementary foods;
Stool problems in older children may be associated with insufficient physical activity- the child should crawl and start walking by one year.

Constipation as a consequence of illness

Such constipation in a newborn baby will appear soon after birth.... Children may be born with some abnormalities in the development of internal organs, which are not always detected during an ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman.

One of these anomalies is Hirschsprung's disease... It is characterized by lengthening of some parts of the intestine. As a result, the food lump passes through it for a long time, it becomes denser. Defecation does not occur several times a day, as it should be for newborns, but much less often.

Constipation in a child 1-2 months of age may also appear due to congenital narrowing of the intestine... The narrowed section of the intestine creates an obstacle for the passage of the food lump, their accumulation gradually occurs in this section - constipation develops. This condition can lead to intestinal obstruction.

Constipation due to nutrition

Improper nutrition of a nursing mother is the most common cause of constipation in a child.

Feeding of any kind, natural or artificial, can lead to constipation if not compromised.

Causes of constipation in breastfed babies:

Improper nutrition of the mother, due to which milk changes its composition;
Low intake of fluid in the child's body - milk for the baby is food, not drink, he needs to be given water;
Long-term breastfeeding without timely introduction of complementary foods.

With artificial feeding, constipation in infants can be caused by an incorrectly selected mixture. The baby may have an intolerance to any of its components. Stool retention may be due to frequent mixture changes.

In a child 4 months and older, constipation may be associated with the introduction of complementary foods. This causes constipation in infants with mixed feeding. It is possible that the new food is not well absorbed and causes stool retention.

How a child behaves with constipation

Any baby with problems with stool notifies parents of his condition by crying.

Does the child become restless, constantly crying, tossing and turning in the bed, bending his legs to his stomach? These are the first signs of constipation in infants.

The child may refuse to eat and drink,. When examining the abdomen, you can notice its bloating and tension. There is a lack of a chair, and if there is one, it resembles a sheep's shape.

What to give a baby from constipation

To eliminate constipation, it is sometimes enough to adjust the baby's drinking regimen.

What to do with constipation in a newborn? There are a lot of ways to cope with stool retention in babies. These include medication and non-medication methods.

It is the nutrition and drinking regime of the mother and baby that become frequent causes of constipation. To properly adjust your diet, it is best to consult a nutritionist or pediatrician.

① If the newborn is on breast milk

It is necessary to ensure that he receives a sufficient volume of ordinary water;
Mom should give up all canned foods, alcoholic beverages, meat delicacies, fatty foods - these are foods that cause constipation in babies.
Limit baked goods, sweets, indigestible food in the diet;
Every day, a nursing mother should eat vegetables and fruits, dairy products, boiled meat.

In the mother's diet, there should be enough plain water so that the milk is not too thick.

② If the baby is an artificial

What to do if a newborn baby is constipated from formula?

You need to contact your pediatrician for the selection of a suitable milk formula;
And in this case, water must be present in the child's diet;
The introduction of complementary foods should be carried out somewhat earlier than with breastfeeding.

What to do for constipation

Hand movements during massage should be stroking without the use of force
As a drink for babies from constipation, you can give compotes from prunes and pears. If constipation in the baby arose precisely during complementary feeding, it is possible that something was done wrong, and it is worthwhile to abandon this product for a while.

If the child's constipation is short-lived for 3 months, the child's well-being does not suffer - you can start with home remedies for the problem.

With constipation in a child of 6 months, when he can already receive extended complementary foods, you can feed him puree from pears and prunes - these fruits increase intestinal peristalsis and contribute to its emptying.

③ Massage and its technique

Sometimes the massage of the belly of the baby with constipation allows you to relax the intestines and move the feces.

This procedure is carried out as follows:

The baby should be laid on his back on a flat surface;
With clean and warm hands, make soft circular strokes of the anterior abdominal wall;
Movements should not be too fast and deep, massage is aimed at achieving a relaxing effect;
You can also put a dry warm diaper on the baby's stomach - this will relieve the existing spasms;
At the end of the procedure, the child should be laid out on his stomach for a few minutes.

