What Can I Do To Help My Newborn With Constipation

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Suppository or enema was needed to get the stool out
• Infrequent stools do not get better after changes to diet. Exception: normal if breastfed infant more than 1 month old and stools are not painful.
• Stool softeners are being used and have not been discussed with your doctor
• Toilet training is in progress
• Painful stools occur 3 or more times after changes to diet
• Constipation is a frequent problem
• You have other questions or concerns

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Infant Constipation

The following signs may indicate your baby is constipated:

• Your baby has hard bowel movements that look like round, ball-shaped pellets

• Your baby may arch her back or cry when having difficulty passing a bowel movement. Keep in mind that itâs common for infants to strain when poopingâafter all your baby will most likely be pooping while lying on her back, which isnât that easy to do. If your baby passes a soft bowel movement after straining, she is probably not constipated

• Your baby’s bowel movements are happening less frequently than normal.

Helping Your Newborn Get Through Painful Pooping

That constipated look your baby gives you when they cant poop can be entertaining to look at, but can be quite painful for your baby. Luckily, painful pooping, or infant dyschezia, is a very common, normal and curable problem. Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about what might cause dychezia and what safe methods you can use to help your baby.

Dyschezia. It sounds like a scary condition for a newborn to have, but it is a common and very normal problem for new babies. What is it and what can you do to help your baby?

Don’t Miss: How Do You Give A Newborn A Sponge Bath

Remedies To Try At Home

There are several remedies you can try at home to manage your childâs constipation:

• Make sure your child is getting enough fluids. Most kids need about 3 to 4 glasses of water every day.
• Add more fiber into your childâs diet. Make sure they’re eating enough fruits, grains and vegetables. Fiber keeps things moving.
• Make sure your child isnât overdoing fast food and junk food. They slow down digestion.
• Limit sodas and tea. They have lots of caffeine in them.
• Get your child into the habit of regular bowel movements. Have them try for at least 10 minutes two times a day. After a meal is a good time.

If these things donât seem to do the trick, talk to your childâs doctor about using a mild, child-friendly laxative or stool softener.

How Can You Tell If A Newborn Is Constipated

Sneed shared that parents experiencing newborn constipation may see different signs.

Parents may encounter Infant Dyschezia where their babies scream excessively and strain for ten minutes, only to produce loose stools, she said. These infants have not figured out how to simultaneously relax their pelvic floor and push stool out at the same time.

Another recognizable instance of constipation is when foods are introduced into the diet. To avoid constipation problems, Sneed recommends giving babies foods higher in fiber.

This age group should receive a recommended five grams of fiber daily, she said. The best fiber-rich foods are peas and prunes, which have two grams of fiber per serving, and whole wheat, barley or mixed grain baby cereals, which have one to two grams of fiber per serving. The worst options are rice cereal and bananas.

Also Check: What To Give Newborn For Diarrhea

Struggling To Get Your Newborn To Err Do A Number Two Learn How This First

Being a mum changes you in a way that youll never understand until it happens. From a kick in the womb to a kick to my face, Ive learned to love every moment even the poop-namis . Its a constant masterclass in learning how to take care of a baby. Unfortunately, learning how to bathe my son and breastfeed on-the-go are things you dont learn in mummy school. And of course, what do you do if your baby has constipation? What do you do then? Well, here are some things I learned about getting your little one to poop

Dont give your baby medicines for constipation unless they are advised or prescribed by a doctor.

If your baby is fed with breast milk:

• You may need to feed your baby more often. See your doctor or child health nurse for advice.

If your baby is fed with formula:

• It may be that his or her formula has not been made up correctly, so it does not contain enough water.
• Double check that you are following the instructions on the tin of formula correctly.
• Make sure you are using the scoop that is provided with the tin of formula you are using different brands can have different sized scoops.
• Make sure you are not packing the powdered formula too tightly in the scoop it should be loosely filled, and levelled off using the flat side of a knife or the leveller provided.
• Make sure you are adding water to the bottle first, then the powdered formula. If you add formula first you will be adding too little water to the bottle.

If your baby is eating solids :

Other things to try:

How To Prevent Baby Constipation

As for preventing infant constipation, unfortunately theres a lot you can proactively do. Prevention really comes down to recognizing the warning signs, and trying to stay on top of them, Santo Domingo says. Of course, monitoring babys diet for foods that cause constipation, giving them a diverse assortment of fibrous fruits and veggies and keeping them hydrated may help.

About the experts:

Trina Blythe, MD, is a BJC Medical Group pediatrician at Progress West Hospital in OFallon, Missouri. She received her medical degree from Albany Medical Center in New York.

