The nature of stool in infants varies from child to child, just as in adults. What is normal for your child may be different from what is normal for another. Most children poop 1 or 2 times a day. Other babies may take 2 to 3 days or more before normal bowel movements occur.

Gut function will change greatly over the course of a child's life. At times, these changes may indicate that your baby is constipated.

Constipation is a condition in the body when bowel movements are not as regular as usual. There is a lot of stool, and going to the toilet is painful. Sometimes the stool may be loose, but this can also mean the baby is constipated.

A baby who consumes exclusively breast milk may not have a bowel movement every day. Often almost all nutrients are absorbed. This is very common. Formula-fed babies may have up to three to four bowel movements per day.

However, normal bowel movement (peristalsis) varies greatly in healthy children. It depends on the type of milk, the introduction of coarse fiber into the food and what specific foods are consumed.

Understanding the possible signs of constipation can help parents spot potential constipation before bowel difficulties become a big problem.

Constipation in an infant can be identified by several symptoms:

You may notice that the child crosses his legs, grimaces, stretches out, squeezing his buttocks, or spins in his chair. It may look like your baby is trying to have a bowel movement, but instead he is actually trying to hold in stool.

If constipation is left untreated, it can get worse and cause various complications. The longer the stool remains inside the sigmoid and rectum, the harder and drier it becomes, the more difficult and painful it is to empty the intestines. Your child may hold back stools due to pain. This creates a vicious circle.

Constipation in children is usually not a serious condition. However, chronic constipation can lead to complications or signal an underlying disease.

Take your child to the doctor if constipation continues for more than two weeks or if the following symptoms occur:

• weight loss;
• blood in stool;
• bloating;
• vomit;
• heat;
• painful cracks in the skin in the anus (anal fissures);
• prolapse of the intestine from the anus (rectal prolapse).

Do not give a laxative or suppository to an infant without talking to your doctor first.

To determine constipation, your doctor should do the following:

1. Collect complete information about the medical history. The specialist will ask about past illnesses, nutrition and physical condition of the child.
2. Conduct an examination, which will likely include a digital examination of the baby's rectum to check for abnormalities, cracks, or hard stools. Stool found in the rectum may be tested for blood.

Extensive testing is done in more severe cases of constipation. Diagnostics consists of several procedures:

Treatment of constipation in infants

Depending on various factors, the doctor may recommend what to do if your child is constipated. This could be procedures or certain medications.

1. Preparations with dietary fiber. If your child is not getting much fiber from his diet, adding a fiber supplement may help. However, the child must drink plenty of water daily for these medications to work well. Check with your doctor to find out what dose is appropriate for your baby's age and weight.

Glycerin suppositories can be used to soften stool in children. The suppository stimulates the baby's rectum and helps empty it. Do not use suppositories regularly, because the child will develop a reflex to defecation only after suppositories.

2. Laxative or enema. If your 1-month-old baby is constipated due to a buildup of stool causing an impaction, the doctor may suggest a laxative or an enema to help clear the impaction. These drugs include polyethylene glycol and mineral oil. Never give your child a laxative or give an enema without a doctor's direction and instructions on the correct dosage and use.
3. Hospital enema. Sometimes a baby may be so constipated that he must be hospitalized for a short time to receive a more thorough (siphon) enema that will cleanse the intestines.

How to treat constipation in an infant at home?

In addition to changes in diet and routine, various approaches can help relieve constipation in children at home.

Here are some tips on what you can do when your baby is constipated:

Never use soap if you are constipated. It has an aggressive effect on the rectal mucosa, leading to erosions and local inflammation, which will only worsen the situation. In addition, the soap bakes mercilessly, causing severe pain to the baby.

If a child's constipation lasts more than two weeks, parents are likely to seek medical help. If necessary, the baby will be referred to a specialist in digestive disorders (gastroenterologist). He will tell you in more detail how to treat constipation in a baby.

Here's some information to help you prepare and know what to expect from your doctor.

