How To Stop Newborn Constipation

Newborn Constipation Constipated Newborn

Within one year of birth, your baby would face constipation several times. It is common in newborn babies. However, sometimes it might not be constipation rather setting his schedule for bowel movement. Usually, the babys stool is quite soft and could be passed easily. Also many times your baby is not constipated, maybe his bowel movements are irregular.

If you are formula feedings try to use a different brand after consulting your pediatrician. On the other hand, you may try a few home remedies that could help the baby to get rid of constipation. You can add fruit juice to your babys bottle. If your baby is older than 4 to 5 months give them some extra water. It might help them to get relief.

Feed them foods that are high in fibre such as peas or pureed prunes if they eat solid foods. You may also massage your baby by bending his knees towards his chest. This squat posture might help them to poop out. You can also gently massage his belly.

A number of important pointers have been discussed here.

Does Switching Formulas Help Or Make Things Worse

After choosing a formula, you might decide that youd like to change to another one. Is this a good idea?

Switching your babys formula may make a difference in their poop, since their sensitivity to some of the ingredients in the original formula may have led to their constipation.

However, changing formula styles or brands can also make things worse, especially if you do it too often.

In other words, its not a good plan to give your baby one formula for 1 or 2 days, then changing to another formula right away when you see that theyre constipated. Instead, try giving baby a few weeks to adjust to any newly introduced formula.

In some cases, though, changing formulas might be wise. Even so, its best to speak with your childs pediatrician first.

Reasons to consider changing formulas can include:

• food allergies
• extreme fussiness
• a need for more iron in a babys diet, as determined by a doctor
• weakness or fatigue
• vomiting
• bloody stools
• diarrhea

Especially if your child is showing signs of allergies or wheat or dairy aversions, changing to a brand with different ingredients may make digestion easier.

Its never a good idea to create your own homemade formula, however. Your childs doctor can help you find an approved formula if your little one needs something special.

For many babies, a simple home remedy or two is all youll need to relieve constipation.

For an older baby, you can consider a dietary change.

For younger babies, you can try the following:

What Are The Signs Of Constipation In Babies

The following signs may indicate your baby is constipated:

• Pooing fewer than three times a week

• Hard, dry or lumpy poos or poo that comes out in little pellets

• Poos that are bigger than usual

• Your baby finds it hard to poo and may look like he or she is straining

• Poo and wind may be smellier than usual

• Reduced appetite or a tummy ache that gets better after doing a poo

• Traces of blood in the poo

• A firm tummy

• In children over 1 year old, soiled underwear can be due to constipation. This happens when runny poo, or diarrhoea runs around a hard stool thatâs causing a blockage.

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How Long Can Your Baby Go Without Doing A Poo

The frequency and consistency of your babyâs bowel movements can vary from day to day, and every baby is different.A baby who is consuming formula may fill anything up to five nappies a day when newborn, which can decrease to once a day after a few months.Breastfed babies may poo after every feed in the first few weeks, then after about six weeks things may get less predictable: Although your breastfed baby may average two or three bowel movements a day, he or she could also sometime go for as long as 7 to 10 days without a poo, but still not be constipated.Keep in mind that sometimes a baby can be straining or crying while trying to do a poo, but still not be constipated. If your baby grunts or gets a little red-faced in the process of passing what turns out to be a soft, perfectly normal stool, this is just because he or she has not yet learned to properly relax the pelvic floor muscles to let the poo out.In this case, holding your babyâs legs up and bending them at the knees may help.

Q How Do I Know If My Baby Is Constipated

If your baby is very uncomfortable or clearly in real pain, and his poos are small and hard, then he has some degree of constipation. This is very rare in babies who are solely breastfed, but not uncommon in babies who have formula, or who have solid foods.

Ask your health visitor or the chemist for advice on treatment. Make sure you are making up the formula powder with the correct amount of water. Some formulas are specially targeted at babies who have minor constipation your health visitor can discuss your options.

Persistent constipation needs to be checked out by the doctor.

