At birth, the organs and systems of the infant are in the process of formation, they continue to develop throughout the first year of life. Imperfection of the gastrointestinal tract makes it vulnerable to various disorders. What to do if the crumb can not go in a big way?
How to determine that the newborn has constipation
To find out whether your baby has problems with bowel movements, it is necessary to monitor stool frequency, texture and color of feces.
- Defecation should not cause discomfort to the child. Anxiety, intense straining and crying signal constipation whose treatment cannot be postponed;
- For infants, 4-10 bowel movements per day are considered the norm. With each month, this number is reduced, in a one-year-old child the chair occurs already once a day. But even if the infant does not have a daily bowel movement, this may not indicate the presence of pathologies;
- The consistency of feces in infants in the first month of life is soft, mushy. With age, it gradually approaches the shape of "sausage";
- The color of feces is influenced by the nutrition of the baby. Before the introduction of complementary feeding, the stool has a yellow color and then brown.
So, the following signs tell about constipation: a chair less than 1 time per day, while the baby is anxious, refuses to eat, cries, does not sleep well.
There may be vomiting, bloating. In this case, the act of defecation is hampered by a high density of feces.
Possible causes of colic and constipation in newborns
- Anatomical defects of the colon;
- Malnutrition nursing mothers. Binding a child’s stool can be provoked by foods like meat, milk, coffee, black tea, nuts, white bread, rice, cocoa;
- Dehydration of the infant;
- Introduction of complementary foods too early, mixture replacement;
- Lack of dietary fiber. It arises due to the unwillingness of children to eat fruit and vegetable puree;
- Antibiotics;
- Psychological causes (separation from the mother);
- Mothers lack milk. In this case, the resulting nutrition is completely absorbed by the body;
- Intestinal colic may occur if the baby swallows air while feeding.
What to do with constipation in newborns
- First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the most obvious causes of digestive disorders: adjust the mother's diet during breastfeeding or replace the milk formula with artificial. It is important to observe drinking regime. A negative reaction of the body can also be caused by too early or incorrect introduction of complementary foods;
- If the situation does not change for the better, to exclude diseases, you need to be examined by a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist, a neurologist. If pathology is found, the doctor will give the necessary recommendations, which should be followed;
- Often put the baby on the tummy. You can apply a slightly warmed diaper to the stomach. The heat of the maternal body also has a positive effect;
- The problem of constipation in children 6-8 months can be solved with the help of fruit puree from plums, apricots, peaches, apples, as well as freshly squeezed juices diluted with water, decoction from a mixture of dried fruits. Start with a teaspoon and, based on the result, determine the optimal dose.
How to do an enema for a newborn baby with constipation
Before proceeding with the procedure, prepare everything you need:
- small balloon pear-shaped with a soft tip. As a rule, pharmacies offer the following types of devices: No. 1 for newborn babies and No. 2 for infants;
- boiled water 24-25 degrees. Too cold a liquid can cause a spasm and a warm one will not have the desired effect. You can add a spoon of chamomile decoction;
- baby cream or vaseline, hemp oil for lubricating the anus and tip of the balloon;
- oilcloth and clean diaper;
- for convenience, you can use a diaper.
How to make the baby enema? Here is a detailed instruction:
- Boil the rubber cartridge for a few minutes. Remove residual water from it. You can wrap the pear in a clean cloth, turn the tip down and wait until the liquid escapes;
- Put all the necessary accessories on the bed or changing table. Spread oilcloth, put a diaper on top, place a cream, warm water, a diaper next to it. The liquid should not have time to cool down, make sure that it is warm;
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Baby undress below the belt, wash with soap and water.