You can prepare by taking a few important steps:

Write down questions to ask your doctor. There are certain key questions to ask your doctor:

1. What is the most likely cause of my child's symptoms?
2. Are there other reasons?
3. What tests does my child need?
4. How long can this go on?
5. What procedures do you recommend?
6. How to help a newborn with constipation?
7. Do I need to make changes to my child's diet?
8. Should we see another specialist?
9. What to give to a baby for constipation?
10. Is there an alternative to the medication you are prescribed?
11. Can this problem be treated without medication?

Your doctor may ask several questions. You need to be prepared to answer them. Your doctor can confirm the following information:

1. When did your child first show signs of constipation?
2. Were these symptoms constant or occasional?
3. How severe are the symptoms?
4. What do you think improves the child’s condition?
5. What worsens the baby's condition?
6. Do you see blood in your stool or on your diaper?
7. Does the child strain during the act of defecation?
8. Does the baby have a hereditary predisposition to digestive problems?
9. Has your child started taking any new medications or changed the dosage of current medications?
10. Can you describe the experience of potty training your child?

Since each child's bowel function is individual, familiarize yourself with the conditions for normal bowel movements for your baby. Note the usual size and consistency of the stool. This will help you and your pediatrician determine when constipation occurs and how severe the problem is.

Physiologically, the newborn periodically experiences stool retention until the functioning of the digestive system improves.

Reasons for the absence of bowel movements in breastfed infants:

• deficiency of fluid in the child's body;
• increased fat content of mother's milk;
• a woman’s consumption of foods that have fixing properties;
• lack of breast milk – provokes “hunger constipation”;
• hormonal imbalances in a nursing mother - then the baby’s mother will also experience stool retention;
• excessively frequent or abundant feeding of the baby;
• incorrect introduction of complementary foods after breastfeeding;
• disturbance of intestinal microflora;
• mother or child taking medications that cause constipation;
• weakened muscle tone of the newborn, leading to slower peristalsis;
• increased intestinal muscle tone - hypertonicity;
• overheat.

The appearance of constipation in a newborn during breastfeeding, associated with physiological reasons, cannot be considered a disease. The symptom disappears after eliminating the factors that led to its development.

If the reason for the lack of bowel movements is a dangerous disease, other signs of pathology will appear.

Diseases that cause constipation in infants:

1. Lactase deficiency is manifested by constipation, colic, increased gas formation, and regurgitation.
2. Rickets - a lack of vitamin D is accompanied by a bulging abdomen, stool retention, and other signs.
3. Anomalies of the intestinal structure - Hirschsprung's disease, bifurcation of the colon, tumors.
4. Diseases of the endocrine system - hypothyroidism, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency.
5. Neurology - manifests itself in frequent vomiting, stool retention, tremor.

If constipation in a breastfed newborn does not go away after correcting the mother's diet, go to the hospital.

How to recognize constipation in a baby

Until one month of age, breastfed babies have bowel movements 4 times a day. The number of acts of defecation is close to the number of feedings. Artificial babies do not defecate as often - this is normal.

In a newborn, stool has a soft, runny consistency and a yellow-brown tint.

By 4 months, the baby has stool 2-3 times a day.

Babies from 6 months of age begin to receive complementary foods after breastfeeding. New nutrition affects the functioning of the digestive system and the nature of bowel movements:

• stool becomes dark;
• there is an unpleasant odor.

Incorrect introduction of the first complementary foods leads to stool retention, so consultation with a doctor is required regarding the composition of the diet, its quantity and frequency.

To understand whether a newborn really suffers from constipation and whether it needs to be dealt with, watch him:

• mood;
• appetite;
• behavior.

There is no reason to worry, even if there is no stool for 1-2 days, when:

• the child is calm;
• not capricious;
• eats with pleasure;
• gaining weight at normal rates.

The following signs indicate constipation:

• there is no bowel movement for more than 2-3 days;
• the baby is capricious and often cries, especially when trying to defecate;
• the stomach swells and becomes hard to the touch;
• the newborn bends his legs and pushes to no avail;
• poor appetite;
• When emptying, the stool has a dense structure.

Constipation is uncommon in breastfed newborns. Mother's milk is easily digested because it contains all the enzymes and beneficial bacteria that speed up digestion.

If you have the slightest suspicion of stool retention, contact your pediatrician. Stool that stagnates in the intestines causes intoxication, so constipation is dangerous for the baby.