This procedure can be repeated several times a day, in between feedings.

After watching Komarovsky's video at the end of the article, massage in infants with constipation has a positive effect in most cases.

In addition to massage the abdomen for constipation in a child over 7 months old, you can gently massage the anus. This causes irritation of the rectum and reflex emptying. Massage is carried out with a clean finger moistened with any sterile oil.

④ Enema and its features

Constipation in infants, what to do if massage does not help? At home, you can resort to using an enema. To do this, you need to have a small volume syringe with a soft tip. How to give an enema for a baby with constipation?

Enema solutions can be different:

Plain boiled water - softens the feces and frees the intestines from them;
Hypertonic solution - boiled water with salt in a ratio of 10: 1 - draws water into the intestinal lumen and liquefies stool. You should not get carried away with such an enema, because it can dehydrate the baby;
Oil enemas - sterile vegetable oil - envelops the feces and helps them slide.

Enema for a newborn with constipation, how to do? The enema solution must be warm... The handpiece should be lubricated with sterile Vaseline oil. After the introduction of the solution, the baby needs to be held on its side for ten minutes.

⑤ Soap is possible or not

In no case should you use soap to treat constipation in babies. The so-called "grandmother's advice" to introduce a bar of soap into the rectum in case of constipation in a newborn will only lead to irritation of the mucous membrane, and in some cases even a burn.

Treatment of constipation in infants

All non-drug treatments for constipation in newborns have been used with no effect. In this case, it's time to contact a specialist who will recommend suitable medications.

What remedies for the treatment of stool retention in infants can be used without harm to their health, what can be given to a newborn for constipation?

Name	Indication	Contraindication	Application	Approximate cost in rubles
GLYCERINE CANDLES	Stool retention of any origin	Acute pathologies in the rectum	The introduction of one suppository for constipation for newborns into the rectum is prescribed. It is applied once a day.	RUB 100 for 10 candles
	Acute stool retention	Allergy	One micro enema is enough. It is inserted up to the mark on the tip into the rectum, the contents of the tube are squeezed out	400 rubles for 4 microclysters
DUFALAC		Allergies, intestinal obstruction	It is used in appropriate age-related dosages inside	RUB 400 for 250 ml
PRELAX	Acute and chronic stool retention	Allergy	Oral administration in age-related dosages	RUB 250 for 100 ml
NORMOLACT	Acute and chronic stool retention,	Intestinal obstruction, allergies	Used internally	RUB 300 for 200 ml
PLANTEX	Prevention of constipation in a child from 8 months	Lack of lactase and galactase, allergies	Inside, 2 packages up to 3 times a day	RUB 350 for 10 packages

Constipation is one of the most common problems in infants. More often they bother babies who feed on artificial mixtures, however, this issue becomes relevant even with breastfeeding. The overall health of the child depends on the quality of the digestive system, so it is very important to monitor this process and correct it in time. What can provoke constipation in babies and how to deal with them?

Digestive mechanism of an infant

The baby's digestive system is imperfect. The intestines at birth are absolutely sterile, and the enzymatic activity of other organs is significantly reduced. It is by nature that mother's milk is the ideal food for a newborn. It corresponds to the physiological capabilities of the child in the digestion of food and fully satisfies the need for all the necessary substances.

The digestive organs have some functional differences:

In the oral cavity, the salivary glands are poorly developed, which leads to poor breakdown of carbohydrates. As the child grows up, the glands improve, and the mother's milk naturally changes its composition, enriched with carbohydrates.
The stomach produces a special enzyme that curdles milk. The regurgitation that occurs in a child when overeating appears precisely in the form of such pieces, similar to cottage cheese. The pancreas, given the age of the child, is well developed and capable of breaking down incoming proteins. That is why mother's milk is very rich in proteins at first.
The liver and gallbladder are also underdeveloped. Bile acids are necessary for the breakdown of fats, therefore, such a group of products is introduced into the infant's diet as late as possible. Bile is necessary for normal peristalsis, so dysfunction of these organs can be one of the causes of constipation.
Intestines. The health of this organ immediately affects the well-being of the child. In the first months, it is colonized by microflora and approaches the state of older children. In the small intestine, the process of food digestion is completed and its absorption occurs. Weak peristalsis and any intestinal dysfunction immediately affect the nature of the feces and can cause constipation in infants.

