Increase Your Knowledge About Newborn Constipation – Newborn Constipation Tips
Newborns are so fragile that any type of health issue can always be a source of major concern for any parent. One of these is called newborn constipation. Nevertheless, with proper information of what it really is and how to deal with it, you will be less panicky and more confident in taking care of what could be a constipated child.
What is newborn constipation?
Also known as infant constipation, it is a bowel movement problem where the baby has not passed on stools for some time. He or she may also experience some difficulty defecating. There is no really exact timeline on when you can say the baby is suffering from constipation, although if the baby does not soil his or her diaper within 3 days after the last bowel movement, you may want to take some hint that he or she may have some newborn constipation.
Is it normal for newborns to have fewer bowel movements?
The answer is both yes and no. For babies who are breast-fed, they seldom defecate especially as they get older. However, any type of bowel movement problem is not good. Hence, unless it is a breast-fed baby you should at the very least be more observant of your baby.
What is the first thing a parent can do?
Like in any other health care issue, the first thing you need to do is to bring your baby to the physician. Only your doctor can properly diagnose and confirm if he or she is definitely suffering from constipation. The pediatrician can also provide the proper treatment or medication to ease the baby’s bowel problem.
However, you can also do something in complementary to your doctor’s medication. For one, you can perform leg massages. You can raise the baby’s leg one by one and move each in a bicycle movement. You do not do anything to his or her belly.
Should I change the baby’s food or drink?
Sometimes the constipation may be caused by the drink and food the baby takes. You may want to make a simple experiment. Try to identify the possible culprits and remove them from the diet. You may want to change your formula milk too. If the baby develops a more consistent bowel movement, then you have eliminated the root cause.
You may also want to introduce fiber-enriched formulas and meals to your baby. Fiber has a way of making the intestines work,
thus, removing whatever wastes lodged inside them. You will know how much fiber it has by reading the label.
Make sure too that you can increase the baby’s intake of liquids, preferably water or apple juice. This will hopefully force the baby’s intestines to work much harder and soften hard fecal matter.
What types of treatments the baby can take for newborn constipation?
You have the natural and the conventional treatments. The former may include the use of milk of magnesia, which is an effective laxative. You may also purchase enemas and suppositories from drugstores. Pediatricians may prescribe certain drugs like lactulose.
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