Constipation in a newborn during breastfeeding has its own symptoms:

• decreased appetite;
• defecation is accompanied by crying and whims;
• when feeding, the child turns red and raises his legs;
• does not gain body weight;
• Gas or stool, if present, has an unpleasant odor.

If 3-4 of the described symptoms occur simultaneously, the doctor diagnoses constipation. It is difficult for parents to determine this problem without the help of a doctor.

How to help a breastfed baby with bowel retention

The main task of parents and doctors is to identify the cause of stool retention in a newborn and eliminate it. In many cases, you don't need to do anything else for constipation.

Non-drug treatments

These are the first options for relieving constipation during breastfeeding: if they do not help, only then use medications.

If constipation occurs in a newborn, it is important to adjust nutrition during lactation. Breastfeeding places restrictions on the mother.

It is necessary to exclude fastening foods from the diet:

• sweet;
• bakery products;
• pasta;
• fatty foods;
• black tea, jelly;
• radish, radish;
• thick porridge: semolina, rice.

Give preference to products with laxative properties:

• vegetable salads seasoned with vegetable oil;
• fruits and fresh juices;
• boiled or steamed poultry and fish;
• cereals;
• fermented milk products;
• pumpkin, beets.

For constipation, the drinking regimen of a nursing woman is of great importance - from 2 liters of fluid per day. It is necessary to supplement a breast-fed newborn only in hot weather or if the room is dry and warm.

The nuances of introducing complementary foods for infants suffering from constipation:

1. The timing of introducing complementary foods for such children does not differ from the general recommended age: no earlier than 6 months.
2. Start introducing new foods into your children's diet gradually - from 1 teaspoon per day, daily add half a teaspoon to the amount of food.
3. Introduce a new product to the menu once a week.
4. The best option for the first complementary food after breastfeeding is zucchini, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
5. Among the porridges that stimulate the intestinal system are buckwheat, oatmeal, and corn.
6. Eliminate semolina and rice porridge.
7. Introduce fruit puree according to age. If the child is already 6 months old, it will be useful to give prunes, plums, apples, and apricot purees for constipation.
8. From 9 months, introduce baby fermented milk products: kefir, yoghurt.
9. It is useful to give dill water.

Do not use folk remedies for constipation (herbal infusions, compotes, oils) for your newborn without discussing this with your doctor.

Massage

Abdominal massage for infants is an effective home remedy for the treatment and prevention of stool retention:

• relieves cramps and abdominal pain associated with colic;
• strengthens the abdominal muscles;
• calms the baby.

1. Do the procedure an hour before feeding or 2 hours after eating.
2. All movements are light, stroking, do not press on the stomach with force.
3. Avoid sudden movements so as not to frighten the baby or hurt him.
4. During the procedure, talk to your child, smile, and turn on calm music.
5. The massage begins and ends with stroking.
6. Do each exercise 2-4 times.

For constipation while breastfeeding, massage several times a day.

Sequence of massage:

1. Circular light strokes clockwise.
2. Stroking along the oblique muscles of the peritoneum from the sides to the center.
3. Massage the navel area with your fingers - circular movements.
4. Point pressure on the rectus abdominis muscles with your fingers.
5. The end of the session is a relaxing stroking.

Relief will come sooner if, after the procedure, you put a warm diaper on your stomach and press the newborn’s belly to your body. Warmth relaxes the baby and soothes intestinal pain.

1. If constipation is spastic in nature (accompanied by pain, bloating, flatulence), a gentle stroking massage will relieve it.
2. With atonic constipation, the baby does not suffer pain, and stool is delayed due to relaxation of the intestinal muscles. Stimulating massage movements and gymnastics with bringing the legs to the stomach will help.

Exercise therapy and other means

Children need movement - do exercises for your baby every day. Gymnastics helps:

• increase blood flow to muscles and tissues;
• speed up metabolic processes;
• improve the functioning of the intestines and other organs;
• strengthen muscles and bone tissue.

It is important that the exercises bring pleasure to the child and mother. In infancy, children perceive their body as an object of play. They often play with their legs and arms. During gymnastics, all parts of the body are used.