Signs of constipation

Not every stool retention counts. Normally, a breastfed baby can have a bowel movement 1-10 times a day. And even in this large interval, there are exceptions. When the mother's milk is completely absorbed in a baby over 3 months old, there may be no stool for several days. Signs are considered:

Hard stools (like goat balls).
Difficulty defecating, in which the child is very tense, his face turns red, and his legs are drawn in.
Lack of stool during the day.
Poor appetite, frequent awakenings - can occur when it is impossible to empty, but the feces give the child discomfort.

On average, a child's normal number of bowel movements may be:

At 1-2 months - from 2 times a day until emptying after each feeding.

At 2-6 months - the frequency is reduced to 2 times a day, but sometimes emptying can occur once every 2-3 days.

More than six months - the introduced complementary foods affect the stool frequency. At the same time, the general rule remains the same: it is desirable that the intestines be cleansed at least once a day.

Causes of constipation

Constipation is rare in breastfed babies. The main reasons why they can occur:

Errors in the mother's nutrition. For easy bowel movement, food must contain a lot of dietary fiber. If your mom's diet is high in protein and fast-digesting carbohydrates, it can have a negative effect on baby's bowel function. The nutrition of a nursing woman must necessarily include cereals, whole grain breads and vegetables. If the baby is prone to constipation, you should eat foods that have a slight laxative effect - prunes, fresh kefir, beets. Nuts, muffins, fatty foods, coffee, and some medications that mom takes make it difficult to empty.
Intestinal motility disorders. The contractility of the intestines may be impaired due to spasm or, conversely, muscle hypotension. This often occurs as a result of postpartum trauma or severe pregnancy. The mechanism of the pathology is a violation of nerve conduction, which regulates the tone of intestinal smooth muscles. The symptom may be accompanied by general disorders - lethargy, sleep disturbances, increased excitability of the child. Consulting a neurologist and prescribing suitable medications will help to cope with the problem. Sometimes a similar condition can appear due to the immaturity of the intestines, but after a couple of months the nerve endings improve and the problem goes away.
Anal sphincter spasm. Emptying is difficult due to a mechanical obstacle - the sphincter does not open well and allows fecal matter to pass through. As a rule, this condition is accompanied by increased gas production and colic. In many cases, a special children's gas outlet tube helps to get rid of the discomfort. Flatulence in itself makes it difficult for the child's feces to move, even with normal compression of the sphincter. Gas is also influenced by the mother's diet. You should limit the consumption of cabbage, grapes, carbonated drinks, legumes.
Congenital anomalies. This includes megacolon, narrowing of the anus, and other pathologies.
Lack of milk. When the baby is malnourished, the food is completely absorbed and nothing remains in the intestines. This condition differs from the norm in that the child does not gain weight well and is often naughty.
Introduction of complementary foods. may be a reaction to a new food item. As a rule, after a while everything returns to normal. Sometimes problem foods should be discarded and reintroduced later.

Moving.
Active pastime or visiting places with a large crowd of people.
Psychological discomfort during illness or teething.
Getting used to a new nanny or a long absence from mom.

This problem is usually short-lived and can be resolved without medication.

What not to do

There are several misconceptions that many parents consider normal. Let's try to dispel myths.

You need to feed the baby by the hour. No, the latest WHO guidelines tell you that feeding on demand is the ideal regimen for your baby. This will enable the baby to be fully satisfied with milk and satisfy his needs. In addition, the amount of milk eaten determines the amount that the mammary glands will produce afterwards. Thus, the mother's body automatically adjusts to the needs of the child.

Before each emptying, you can place a gas outlet tube to avoid constipation. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. The tool really helps the baby to release gas and relieves the associated discomfort. However, the child's body must learn to cope with the problem on its own.