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Imitators Of Constipation: Normal Patterns And Stools

• Breastfed and Over 1 Month Old. Stools every 4-7 days that are soft, large and pain-free can be normal. Caution: before 1 month old, not stooling enough can mean not getting enough breast milk.
• Straining in Babies. Grunting or straining while pushing out a stool is normal in young babies. They are learning to relax their anus after 9 months of keeping it closed. It’s also hard to pass stool lying on their back with no help from gravity. Babies also become red in the face and draw up their legs during straining. This is normal.
• Brief straining under 10 minutes can occur at times at any age.
• Large Stools. Size relates to the amount of food eaten. Large eaters have larger stools.
• Hard or Dry Stools. Also can be normal if passed easily without too much straining. Often, this relates to poor fiber intake. Some children even have small, dry rabbit-pellet-like stools.

What Causes Constipation In Infants

Change in diet. For babies, this could mean the introduction of solids, which can be very disruptive to their digestive system. Common foods that cause constipation in infants include bananas, applesauce, baby cereal, yogurt, cheese, cooked carrots, pasta, and white bread.

Lack of fiber. Fiber, found in baby-friendly foods like sweet potatoes and prunes , makes pooping easier. Without it, stool is dryer and lighter, and therefore more apt to get stuck in the intestines.

Potty training. Toilet training seems to be a trigger for many, says Harrison. When toddlers start potty training and exerting their own control over bowel movements, they often withhold stool as a result.

Genetics. Constipation often affects multiple family members. Chances are, if a parent has problems with constipation, the kids will, too.

Travel. It happens to the best of us. Being in a new place can mess with a babys circadian rhythm and cause pooping problems.

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Diet For Constipated Babies

The risk of constipation can be reduced to considerable amount by giving a proper diet to your child. Fluids , bran cereals and fiber rich foods , ease the symptoms associated to constipation.

The diet differs according to the age of the kid.

• Less than 2 months As the baby is too young, any food prepared outside cant be given. Its better to call up the doctor, instead of dealing with the situation at your own.
• 2 months and older Include nearly 3 ounces of water, on a regular basis, in his/her diet. You can also give 2 ounces of diluted apple juice or grape juice.
• 4 months and older Children of this age can have solid foods. So, you can include high fiber constituents such as peaches, beans, peas, and spinach in their diet.
• 5-10 months old Feed pureed foods to your kid. Ensure that there are no lumps in the food.
• 1 year old infant Give mashed food, if your tot belongs to this age group. There is no problem, if there are some lumps in the food.

Note- Do not give additional sugars and diluted juice simultaneously. Opt for only one cure.

Constipation In Babies: Best Tips To Relieve Your Struggling Baby

Are you looking for real ways to relieve constipation in babies?

A few days before I gave birth to my older baby, I remember lying down and thinking about how I will be changing soiled nappies in a few days time.

I panicked.

Little did I know that I am also going to struggle with persistent constipation. Unfortunately, most moms experience the same thing at some point.

I bet you are also struggling with it, or you are one step ahead and looking for ways to prevent constipation.

I have been through mild constipation on a breastfed baby, constipation because of baby formula, and extreme constipation that needed medical intervention.

From all these experiences, I have learnt ways to really relieve constipation in babies before it gets serious.

I am going to share all of that with you.

You are going to discover simple ways to relieve baby constipation in newborns, breastfed babies, formula-fed babies, and babies on solids.

These are tips to follow to avoid baby constipation in the future so that you will never have to worry about your baby getting constipated ever again.

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Prunes And Prune Juice

Puréed prunes, and prune juice are well known for their laxative effects due to a high content of fiber, sorbitol, and fructose. They can help with occasional constipation.

The laxative effects of prunes can be quite potent for a babys maturing digestive system, so offer it in moderation. If your baby needs daily prune juice to avoid constipation, consider talking to your doctor or registered dietitian.

Offering a healthy plate and varying the foods you offer is always a good strategy to prevent constipation

Preventing Constipation In Babies

No need to wait for real constipation to take action! Fibres and fluid are going to help your babys digestion.

As you continue offering breastmilk/formula in between meals, you can also start offering water. We suggest to offer sips of water from an open cup with every meal. It will teach your child some drinking skills, and ensure that your baby drinks enough fluids to help digest the fibres found in whole foods.