Lisa Santo Domingo, DNP, MSN, is a pediatric nurse practitioner and medical director of Johns Hopkins Hospitals Pediatric Chronic Constipation Clinic. She received her doctor of nursing degree at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

You May Like: When Do You Do Newborn Photos

Try An Infant Glycerin Suppository

These have a laxative effect, usually relieving constipation temporarily and allowing a poop to pass in 10-15 minutes.

Glycerin suppositories are available over the counter, but only meant for occasional use dont use more than a few times without checking with your pediatrician.

STEP 1: Again, gather supplies needed to minimize poopy mess, plus the suppository, and wash your hands.

STEP 2: Lie baby over your lap, with one hand supporting and holding the chest and arms, other at the ready with suppository.

STEP 3: Insert the suppository into the rectum, as far as itll go, and move it around a little, to help the rectal muscles relax.

STEP 4: To help dissolve the suppository so it can do its job, hold your newborns buttocks together.

STEP 5: Wait for the action! Move baby into a different position if you like, but she may find this front-lying position more comfortable than others if constipated or gassy.

How To Tell If Your Child Is Constipated

Constipation refers to the compactness of the stools and the difficulty passing them, not the frequency of bowel movements. The consistency and number of stools vary according to age and from baby to baby. Newborns have several stools a day that are soft and the consistency of seedy mustard, especially if breastfed. Formula-fed infants usually have fewer, firmer, and darker stools. Once solid food enters the diet, the stools become more formed and less frequent, and some babies may have a bowel movement without difficulty only once every three days, but daily is preferable.

Read Also: How Long Is A Baby Considered A Newborn

When To See A Doctor About Baby Constipation

Constipation in infants and babies can be an uncomfortable and worrisome situation. It is important to know when to see a doctor about baby constipation, as well as what home remedies may help alleviate the symptoms.

The first thing to do when you notice that your infant or child has been having trouble going #2 is try changing their diet. Infants are often fed exclusively breast milk or formula, but sometimes these formulas have ingredients that cause constipation such as soy, dairy products, iron-fortified cereals, rice cereal with barley malt extract.

When is it time to see a doctor about baby constipation? Its often hard to know when your little one needs help with their bowel movements. The most common symptom of constipation in babies is difficult or infrequent bowel movements. If a child has not had a bowel movement for three days, they may have an obstruction that will need medical attention.It can be tough to address the issue of baby constipation because it may seem like something as simple as giving them more fluids and waiting things out. But if you do notice any other symptoms such as vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, or bloody stools call your pediatrician right away.

How Long Can Bottle Fed Babies Go Without Pooping

They can stay poop-free for as long as a week after the first three to six weeks. If your baby is formula-fed, he or she should poop once or twice a day. While some babies poop every day, others poop frequently up to several times per day.

It is simple to go one or two weeks without a poopy diaper for babies exclusively breastfed over the course of two to three months. For babies exclusively breastfed, babies should poop three to five times per day. The baby uses all of the nutrients from your milk to grow, so you wont have to deal with poopy diapers. When an infant receives formula, his or her bowel movements are usually one every day or every other day. A persons bowel movements can vary widely and still be considered normal. When a baby vomits or spits up bile, is vomiting and has a collapsed abdomen, they should be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible.

When your baby is not pooping for five days or is having difficulty passing wet diapers, you should consult a doctor. Constipation and urinary tract infections are two of the conditions that infants can experience when they do not poop on a regular basis.

Don’t Miss: Is My Newborn Covered Under My Insurance

How To Help Relieve Your Babys Constipation

Some parents worry that bottle feeding their baby will cause constipation, but this is usually not the case. Constipation is more likely to be caused by a lack of fiber in the diet, not by bottle feeding. If your baby is constipated, there are a few things you can do to help relieve their discomfort.

Constipation can make it difficult for your baby to poop, and their diet can play a role. When your baby consumes too much formula , it can cause them constipated and make them dehydrated. Constipation can also result from a lack of fluids, which occurs when you lose fluids.

Can a nursing mothers diet cause or relieve a babys constipation? The short answer is probably incorrect. A 2017 study of 145 women in the Korean Journal of Pediatrics discovered that breastfeeding mothers do not need to avoid any food unless it causes their baby to be physically ill.

Drinking too much fluid. Transitioning from breast milk to solid food, as well as switching to formula or being in a stressful situation

What can I do to protect my baby? Constipation during pregnancy will not affect your baby because it occurs in the mothers gut and bowels and does not spread to the child.