The vent tube is only an emergency measure and should certainly not be used before each evacuation. In addition, careless handling can lead to intestinal injury.

Soap helps with constipation. The well-known "grandmother's" method says that a bar of soap can stimulate bowel movements. In fact, it is very harmful for a small child. Soap has alkaline properties and irritates the intestinal mucosa, which disrupts its functioning and causes the desired spasm. However, a similar laxative effect can be achieved with or microclysters.

Regurgitation is the norm. Indeed, in infancy, a child spits up after almost every meal. This is due to the weakness of the sphincter, overeating, improper body position. However, over time, regurgitation should not occur. Observe your child for a stomach ache or ate too much. An additional load on the digestive system is absolutely unnecessary at this age.

The child is malnourished... Often mothers transfer their babies to formula, thinking that they do not have enough milk. The only indicator that a child is malnourished is poor weight gain. With good physical and mental development, you do not need to supplement with a mixture. Artificial nutrition is less useful and often provokes constipation due to the iron content, denser consistency of the finished product and incomplete digestibility.

Moms should also remember not to use medications on the advice of grandmothers or girlfriends. What worked for one child may be completely ineffective for the second. Especially do not take into account outdated or suspicious methods of treatment (like soap for constipation). In any case, each organism is individual and can develop according to its own norms. If you do not know what to do and want to consult with someone, let this person become a pediatrician.

The appearance of constipation in infants often worries parents, so they are interested in the question of how to help a baby with constipation.

There are many methods for this, but initially you always need to consult a doctor so as not to harm the child.

It is also not worth worrying, since the phenomenon is normal and you can get rid of it.

The main causes of constipation in infants

There are a number of reasons that cause stool retention in an infant. Before helping a newborn with constipation, it is necessary to establish the exact cause of the delayed bowel movements and only then begin treatment.

Among the main ones are:

Anatomical features. The child may have a colon defect - the pathology is rare. Such a disease leads to organic constipation, and it appears in a newborn from the first days.
Incorrect mother's diet. If the mother eats the wrong foods, then the child with milk receives substances that cause constipation. You can get rid of the problem if you adjust your diet and remove rice, strong hour, meat, pastries and other foods from the diet.
Insufficient drinking of the baby. This reason often appears if the newborn is bottle-fed. Babies should be given more water to drink between feeds and constipation will not appear.
Introduction of complementary foods. It may be early or incorrectly introduced. In this case, constipation occurs. In infants, the body is weak and can react to a particular product with a delay in bowel movements. Doctors recommend introducing complementary foods only from six months of age, and before that, feed exclusively with milk.
Transfer of children to milk formula. With a sharp transfer from mother's milk to the mixture, constipation appears, the smaller the child, the more likely that this is the reason.
Lack of fiber. When complementary foods are given to a child, he may refuse mashed potatoes from vegetables or fruits, as a result, the body does not receive plant fiber, which is important for the digestive tract.
Taking medications. If a newborn is given antibiotics and other medications for the treatment of diseases, then constipation appears against the background of the use of drugs.
Psychological factors. The cause of constipation can be the separation of the child from the mother, for example, in case of illness. Babies experience such a gap, and a delay in defecation begins. Psychological factors include moving, changing surroundings, quarrels between parents.
Lack of milk. In this situation, the child lacks useful and nutritious substances, hungry constipation appears, because there is simply no feces in the body.

The described reasons in infants are functional, they are most common. This condition is based on the low activity of the intestine, as well as its spasms.

Fundamental rules

Treatment for babies begins with relieving bowel movements. For this, doctors recommend using microclysters, laxatives that are suitable for a newborn and can soften the feces.

Regardless of the method of feeding the child with constipation, you will need to make a visit to the doctor to assess the condition and determine the true cause of constipation.