The ideal time for exercise is after swimming or while changing clothes. Do gymnastics on a flat surface - use a changing table or a hard bed.

Useful exercises:

1. The child lies on his back, the pelvis is free. Slowly raise your legs, bending them at the knees, and lower them. Keep your legs bent for up to 1-2 minutes, then release. Repeat the exercise 3 times.
2. Lay the newborn on his stomach, gently lift his shoulders and spread them to the sides. The baby will try to raise his head and stand on his elbows. This activity will strengthen your neck, back, and stomach. From 3 months of age, children independently master this skill.
3. The baby lies on his back, the mother stands on the left. Place one hand under your baby's head to steady it. With your other hand, lift your right knee, pulling it towards your stomach. Hold this position for 3 minutes. Then go to the other side and do the same with the left leg.
4. When the baby is pushing, you can help him - press his legs to his stomach.

If a little feces come out during exercise, continue massaging or exercising. This is a sign that your actions are helping.

Do not experiment with the folk remedies that our grandmothers used to treat us. If your child cannot poop, do not use bars of soap under any circumstances. Such procedures lead to burns of the intestinal mucosa and cause mechanical damage.

Non-drug home care for constipation in a breastfed newborn is sufficient. After adjusting the diet, performing simple massages and gymnastics, the stool returns to normal. If this doesn't help, consult your doctor.

Drug treatment: approved drugs

Laxatives for infants are available in the following dosage forms:

• syrups;
• microenemas.

Candles

Pediatricians recommend rectal suppositories for problems with stool in newborns. Suppositories act locally, their components are not absorbed into the blood, so they are safe when used correctly.

Types of candles for infants:

Glycerin

The most popular and safest. Can be used for newborns under medical supervision.

• up to one month of age, an eighth of a baby candle is used;
• for children older than a month - a quarter of a suppository.

A glycerin suppository softens stool, ensuring easy, painless passage during constipation.

Sea buckthorn candles

They have a less pronounced laxative effect compared to glycerin:

• help relieve inflammation and pain in the anus;
• heal cracks and wounds.

Gas-forming candles

They have a strong laxative effect due to irritation of the intestinal mucosa.

Up to 6 months, such drugs are contraindicated. And after 6 months they are used with caution.

Use any medicine for constipation only as a last resort, since the intestines get used to constant stimulation and subsequently cease to function independently.

Syrups

• Duphalac;
• Prelax;
• Normolakt.

Lactulose is a safe polysaccharide that is not absorbed in the small intestine, but when it enters the large intestine it promotes the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms.

Lactulose syrups act as follows:

• retain fluid in the intestinal system, thereby increasing the volume of feces;
• peristalsis is stimulated;
• normal microflora is established.

Children's laxative syrups have a pleasant taste. Can be used from birth.

Duphalac syrup dosage: 5 ml per day. It is advisable to give the medicine at the same time.

In the first days of treatment for constipation, increased flatulence is possible, but this phenomenon will pass within 2-3 days.

Microenema "Mikrolaks"

Microlax is a popular laxative.

Its advantages:

1. Safety - the components of the drug dilute stool, remove it out without entering the blood.
2. Ease of use - the product is sold in soft tubes with a tip for insertion into the rectum.
3. Fast acting - bowel movement occurs within 15 minutes.
4. There is no error with the dosage - one tube contains a portion for one use.

Laxative medications are an emergency treatment for constipation in breastfed newborns. They do not help get rid of the cause of the problem. If stool retention occurs frequently, take your child to the doctor. He will find out why this is happening and prescribe treatment.

Prevention of constipation during breastfeeding

The benefits of breast milk are invaluable. Try to feed your baby for as long as possible. This is the best means of preventing stool retention and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The baby receives reliable immunity and full development.

To ensure that a breastfed baby does not have problems with stool, watch your diet:

1. Do not eat foods that increase the formation of gases: cabbage, grapes, radishes.
2. Eliminate potentially allergy-causing foods.
3. Limit sweets and flour - they strengthen you.
4. Replace white bread with bran bread.
5. Include foods that improve bowel function in your diet.
6. Drink water - from 2 liters daily.

