I can't poop.

Newborn babies actually have constipation problems, either because they eat too little, or eat food that is not easy to digest, or the child’s digestive function is not very good. Of course, the digestive function of a newborn baby cannot fully develop normally. At this time, if you do not pay attention to the feeding method, the baby’s constipation problem will become more serious.

It should be said that baby constipation also has signs. Normally, if the child does not defecate for more than three days, it means that the baby is constipated. At this time, the child should actually be treated. So what are the signs of baby constipation?

If your baby has not defecated for more than 3 days, or his stool is drier and harder than usual, or defecation is very difficult, he must be constipated.

Constipation in infants and young children is a common symptom. It can be divided into two categories according to the different causes of constipation. One category is functional constipation, which is more common and can be cured by adjusting diet, lifestyle, etc.

Another type is constipation caused by congenital intestinal malformations. This type of constipation cannot be cured by general conditioning and must be corrected through surgery to be completely cured. The vast majority of childhood constipation is functional constipation.

Signs of constipation in babies

Small, dry stools;

Difficulty passing stools and pain during bowel movements;

Abdominal distension and pain; loss of appetite.

Whether a baby is constipated cannot be determined solely by the frequency of bowel movements. Instead, it is necessary to make an overall observation of the quality and quantity of the baby's stools, and to see whether it has any impact on the child's health. Each child has different physical conditions, so the normal number of bowel movements per day is also different. For example, a baby who is exclusively breastfed may have more bowel movements per day, while a baby who is fed with milk or other milk substitutes may have a bowel movement once a day or once every 2 to 3 days. As long as the nature and amount are normal and the baby has no other discomfort, it is normal.

4 reasons for baby constipation

There are many reasons for baby constipation, the main ones are as follows:

Improper diet

Functional constipation is most closely related to diet. If the baby's diet is too fine and the fiber intake is insufficient, the intestinal wall will not be stimulated enough, which can easily lead to constipation; excessive intake of high protein can easily lead to a relative reduction in intestinal fermentation bacteria and affect fermentation, thereby making the stool dry and dense; when the food intake is insufficient, due to less residue in the intestine, insufficient tension of the abdominal and intestinal muscles, and weak peristalsis, it can also easily cause constipation.

Irregular bowel movements

Due to irregular bowel movement and lack of relevant training, the defecation reflex has not been formed. Sometimes, although the baby feels the urge to defecate, he may consciously suppress the urge to defecate due to playfulness or other distractions. Over time, the sensitivity of the defecation reflex in the intestine decreases, the stool accumulates in the intestine, the water is absorbed, the stool becomes dry, and therefore difficult to excrete, forming the so-called habitual constipation.

Congenital physiological and anatomical defects

Some babies suffer from constipation due to certain congenital diseases, such as intestinal stenosis, intestinal obstruction, rectal or anal stenosis, pyloric spasm, congenital pyloric stenosis, congenital megacolon, etc., which can all cause constipation.

Psychological factors

In addition, some mental stimulation factors can also cause constipation in babies, such as changes in living environment, or pain during defecation caused by perianal lesions (such as anal fissures) that makes children afraid of defecation. These may lead to short-term constipation in babies.

What to do if you are constipated

When a baby becomes constipated, the stool is dry and hard. The dry and hard stool will irritate the anus and cause pain and discomfort. The baby is afraid of defecation and dare not force it. The stool cannot be expelled and the constipation will become more serious. The stool remaining in the body for a long time will cause toxins to accumulate in the body, affecting normal metabolism, resulting in malnutrition and decreased resistance. So, how can we get the accumulated stool of constipated babies out of the body as quickly as possible?

Massage

Place your palm flat on the baby's navel with your palm facing down, and gently massage in a clockwise direction. This not only speeds up the baby's intestinal peristalsis and promotes defecation, but also helps digestion.

Enema

Cut open the tip seal of the enema. If there are burrs on the tube opening, be sure to smooth it out, and squeeze out a little medicine to lubricate the tube opening to avoid piercing the baby's anus. Let the baby lie on his side, insert the tube of the enema into his anus, gently squeeze the plastic bag to allow the liquid to spray into the anus, then pull out the empty shell of the enema, and clamp a clean paper towel at the baby's anus to prevent the liquid from overflowing and staining clothes or sheets. At the same time, advise your baby to try to wait until he can no longer bear it before defecating, so that the medicine can fully play its role in stimulating intestinal peristalsis and softening stool, achieving the best laxative effect.

Glycerin suppository

Wash your hands, then open the wrapping paper of the conical glycerin suppository, slowly insert it into the baby's anus, and then gently press the anus. Try to wait as long as possible to allow the glycerin suppository to fully melt before defecation.

Soap Bar Method

Wash your hands and cut the soap into a conical soap bar about 3 cm long and as thick as a pencil. Moisten the soap bar with a little water and then slowly insert it into the baby's anus. Also, try to keep the soap bar in the anus for a longer period of time to fully stimulate the peristalsis of the anus.

If the above methods do not work, you should take your baby to the hospital in time to check whether the constipation is caused by other diseases.

How to Prevent Constipation

The above methods should not be used for a long time, otherwise, the child will become dependent. The fundamental way to deal with childhood constipation is to prevent it before it happens, that is, it is important to prevent constipation. Parents should pay attention to regulating their baby's diet, developing regular bowel habits, and ensuring appropriate amount of activity.

Balanced diet

The baby's diet must be balanced, and he cannot be picky eaters. Cereals, grains, and various fruits and vegetables should be consumed in a balanced manner. The baby can eat some fruit puree, vegetable puree, or drink some fruit and vegetable juice to increase the fiber in the intestine, promote gastrointestinal motility, and facilitate bowel movements.

Regular bowel movements

Train your baby to develop a good habit of regular bowel movements. Generally speaking, when the baby is about 3 months old, parents can help him gradually form the habit of regular bowel movements. Starting from 3 months, parents can help their baby sit in the potty at regular intervals after feeding every morning. Pay attention to the indoor temperature and the comfort of the potty so that the baby does not feel bored or uncomfortable with sitting in the potty.

It should be said that the inability to defecate will actually have a great impact on the child's health. At this time, as a pregnant mother, what you should do is to correct the child's bad eating habits and actively prevent the baby's constipation problem so that the baby can have a healthier body.