To remove constipation, the main rule must be taken into account - not to harm the child. When choosing remedies for treatment, you need to follow the basic rules:

Before using medications, you need to know for sure that the baby has constipation, and not certain features that affect the stool.
It is forbidden to give an infant laxatives constantly, as well as drugs in the form of tablets, drops.
It is not recommended to use folk remedies, because many recipes have contraindications and most of them are suitable for adults.
If the baby does not have a bowel movement for 1-2 days, gas does not escape, then it is necessary to quickly turn to the doctor for help, since intestinal obstruction is possible.

In addition to the basic rules, it is necessary to include a diet for the mother and child, increase the amount of water consumed, and also change the complementary food, if it is used.

Such food not only does not get rid of constipation, but can provoke allergies.

Relief from constipation

An infant can be helped by different methods for constipation:

Enema or laxative medications are used in extreme cases. This treatment kills beneficial bacteria in the intestines and can flush out potassium, protein, vitamins, and other nutrients. With frequent use, the baby loses the reflex to natural excrement. To begin with, for constipation, softer and more gentle methods are used.
Massage. In case of constipation, it is often recommended to massage the abdomen, this not only breaks up feces, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also removes pain. To help the baby, you will need to stroke the stomach in a clockwise direction, pressing it slightly with each circle. You can help with warmth by placing your hand on your stomach, a warm towel, or hugging a baby close to you.
Bowel stimulation. In this case, you will need to apply cream on a cotton swab and stick it a little into the anus, twist it slightly to cause irritation. A bowel movement usually begins after 5-10 minutes. It is not recommended to use the method very often, so as not to damage the mucous membrane. A similar procedure is carried out with a gas outlet tube.
Glycerin candles. They are sold over the counter and can be used for newborns. Such a remedy will quickly soften the feces, which will relieve constipation. The candle is not used whole, but only ½ or 1/4. If after an hour there is no result, then you will need to call a doctor.
Laxatives. It is allowed to use such drugs when nothing else helps with constipation. It is recommended to give the child Duphalac syrup at a dosage of 5 ml or similar products containing lactulose.

If the baby is breastfed, the mother can use the syrup. Children from six months can be given "Forlax" for constipation, you can use such a remedy for 3 months.

All that can be used from folk remedies for constipation in infants is dill water, which does not have a negative effect on the child.

Such a remedy can gently help and normalize the stool. Water will need to be given about 3-4 times a day in a small dosage, up to 50 ml.

Prophylaxis

It is best not to engage in treatment, but to prevent constipation in a newborn baby. Moreover, up to one year old, the health and development of the baby requires special attention.

You do not need to wait until a problem forms and constipation appears, it is better to immediately resort to preventive measures to avoid constipation:

It is recommended to use a simple but effective method during feeding: before feeding, put the baby on his stomach, and after feeding, vilify the baby for 3-5 minutes in a column.
Conduct gymnastic exercises on a regular basis. The child should be placed on his back, then gently bend the legs and press them against the stomach. A similar procedure is repeated about 5-10 times and is carried out smoothly, without sudden movements. You can make the baby a "bicycle", which will also activate the intestines.
The baby should be given enough fluid. It is best to use water for this, which does not undergo heat treatment. Good water is sold in pharmacies or shops and is made especially for children. During the introduction of complementary foods, juices are diluted with water, and not given in pure form.
When the baby is more than 4 months old, prunes and its juice will help with constipation. For prevention, you can give 2 tsp. juice of prunes every day. At the age of six months, you can introduce mashed potatoes made from prunes. From one year old, you can use fresh plums, plum juice. Prune uzvar is excellent for constipation.
There is no need to wrap up the child, since overheating provokes stool retention, as well as dehydration. When a cold appears with an increase in temperature, the child should be given more liquid, otherwise constipation after a cold will surely appear.
The infusion of raisins helps in the fight against constipation. To prepare such water, 1 tsp is added to a glass of boiling water. raisins. It is better to prepare a drink in a thermos.
Vegetables are best used those that have a laxative effect, as well as a large amount of fiber. These include carrots, beets, pumpkin. For fruits, give preference to green apples, peaches and apricots. Such foods should be eaten by the mother, which keeps the baby breastfed.
For the intestines of children, fermented milk products are very useful, as well as yoghurts are made from natural raw materials. They should be given not only to children, but also taken by their mother.
Breastfeeding your babies takes longer, especially during the first 6 months. If this cannot be done, then it is better to use fermented milk formulas for newborns.
If a child is treated with antibiotics, then a remedy for dysbiosis should be used to prevent constipation.

