Constipation in babies - What you need to know

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was written by Master, Doctor Vu Van Quan - Department of General Surgery & Anesthesia - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Constipation in babies is a condition that many mothers face when they are in the process of raising young children. Faced with this situation, many mothers are often confused and scared because they do not have much experience in solving this problem. A few shares below will definitely be extremely helpful for mothers when their children encounter the above situation.

1. Signs of constipation in babies

Constipation in babies is common, but not everyone knows enough to recognize this condition in children. Here are 3 signs to help you recognize the disease in children.

1.1. Newborn fussy, lazy to eat

Children who suddenly cry for no reason, lose their appetite and often have uncomfortable grimaces are a sign of constipation. Because the food ingested by the baby is not absorbed, there is even a risk of being reabsorbed. This makes the baby feel full, uncomfortable, tired, so they often cry for no reason, do not sleep deeply. Food in the body is not digested and eliminated, so the child is anorexic.

1.2. Newborns poop less than usual

Normally, breastfed babies from 8-12 months go to the toilet on average 1-2 times/day. As for babies who have used formula milk, the number of bowel movements will decrease. If the mother observes that the child has fewer bowel movements than usual, about once every 1-2 days, the stool is solid and the child shows signs of pushing very hard. In particular, the child has to use a lot of force to push the stool out, making the baby's face contorted and red. These signs indicate that the child has constipation.

1.3. Children with full stomach, indigestion

When the mother touches the baby's belly, the abdomen is always in a state of swelling and hard to touch. This shows that the baby has indigestion and bloating. This is also a sign of constipation in babies.

2. Causes of constipation in babies

Constipation in babies has many causes, but there are a few main reasons why babies experience this condition.

2.1. Due to mother's diet

Because babies are still a few months old, they are still mostly breastfed. Therefore, the mother's diet greatly affects the nutrition as well as the child's medical condition. The fact that the mother eats a lot of spicy and hot foods, indigestible foods, low in fiber and high in protein, and eats a lack of nutrition, and an unreasonable sleep pattern that makes nutrients loaded into the baby's body also makes the baby prone to constipation.
In order for the baby not to become constipated, mothers should pay attention to eating foods rich in fiber such as green vegetables or fresh fruits and vegetables. These are foods rich in minerals and vitamins that are beneficial for health. Besides, the regular addition of yogurt also makes the mother's beneficial bacteria better.

2.2. Because babies use formula milk

Constipation in babies is also caused by mothers giving formula milk too early. Formula milk combines many substances that are not yet fully developed by the baby's stomach, which will be difficult to digest. At the same time, this is also a type of milk that is considered difficult to digest and if the mother gives the baby the wrong formula, the chances of the baby becoming constipated are very high.

2.3. Due to illness

In addition to external objective causes, the baby's constipation is sometimes due to a disease originating from the baby's own body. Due to physical damage to the digestive tract or birth defects such as: Enlarged colon (Hipschsprung disease), hypothyroidism (Myxoedeme disease) causes early constipation in children.

3. How to treat constipation in babies

3.1. Changing the child's diet

For children who are breastfed, it is recommended to improve the mother's diet, in addition to feeding the baby a combination of high-fiber foods to support the improvement of the baby's digestive system.
For children who are in the weaning stage, it will be easy to change the baby's nutrition. Take the initiative to feed your baby foods that are high in fiber, rich in minerals, and combine them with plenty of water. This makes the stools in the baby's body softer and easier to pass out. Changing the baby's nutrition is also a long-term and effective measure to prevent constipation in babies.

3.2. Soak the anus with warm water

This is considered an effective remedy for constipation, especially for children who are lazy and fussy. Warm water stimulates the anal sphincter, making it easier for the newborn to pass stools. Perform anal soak in warm water about 1-2 times / day, each time for 5-10 minutes.

3.3. Baby belly massage

Mother just needs to use 3 middle fingers to pinch, place on the abdomen around the navel. You rub gently with just enough pressure to feel a little stiff in a circular motion around the navel. This causes the undigested food in the stomach to soften and move down the anus. Perform every 3 minutes to stimulate the child to have a bowel movement.

3.4. Use fruit juice

Fruit juice will improve the digestive system to help the baby digest better. Thanks to the useful nutrients found in fresh fruits, mothers will be extremely assured when applying this method.
Above is the information you need to know about constipation in babies. Hopefully, with what we have just shared above, it will help mothers have more experience when their children are constipated. Wish parents successfully improve the digestive condition in young children.
If applying many different measures but the infant's constipation still does not improve, parents should take the baby to a medical facility for early examination, to avoid this situation prolonging and causing serious effects. to the baby's health. Parents can contact or go directly to Vinmec International General Hospital for neonatal pediatricians to consult and examine.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : Consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), rich experience, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108,... The doctors are well-trained, professional, have a mind - range, and are knowledgeable about young psychology. Besides domestic pediatricians, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. upon reaching adulthood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - craniofacial surgery, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. For more information on how to book an appointment with leading pediatricians Vinmec, please contact Vinmec medical system nationwide.

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