Fibres and fluids are your babys weapons to prevent constipation!

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Why Do Babies Get Constipated

To understand the reasons of constipation in babies, you have to understand that disturbed bowel movements depend upon many factors like

• Type of milk you are feeding to your baby
• The introduction of solid foods.
• Is any specific food you have introduced to your baby recently.
• Low water level: If your baby is suffering from cold, cough, throat infection, teething like problems then the water level in the body reduces drastically which can cause constipation.
• If your baby is under medication then intake of few medicines can cause constipation.

What If The Baby Is Passing Gas But Not Stool

You may notice that your baby is still passing gas but isnt pooping…this probably isnt cause for concern. Some babies just get gassy in between poops without being constipated. In most cases, a babys gas and constipation will resolve on their own. Remember, a babys digestive system is brand new…so its still getting the hang of how to function.

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A Hemolytic Disease Of The Newborn

HDN is also known as erythroblastosis fetalis. This newborn disease is a type of blood disorder that may occur when the blood groups of mother and baby are different. The ratio of HDN is low in the United States as they have advanced detection and prevention of this disease. There are a few ways that may help to treat infants with hemolytic disease.

You could feed your baby often and allow extra fluids. Also, you may provide light therapy called phototherapy to your baby. The special lights help to transform the bilirubin into a special form that might help your baby to get rid of HBD.

You could also provide antibodies like IVIG, immunoglobulin or intravenous to your child. It may help protect your babys red blood cells from being distracted. Several medical treatments are effective in treating HDN.

An in-depth analysis has been done here.

Laxatives And Other Remedies

We recommend to see your doctor before trying any over-the-counter treatment for your baby.

Your babys digestive system is still maturing and more delicate than an adults one. Some laxative and remedies can harm your baby if not administered properly, so guidance from your trusted doctor is important.

You know your baby best. If you feel it gets worst or you have concerns, dont hesitate to see your doctor or registered dietitian for help. Yes, we are also here to help, so dont hesitate to reach out!

It is easier to prevent constipation than to treat it. Refer to your doctor to receive appropriate treatment for your baby.

References

Bae SH. Diets for constipation. Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition. 2014 Dec 1 17:203-8.

Tabbers MM, DiLorenzo C, Berger MY, Faure C, Langendam MW, Nurko S, Staiano A, Vandenplas Y, Benninga MA. Evaluation and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children: evidence-based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. 2014 Feb 1 58:258-74.

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Iron: Food Sources + Supplements

The first food introduced to baby should be rich in iron. Its an important nutrient, and one of the reasons for introducing solid food, to complement milk around 6 months of age!

If youre feeding iron-enriched infant cereals, you might find that your baby is sensitive to it and experiences constipation. One suggestion is to vary the food sources of iron: meat, fish, eggs, nut butter, beans, legumes, tofu .

If your baby is taking an iron supplement, talk to your doctor about potentially lowering the dose, and be sure to discuss the pros and cons of continuing to take the supplement. You will have to make some adjustments to ensure that your baby receives enough iron while avoiding constipation.

Treatment For Infant Constipation

Though constipation is uncommon in babies who are breastfed exclusively, it is common once solid foods are introduced into their diet. At that time, even bowel movements that occur as frequently as every other day could be considered constipation if a child strains or otherwise signals that passing their bowels is uncomfortable.

In addition, children who have painful bowel movements may begin to hold their stool causing further discomfort.

The vast majority of the time, this type of constipation is normal. There are a few medical conditions that can lead to constipation in infants, such as cystic fibrosis, but these are usually accompanied by other associated symptoms your pediatrician will be monitoring, such as poor weight gain.

Don’t hesitate to if you think your child is constipated or is having other issues with their bowel movements.

Normal constipation in infants is a common reason for visits to the pediatrician. Most of the time, dietary changes can resolve constipation. Infant massage can also aid in digestion, which may relieve constipation.

If your child has begun to hold their stools , a mild laxative may be needed. Always consult your child’s pediatrician before giving your child a new medication, including over-the-counter products.

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