Make Use Of Pureed Foods

My baby is currently just over seven months, and he still hasnt started eating solid foods yet. So, I started giving him pureed foods while simultaneously breastfeeding him.

I gave him carrot puree, peas puree, avocado, apple, as well as pear puree.

I also added vegetables and fruits to his daily diet so that they can add bulk to my childs stool, all pureed so he can digest it comfortably.

Guess what! It actually works for my kid and stimulated a bowel movement.

Recommended Reading: Do They Test Newborns For Nicotine

What Can I Put In My Babies Bottle For Constipation

A teaspoon of dark Karo syrup should be added to a bottle of stool softener to soften the stool. Peach or Pear contains a tablespoon of heavy syrup. Pear, peach, or pineapple juice contains an ounce of p juice.

Diet For Good Bowel Habits In Babies

The proper growth of a babys bowel habits can be accomplished by providing them with a balanced and nutritious diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, and dairy products provide a variety of nutrients and fiber that support healthy gut function. It is also possible for your baby to benefit from fiber added to their diet by adding a teaspoon of ginger or a half cup of psyllium husk fiber. If any of these measures fail, consult with your pediatrician.

Why Is Your Baby Getting Constipated

Babies who are not formula fed are unlikely to have constipation because the stool remains soft.

However, once you start switching to formula and solids, you are more likely to get a constipated baby. Thats because the proteins in formulas are slightly different and cause the stool to become harder.

Illness is another reason you could be dealing with baby constipation. When babies get sick, they dont eat or drink normally which can cause their delicate digestive systems to get off track, often leading to constipation.

If your baby was born premature, he might also have some difficulty with constipation. Some premature babies dont develop the GI tract fully causing food to move more slowly through their digestive system.

Also, watch out for dehydration. When your baby is dehydrated, his body starts to redirect the fluid from whatever he drinks into the more vital systems, leaving the stool to become dry and hard.

Don’t Miss: When Should Newborn Photos Be Taken

They Haven’t Pooped In A Long Time

One obvious sign of constipation in babies is a prolonged absence of poop. If your little one isn’t having at least several bright, yellow poops on Day 5 of life, something could be wrong, regardless of whether they’re on breast milk or formula, Dr. Morton says. This usually has to do with the baby not getting enough to eat.

When To Call Your Doctor Or Seek Medical Advice

If youre worried about your baby, you should contact your health visitor, GP, or public health nurse, especially if5:

• Your babys constipation started from birth or within their first few weeks of life.

• Your baby has not passed their meconium within 48 hours after birth.

• Your baby isnt improving

• Your baby has blood in their poo

• Your baby has other symptoms such as vomiting, weight loss or tiredness

You May Like: How To Switch Formula For Newborn

When Should I Call My Childs Healthcare Provider

• Is constipated for more than 2 weeks

• Cant do normal activities because of constipation

• Cant get a stool out with normal pushing

• Has red, swollen veins in the rectum

• Has belly pain, fever, or vomiting

• Has changes in urination, weakness in the legs, or back pain

Ginger is really helpful to treat the digestion problems.

Recipe of Making Ginger Honey Solution

Preferred Age

Does My Child Need To See A Doctor

Constipation is common. Often it will pass without intervention, or with the help of the strategies listed above. If you are worried that your baby has constipation, is uncomfortable or is in pain, their doctor can assess them and recommend baby-safe strategies. There are medical treatments for constipation that your doctor may consider, based on your babys circumstances.

If your baby was previously treated for constipation but still struggles to poo, it is important to go back to your doctor for a review. There are several treatments they can try.

Don’t Miss: What To Do When Newborn Has Hiccups

What Can I Give My Constipated Newborn

4.6/5your babyconstipatedyour baby

Home remedies for constipation in a baby include:

Furthermore, can you give babies anything for constipation? If your baby is already on solid foods then diluted fruit juice, such as apple, pear or prune, or the fruit itself should be fine for providing relief.

Also, can I give my newborn water for constipation?

In general, most breastfed infants will move their bowels more often than formula-fed babies. There are many different ways to treat constipation in an infant. One of the simplest methods is to give your baby water. Infants less than a month old should not be given water without speaking with the childs pediatrician.

What foods can I give my baby to help with constipation?

Anything containing bran, known for its high-fiber content, should help loosen up your babys stool. Think fiber-rich cereals, whole-wheat pasta, and brown rice. Next are the P fruits, particularly pears, plums, peaches, and prunes. Their juice counterparts could also do the trick.

Recommended Reading: Can Newborn Sleep On Tummy