To prevent chronic constipation in infants older than 6 months, introduce complementary foods according to age. When introducing thick complementary foods after breastfeeding, provide the child with something to drink - up to 100 ml of purified water per day.

It’s easy to prevent bowel retention - watch your diet and your child’s daily menu. Do preventative massages and exercises for newborns. Walk outdoors more often.

Frequently asked questions from moms

Can breast milk cause constipation?

Breast milk can cause stool retention if it is too rich. To prevent this, a mother whose baby is breastfed needs to monitor her diet and drink as much fluid as possible.

Can constipation in a mother cause stool retention in a breastfeeding baby?

If the absence of bowel movements in the mother is caused by poor nutrition and lack of fluid, then a breastfed baby may develop this symptom. Taking a laxative suspension and following a diet by a nursing mother will help both solve the problem with stool.

If the mother’s constipation is caused by psychological factors (stress, anxiety), then this will not affect the functioning of the newborn’s intestines. But mother’s worries are transmitted through breastfeeding to the baby, so monitor your emotional state, calm down, and eliminate the cause of psychological discomfort.

Expert opinion: Dr. Komarovsky

A newborn who is breastfed naturally has the right to any frequency, color and consistency of stool, as long as this does not affect his development. Do not panic if you notice a delay in bowel movements in a baby when he feels well, eats with appetite and is not fussy. If the problem is diagnosed, you need to fight the cause of constipation.

Talk to your pediatrician about taking lactulose syrup. This is the best medicine to help with constipation in children in the first years of life.

Conclusion

Treatment of constipation in an infant should not be delayed. If the problem occurs frequently and non-drug methods do not help, do not self-medicate, go to the hospital. The pediatrician will determine the cause of constipation in a breastfed newborn, choose the correct treatment tactics and tell you how to cope with stool retention in an infant.

Why does a baby get constipated while breastfeeding?

All organs of a newborn child develop intensively during the first year of his life, and the baby’s parents have a lot of troubles in this regard. Imperfections in the functioning of the infant's digestive system cause the formation of colic, rashes, diarrhea and increased formation of gases. In addition, imperfect functioning of the child’s digestive system can cause constipation.

The normal state of affairs involves a healthy child defecating at least four times a day every day. At about the age of one year, this figure decreases by half. If a breastfed baby has not gone to the toilet even once during the day, there is no need to worry about it. You can judge the appearance of constipation in a child when he not only cannot go to the toilet on his own, but begins to sulk, cry and scream shrilly. In addition, he may refuse to eat and his sleep is disturbed.

The formation of constipation in a newborn child has the most direct connection with his physiology. Imperfection of the digestive system causes incomplete digestion of food, as a result of which there is no timely removal of toxins and unsold products from the body. Food moves slowly through the intestines and feces stagnate in it, causing constipation.

Constipation in a baby while breastfeeding: causes

The functioning of the digestive system is individual for each child and parents should not become depressed if the child does not have a bowel movement for two days, if the child is cheerful and does not show any anxiety. Knowing the symptoms of constipation gives the mother the opportunity to accurately understand the causes of its occurrence. You can talk about constipation in a child if other symptoms are also observed in addition to stool retention. This may include gas formation, loss of appetite, and bloating. The consistency of stool is also of great importance. Its normal condition in infants implies its softness, yellow color and mushy consistency. When a child is constipated, his stool is hard, has an unpleasant odor and is dark in color.

Only a doctor can accurately name the causes of constipation in a breastfed baby. If there are deviations in the child’s condition, it is necessary to show him to a pediatrician. Constipation in an infant can be caused by many factors. Among them are:

• pathologies of intestinal cavity development;
• all kinds of inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• disturbances in the normal composition of intestinal microflora;
• use of certain medications, in particular antibiotics;
• allergic reaction to cow's milk, as well as some other products.

The choice of the principle of treatment for constipation in an infant is the responsibility of the attending physician. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.