- Baby should lie on the back. Legs gently bend and move apart. Distract the crumb by affectionate talk. Well, if someone from the family will help you and make some noise with a rattle;
- Check if the water is cold. Release air from the syringe and draw in liquid. The optimal volume for a newborn is 20-30 ml, for a baby 40-50 ml;
- Treat the anus of the child and the tip of the pear with cream or oil;
- Squeeze the can lightly until a drop of water appears. Holding the syringe in your right hand, spread the baby's buttocks with your left hand, then gently twist the tip into a 2–3 cm tip;
- Slowly enter the liquid, clamp the buttocks and slowly remove the syringe. Hold the ass for another five minutes, wrap the crumbs in a diaper, or wear a diaper. Emptying may occur after some time and in several steps;
- Wash your baby, change clothes to clean, feed and caress. Do not forget to wash the tools. It is done!
How to massage the tummy of a newborn with constipation
The massage procedure should be carried out several times a day, one-time manipulations will not give the desired effect.
Training:
- in order not to damage the delicate skin of the baby, cut the legs short, hands should be clean;
- the room should have a comfortable temperature;
- apply some oil or cream on your palms and rub it to evenly distribute it;
- so that excess air comes out of the stomach, hold the baby with a "column";
- after feeding should take at least an hour so as not to provoke vomiting;
- the surface on which the child lies should be moderately rigid, provide support for the back.
Massage when the baby is relaxed and in a good mood, in which case its abdominal wall remains unstressed and the effect will be most effective.
Proper massage technique
Simple manipulations can enhance the ability of the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract to reduce, facilitate the excretion of gases and feces. The duration of the session should not exceed ten minutes.
Follow the steps below:
- put the baby on the back;
- lightly stroke the tummy clockwise 10 times;
- put the wrist on the navel, another hand to make a movement in a spiral, slightly pressing;
- The left and right side of the abdominal wall massage a little more intensely;
- in the lower abdomen, where the large intestine is located, work with fingertips, repeating the outlines of the letter "P";
- perform soft vibrating movements and light shocks;
- Turn the baby on the tummy and stroke along the back, starting from the shoulder blades and ending with the sacral area.
Important nuances
Having decided to deal with constipation with the help of massage, it is necessary to take into account when it is forbidden to do so in order not to damage health.
It is necessary to abandon the massage if:
- the child is lethargic, his face is pale;
- skin rash or damage;
- blood is visible in the faeces;
- constipation accompanied by hyperthermia;
- the stomach is very tense, swollen on one side;
- when you touch the stomach, the crumb begins to cry.
Medicines
When systematic stool delays are prescribed medications. Therapy will be the same as with breastfeeding and with artificial feeding.
- For children up to a year suitable means with lactulose, such as Duphalac syrup. The drug is not addictive, the maximum single dose is five milliliters;
- For babies older than six months, you can be given a mild laxative Forlax;
- Glycerin suppositories can also be used to promote bowel movement;
- Laxative irritant drugs and saline osmotic agents for children younger than a year are contraindicated.
It is important to remember that the use of medicines for constipation should not become regular. It is necessary to identify the cause of the violation of the bowels and eliminate it.
What recommends Komarovsky, if the newborn constipation
Dr. Komarovsky gives some tips to help alleviate the condition of the baby. If these measures do not help, you should contact a specialist.
What to do if the baby constipation?
- do the exercise "bike": take turns bending the legs of the child 10 times;
- put the baby in a warm bath;
- Massage baby tummy, cover with a warm diaper.
Prevention
- The main method of prevention is proper nutrition of a nursing mother and child. If there is a predisposition to delay the chair, the mother should regularly use beets, prunes, apricots. But baking, flour and fatty foods will have to limit;
- If constipation recurs frequently, use a special formula for feeding;
- The baby must move, it is enough time to spend in the fresh air;
- The emptying procedure should take place in a calm environment, preferably at the same time.
The elimination of constipation requires an integrated approach. It is necessary to follow the recommendations of the doctor and give the child medications only under the supervision of a specialist. It is important to monitor the diet and enough fluid intake to prevent intestinal problems.
And a little more information about constipation in newborns - in the next video.
