Young parents face differentproblems that arise in the process of growth of the newborn. One of these situations is constipation in infants. Why does it arise and how should parents react to it?
Features constipation in infants
Parents in the event of a similar situationurgent action is needed. The problem will not disappear spontaneously, and accumulation of waste products in the body of a newborn can lead to the development of severe intoxication. What to do - have a baby constipation?
In most cases, this condition in a child is not a disease, but errors in diet and care. Enough to carefully examine the diet of infants, add changes and the emptying process will be adjusted.
If constipation is chronic,to cure him with a balanced diet and safe medicines will not work. Perhaps the child has colitis, dysbacteriosis and other pathologies.
How to behave for parents in a similar situation can only be suggested by a gastroenterologist after a full examination. Only after that the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Causes of constipation
For newborns, this concept requires an explanation. If an adult has 3-4 bowel movements per day is regarded as diarrhea, then in infants it is completely normal.
In a breastfed infant, constipation can be the result of complete digestion of food. It manifests itself in the absence of fecal masses within 1-2 days.
The causes of constipation in a 2-month-old baby while breastfeeding are significantly different from a 9-month-old. This may be caused by:
- insufficient amount of milk from the mother or the mixture;
- lack of fluid in the diet;
- errors in the mother's diet, which led to the peculiarities of breast milk.
One of the types of delayed stool includehungry constipation, when the baby eats all the food completely digested. At the same time, fecal masses are not formed. This situation arises when feeding a child with artificial mixtures, if the need for nutrients increases. If constipation in an infant is 3 months and it is large, then the amount of baby food is incorrectly taken into account.
A newborn produces a significant amount.fluid, due to more intense processes of skin respiration and evaporation of fluid from the surface of the body. He needs water in sufficient quantities.
The most common causes of constipation in infants include:
- Changing the mode of feeding (replacement of the mixture, transfer to artificial feeding or improper introduction of complementary foods).
- Not enough breast milk in a nursing mother.
- Dysbacteriosis leads to bowel emptying problems. The severity of symptoms depends largely on the severity of the pathology.
- Difficulties in defecation may be caused by lactose deficiency. A child cannot absorb sugar contained in milk.
- Increased body temperature. It accompanies each infectious disease and reduces the bowel tone.
- Abnormal structure of the digestive system. This may be congenital bowel obstruction or other pathology. It is rare, but sometimes leads to constipation.
- Insufficient physical activity of the infant. Due to tight swaddling or tight diapers, bowel function deteriorates. Rare walks and lack of gymnastics.
- Medicines taken by the infant or nursing mother. Polysorb, Smekta and others may cause an emptying delay.
All of these signs should be carefully considered. If a serious illness is suspected, parents should contact a pediatrician.
Symptoms of constipation
To identify such a state is quite simple. Constipation in an infant 2 months and older is manifested as follows:
- The child groans, and his face turns red because of the attempts.
- The chair of the child resembles balls without moisture.
- The baby has a stomach ache, spasms and bloating.
- Under normal conditions, the baby should emptyintestine at least once a day. Depending on the individual characteristics of the indicator may vary. However, the absence of a stool for 3 days is attributed to constipation.
- The appearance of blood impurities in the stool of the childmay also indicate difficulty with defecation. In a newborn, the walls of the rectum are particularly sensitive, and hard stools can rupture them.
In the event of constipation in a month-old breastfed baby, he needs urgent help.
In the future, parents need to attachmaximum effort to treat and prevent this condition. The child must be shown to a specialist, because besides physiological constipation, there is also a pathological one. If in the first case, the condition is treated with the help of nutritional correction, then in the second reason they lie in the defects of the digestive system. Their manifestations can be reduced only after establishing the cause and correct therapy.
What is dangerous constipation for a newborn?
The appearance of problems with defecation in infants is a serious situation that must be disposed of. Constipation in infants is dangerous:
- Poisoning the child's body with toxins. In such a situation, it is necessary to fight not only constipation, but also intoxication.
- The motility of the digestive tract is impaired. This condition can cause vomiting, which causes dehydration.
- The occurrence of pain and cracking of the rectum. In such a situation, the child reflexively retains tight fecal masses.
- Violation of the blood circulation process in the rectum. This can cause the development of hemorrhoids.
- The development of mechanical bowel obstruction.
Solving problems with bowel movement is necessary quickly, given the harm to the body.
First aid
In most cases with constipation in infants.can cope on your own. The first thing that needs to be done is to help the baby get tighter and release the intestines. To do this, bend the legs at the knees to press against the tummy and thus support 10-30 seconds. This should be done carefully, without forcibly overcoming the resistance of the infant.
Apply to eliminate constipation in the newbornmassage. The procedure is carried out several times a day. It is recommended to do this before feeding and after sleeping. Newborn enough 1-2 minutes, babies older than 6 months - 5 minutes.
Процедуру проводят несколько раз в день, чередуя her stroking her tummy clockwise around the navel. When properly performed, the baby has gases, and then feces. If the procedure does not help, then it is necessary to proceed to the next stage.