Symptoms of constipation when breastfeeding a baby

If an infant feels any discomfort, he tries in every possible way to demonstrate it. Symptoms of constipation when breastfeeding a baby may be as follows:

• a certain amount of blood appears on the diaper, it is caused by the formation of wounds when feces pass through the anus;
• feces become uncharacteristic for an infant, it hardens and blood is mixed with it;
• the child has bowel movements once a day or even less often;
• the child’s tummy hardens and he begins to arch his back frequently;
• the baby often pushes and pulls his legs towards his tummy;
• the child often shows anxiety, regularly whines, is capricious and begins to lose appetite.

There are not many reasons for constipation in children when they are naturally fed. To eliminate constipation, it is often enough to increase the baby’s mobility and make adjustments to the mother’s diet.

Constipation in infants during breastfeeding: treatment

Treatment of constipation in breastfed children involves the use of decoctions that cause the passage of gas. Fennel, dill seeds or anise are good for treatment. The use of raisin decoction has a good effect. This drink has a good laxative effect, in addition, it is rich in calcium, which ensures the intake of this useful element into the body. If constipation occurs in a child aged about six months, the choice of remedies for its treatment is quite wide. Treatment is best carried out using prune decoction, natural juices, and also by consuming foods high in fiber.

Constipation in a baby while breastfeeding, what to do?

The first thing a child’s parents should do if they experience constipation is to help them empty their bowels as quickly as possible. There is no need to rush to give your child a laxative or administer an enema. It is best to first study the process of defecation itself.

The child may strain and it may be difficult for him to pass stool. Then bowel movements return to normal and the child’s stool becomes liquid or soft. These are typical symptoms of atonic constipation, in which weak contractions of the intestinal wall occur, and timely transportation of the remains of eaten food to the outlet does not occur, which leads to the formation of a dense plug.

This situation requires increasing the tone of the child’s intestines. This will be helped by intensive massage of the child’s tummy, flexion and extension of his legs. This activates intestinal peristalsis and ensures the release of its contents. Before eating during the day, be sure to place the baby on his tummy.

Possible constipation due to intestinal spasms. The stool is dense and its passage is accompanied by pain, the stomach is swollen. The stool portions are small. In this case, intestinal spasm should be eliminated. The relaxation effect is achieved by stroking the tummy, performed with clockwise pressure. The child should be kept warm.

How to treat?

Treatment of constipation in a child is determined by the cause that caused the constipation. Sometimes a massage of his tummy is enough for the situation to normalize over time. If such a measure turns out to be ineffective, you can assist the child in emptying using a cotton swab. It is inserted into the anus after lubricating it with Vaseline or vegetable oil. The stick is inserted no deeper than half a centimeter, and you should move it in circles 10-20 times, and then remove it. Most often, this is followed by bowel movement.

It is recommended to use an enema or glycerin suppositories. These treatments are the most effective, but you should not use them often because the intestines become accustomed. Having become accustomed to this method of emptying, the intestines will not perform their natural functions.

Preventing constipation in infants

Preventing constipation in an infant involves taking a number of measures. First of all, during the first half of his life, you should feed the child only with mother’s milk. Feeding itself should take as long as possible. If this is not possible, you should choose the most suitable formula for the child, preferably on a fermented milk basis. There is also no need to rush into introducing complementary foods; it is recommended to introduce them no earlier than the sixth month of the baby’s life. When introducing it, you must follow the recommendations regarding the child’s diet.

The child should move a lot and stay active. It is recommended to do morning exercises and play in the fresh air; before eating, the baby should be placed on his tummy.

You should not overheat your child; during the hot season, you should dress him lightly, and give him plenty to drink to avoid dehydration.

A child's lack of bowel movements for several days is a serious cause for concern. But don't panic. In the first months of life, the functioning of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract is established, so its bowel movements are very individual. Let's figure out what condition is considered constipation if the baby is breastfed. We will also find out how the famous pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky advises to solve this problem.

Normal schedule

In the first three days after birth, meconium is excreted from the baby's body - the original stool, which has a black-green color and a plasticine-like consistency. Bowel movements occur 3-4 times a day.

Up to 1.5 months of age, a breastfed baby may have bowel movements after every meal - 8-12 times a day. The stools are mushy, yellow or greenish-yellow in color with a mild sour-milk odor.

Subsequently, mother's milk loses its laxative effect and the regularity of stool decreases - up to 2-4 times a day. After 6 months, when complementary foods begin to be introduced, the baby poops 1-2 times a day.