There is no need to panic if the baby is unable to defecate. The main thing is to remove the cause that causes stool retention, while it is better to initially consult with doctors, and not treat the newborn yourself.

In most cases, everything is done with exercise, diet and massage.

Useful video

How to help a newborn with constipation? Where did it come from? How to prevent a recurrence of trouble? We answer the most common questions of young mothers.

Signs of constipation

For newborns who are breastfed, it is normal to have bowel movements up to 6-8 times a day, according to the number of feedings. Defecation of the crumbs is closely related to its nutrition: during the activation of the digestive system, the smooth muscles of the intestine begin to work. And in diapers just at lunch time there are mushy poop of yellowish color with a sour smell.

In artificial babies, bowel movements occur less often - up to 3-4 times a day. Therefore, many pediatricians are inclined to believe that the lack of bowel movement is less than this amount per day - and there are the main signs of constipation in infants. Although modern medicine does not always see this as a problem. If the baby poops once a day or even every other day, but at the same time is cheerful and cheerful, then nothing terrible happens to him. If a shrill cry, refusal to eat and a tight, sometimes even hard stomach are added to the absence of poop, then it's time for you to decide how to relieve the baby of constipation.

Types of constipation

There are 2 types of constipation in babies:

Organic - or Hirschsprung's disease. A pathological condition in which the normal structure of the child's intestines is disrupted. It occurs extremely rarely and is usually diagnosed even in the maternity hospital, since a newborn baby, in principle, does not know how to poop. In the walls of his intestine, there are no nerve endings that are responsible for the emptying reflex when the rectum is stretched. Treatment is possible only by surgery.
Functional - a state of the body in which the normal excretion of feces is disrupted. To eliminate it, you need to find out and eliminate the cause, otherwise you will be worried about the problem for a very long time: the baby has constipation - what to do?

Reasons for stool retention

To determine how to cure constipation in infants, you need to find out what exactly caused it. The reasons may be as follows:

Features of mom's nutrition. When the baby is breastfed, he eats all the foods that mom eats. Some of them cause impaired bowel movements, for example, buns and other flour delicacies, nuts, bananas, rice, a large amount of meat. Of the drinks, black tea, coffee and cocoa have a similar effect. An undesirable effect of drugs is also possible: antispasmodics, sorbents, diuretics, enveloping.
Lack of water in the body, which is often experienced by infants of art.
Violation of the intestinal microflora. This phenomenon is possible if the mother took antibiotics during the last weeks of pregnancy. Of course, it will not cause constipation in a 2 month old baby, but in a newborn it will.
A sharp change in food. If the crumb ate breast milk, but was suddenly transferred to formula feeding, the digestive system simply will not have time to reorganize, and a delay in defecation may occur.

How to help a baby

Finding out the cause will help you understand how to help your baby with constipation. So when consuming unwanted foods, you should exclude them from the diet. If an art kid drinks a little water, offer it to him more often. If you had to take antibiotics before giving birth, be sure to inform your local pediatrician about it. He will prescribe to the baby drugs containing beneficial bacteria (for example, "Bifidumbacterin" or "Linex"), which will form a healthy intestinal microflora of the child. However, this is all in the future, and now, while the baby is crying and experiencing pain in the tummy, you need to act. Take a look at yours, which should include:

Step-by-step instructions for setting an enema for an infant from a pediatrician.

If the baby has never tried adult food, and there can be no question of offering him food for constipation in a baby. Neither beet juice, nor apple pulp, nor other folk remedies will bring relief, but may even harm. Use safe, modern ways to deal with the problem and be sure to consult with your local pediatrician on how to prevent it in the future.

Fragment of the transmission of Dr. Komarovsky about constipation during breastfeeding.