Emergency help with constipation in a 4 month old babybreastfeeding is irritation of the rectum, cleansing enema, or the use of a laxative candle. These measures apply only in special cases. Continuous use with frequent constipation in infants can disrupt the normal bowel movement.
Emergency Measures
Для раздражения прямой кишки применяют gas tube or funnel-cut syringe. The end of the device is lubricated with sterile vaseline or vegetable oil and injected into the anus of the baby 1.5-2 cm. There is a mechanical irritation of the rectum, and then defecation occurs.
Constipation in an infant, what to do?You can apply a cleansing enema. For a newborn, use the smallest syringe, which is necessarily boiled. Water should not be too cold or hot. The syringe is filled with liquid, the tip is oiled. The child is introduced into the anus by 2 cm. The syringe is slowly compressed and removed in a compressed state. The parents hold the child’s buttocks for 3-5 minutes. This prevents water from flowing out. It is most convenient to carry out the procedure for the child when he is lying on his back with his legs brought to the tummy. Emptying should occur within 30 minutes after the procedure.
Children's glycerin candles are allowed touse of infants older than 3 months, but if necessary, you can apply and constipation in a month-old baby while breastfeeding. Permissible dose - 1/2 candle. It is inserted into the baby’s rectum completely and the buttocks are clamped for several minutes.
Some grandmothers recommend using a bar of soap to empty the intestines. However, it has an irritating effect, so this method is not recommended.
Currently, a pharmacy can buy microclysters. They are fully ready for use and are designed for one procedure.
Laxative
Taking such medicines shouldheld as a last resort when nothing helps. Most laxative babies up to one year old are prohibited. Allowed to receive from the first days of life "Dufalak" and its analogues.
To call a bowel movement, a child is given 5 ml of the drug.Nursing mothers can also take this tool, because it is harmless to the baby. If the child is 6 months old, the parents can give him a Forlax. It can be taken continuously for up to 3 months.
Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
The famous doctor believes that there are two importantconditions of proper functioning of the intestine. The body must be provided with a sufficient amount of fluid and potassium. With dehydration, bowel function is ineffective. This can occur with high body temperature and insufficient humidity in the room.
With a lack of potassium in the body is brokenintestinal motility. This leads to constipation in an infant. Komarovsky advises to include in the diet of baby dried apricots, raisins and figs. After all, these dried fruits are rich in potassium.
When a child uses boiled water, mineral salts do not enter the body. The doctor advises in this case, cook compote of raisins and other dried fruits.
Diet for constipation should be aimed at exclusion from the diet of foods that include protein. It is best to give the baby kefir, black bread, yogurt and juice from apples.
Taking at night yogurt or using steamed prunes, you can eliminate constipation in 1 of 4 cases. In this case, you can refuse drugs.
If all these methods have no effect, Komarovsky recommends the use of liquid oils (castor or almond) and preparations based on senna.
By giving these drugs to a child, parents seekdaily bowel movements. It is best to give them before bedtime, then the defecation comes in the morning. Select the dosage that would not cause the child discomfort during emptying.
Therapy and prevention of constipation
Parents must realize that all of the abovemeans do not cure constipation in babies, but only contribute to the occurrence of defecation. As a result, short-term relief comes. The constant use of enemas and other means harms the child’s body, as the natural process of emptying is disrupted. It is addictive. Emergency measures can be used as a one-time assistance method.
How to treat constipation in an infant?If the condition continues in the baby constantly, then it is necessary to exclude serious bowel pathologies. The specialist prescribes ultrasound and other tests that determine the main cause of constipation. If congenital pathology is established, then try to get rid of it using conservative methods of treatment. But most often the operation is done.
If neurologic conditions led to intestinal atonyviolations, then the child is shown to the neuropathologist. When food allergies parents and baby are advised to visit an immunologist. In identifying diseases of the digestive tract organs, consultation of a gastroenterologist is necessary.
For constipation of a functional nature, experts recommend holding a number of events:
- To adjust a diet of the feeding mother and the child, having excludedanchoring products. It is best to add to the diet dishes that stimulate the activity of the intestine. Mom needs to eat more vegetables and fruits, wholemeal flour products. Drink 2.5 liters of water. Eat a few berries of prunes, figs or dried apricots.
- Baby as a lure to give vegetable puree. Especially useful are apples, peaches, apricots and juices from them.
- Restore the intestinal microflora usingdrugs with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. They can take the mother along with the baby. The menu should include natural yogurt and fresh dairy products.
- Follow the drinking regime. Instead of juices, it is best for the baby to give baby bottled water to drink; it is not recommended to boil it.
- To do baby gymnastics and tummy massage.
Such activities are aimed at improving the bowels and the prevention of constipation.
Conclusion
Constipation in an infant - a condition that requirescorrect parent's response. After all, it delivers not only discomfort to the baby, but also harms his body. For constipation, which lasts for a long time, specialist help is needed.
