Big belly in newborns can be in 2 cases: this is a normal development process of the baby or this can also be a dangerous sign related to digestive diseases. So when detecting signs of big belly in the baby, how should parents handle it?
1. What is a big belly?
How is a big belly defined? To date, there is no exact definition of a big belly in children. Some of the recognized definitions may include:
- An increase in the actual size of the abdomen.
- A measurable change in the circumference of the abdomen.
- A relatively clear definition of a big belly sign: When the abdominal wall lies on a plane higher than the tip of the sternum in a newborn lying on his back on a flat surface.
Big belly in children can be related to normal physiological causes or due to various health conditions, especially digestive diseases.
2. When is a big belly physiological?
A big belly in children is a natural phenomenon when, in addition to this sign, the child does not have any other abnormal signs and develops healthily and normally, gains weight appropriate to age, does not cry, eats well at mealtimes, sleeps well...
Some of the following physiological causes can lead to a big belly in children.
2.1 Due to the child being full
A big belly in young children, especially newborns, is often a normal physiological phenomenon: most children have a big belly after being full. However, between feedings, you will feel that the baby's belly is quite soft, not tense.
2.2 Due to the child's intestinal structure being too large compared to the body
In addition to the cause of overeating, the cause of the child's intestinal structure also causes the child to have a big belly. Normally, children's intestines are quite long compared to the size of the abdomen, along with the baby's abdominal muscles not fully developed. Therefore, the baby's abdomen will protrude more than the body size.
If the cause is physiological, parents do not need to worry too much about this condition because over time, the child's height growth will progress faster than the growth of the intestines, so the abdomen will return to normal size.
3. How to recognize a big belly in children is due to physiology
A big belly in infants is due to physiology when the digestive process in children is normal. You can recognize this normality by observing the baby's stool. The stool of infants under 6 months old is often greatly affected by the milk regimen that the baby is being cared for:
- For breastfed babies, the baby's stool is often liquid, thick, lilac or mustard color. On average, the baby will defecate about 3-4 times / day.
- For babies fed with formula / boxed milk (which does not have enough beneficial bacteria for the baby's digestion), the stool is often solid and the frequency of defecation is low, on average the baby defecates every 1-2 days / time.
If the baby has the above digestive signs and there are no abnormalities such as fussiness, loss of appetite, bloating..., parents do not need to worry too much about the condition of a big belly in infants.
4. When is a big belly due to a disease?
However, a big belly is not always a natural phenomenon. Some big belly conditions in children can be a sign of a digestive disease. To be able to recognize whether your baby's big belly is a disease or not, parents need to pay attention to the following issues.
4.1 Are there additional digestive symptoms?
Repeated nausea is an emergency condition that indicates a metabolic disorder of the intestines with vomiting until another cause is found. In this case, the child needs to be examined by a doctor to determine whether the abdomen is firm or soft and has bowel sounds.
Normally, if the abdomen is distended, soft with bowel sounds, it is benign. On the contrary, a firm abdomen, no bowel sounds, tight skin and discoloration are more worrisome and may require immediate intervention.
4.2 Are there associated systemic symptoms?
If the abdominal distention is accompanied by tachycardia, tachypnea, apnea, and unstable body temperature, the cause of the abdominal distention is likely to be infection-related, and evaluation should include testing for infection in addition to further evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) system.
4.3 What is the baby's stool pattern?
If the baby has not had a bowel movement in 12 to 24 hours, consider constipation. If the baby is a few days old and has never had a bowel movement, consider intestinal obstruction. If the stool has been recent, assess the stool quality and the presence of blood in the stool.
5. Some common pathological causes of a large belly
When a large belly in a child is a disease, the child may be experiencing one of the following diseases:
- Bloating, abdominal distension, indigestion: Common signs: loss of appetite, discomfort, vomiting, distended abdomen, loose stools, ...
- Megacolon in newborns: Signs: the child's abdomen is tense, 24 hours after birth, the child does not pass meconium
- Other causes: Food allergies, Hirschsprung's disease, liver tumors, WILMS tumors (nephroblastoma).
It can be said that a large belly in a child, especially in a newborn under 6 months old, is mostly a natural phenomenon in the child's growth process. However, if the child has other abnormal signs besides a large belly, parents need to pay attention to taking the child to see a doctor early for appropriate treatment.
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