Some children who are fed only breast milk have a bowel movement once every 3-5 days. Dr. Komarovsky, like most modern doctors, considers this a normal phenomenon, indicating that food is 100% absorbed by the baby’s body, which means it is ideal for him. But you can think so only if there are no signs indicating constipation.

Constipation symptoms

Constipation is difficult or insufficient bowel movements. In breastfed children it manifests itself as follows:

1. when trying to poop, the baby strains, grunts and cries
2. stool has a characteristic appearance - first a very dense dark lump (“plug”) comes out, and after it, feces in the form of a mush, or the stool resembles hard “goat balls”
3. the aroma of discharge is unpleasant, putrid
4. There may be streaks of blood in the stool - a sign that cracks have appeared in the rectum
5. it is difficult to remove gases - the child’s stomach is very hard, he is tormented by pain
6. frequency of bowel movements - less than once every 3-5 days

If constipation in children recurs constantly, then these symptoms are accompanied by decreased appetite and weight loss. Treatment for this condition cannot be delayed. Dr. Komarovsky draws attention to the fact that it is necessary to begin therapy by identifying and eliminating the causes. Most often, constipation in breastfed babies occurs due to mistakes in the mother's diet and lack of fluid.

In addition, in approximately 1% of cases, problems with defecation arise due to severe congenital pathologies - Hirschsprung's disease, neoplasms in the intestines, and so on. Usually their presence is detected before one month of age. The treatment for these ailments involves surgery.

Diet mistakes

When breastfeeding, a woman needs to carefully monitor her diet. All the foods she eats end up in the milk to one degree or another. Constipation in a child can occur if the mother abuses:

1. fatty protein dishes - meat, whole milk, cottage cheese
2. nuts
3. strong tea, coffee
4. potatoes
5. rich pastries, white bread and other refined delicacies

The proportion of such foods that worsen intestinal motility must be significantly reduced. The diet should contain:

1. vegetables - beets and pumpkin are especially useful
2. fruits – apricots, plums
3. porridge – oatmeal, buckwheat
4. dried fruits – dried apricots, figs
5. fresh kefir, yogurt without additives
6. lean meats and fish

That is, the menu of nursing mothers should be rich in plant fiber, sources of potassium and magnesium, as well as fermented milk products. It is equally important to drink a lot of fluid - 2.5-3 liters per day. In this case, Komarovsky believes, children will not have problems with bowel movements.

In addition, constipation in a baby can occur due to food allergies. The most common culprit is cow's milk. Other signs of intolerance include a rash on the body, flatulence, and streaks of blood in the stool. Mom should give up this product. If the allergy is very severe, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment.

Fluid deficiency

Dr. Komarovsky insists that breastfed children need to be supplemented with water in case of pathological loss of moisture. The reasons why they occur are hot and dry air (temperatures above 22-24ºC), acute respiratory infections, intestinal disorders, and the like.

If the baby does not receive enough fluid, its intestinal juices become thick, food is poorly digested, stagnation occurs, all the water is absorbed from the feces, and they harden.

In the summer heat, after each meal, the baby should be offered 2-3 milliliters of water intended for baby food. It is best to feed your child from a spoon or from a syringe without a needle so that he does not get used to the bottle. You can also offer him a decoction of raisins, saturated with mineral salts.

Physical stimulation

If a child has constipation, first of all it is necessary to try to activate intestinal motility using physical methods. Komarovsky advises doing:

1. abdominal massage - stroke the navel with your palm clockwise
2. “Bicycle” exercise – bend your knees one by one
3. pull the bent legs towards the stomach so that the baby takes the “toad” pose

Exercises should be repeated at least five times. In addition, it is recommended that infants be placed on their tummy for 5 minutes before each feeding.

Medication assistance

If massage and gymnastics are ineffective, constipation in an infant can be treated with medications. Dr. Komarovsky names two laxatives that are effective and safe for children - lactulose syrup and glycerin suppositories.

Lactulose syrup is a natural prebiotic, which increases the number of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, improves food digestion and stimulates intestinal motility. The drug practically does not enter the general bloodstream. Its dosage and dosage regimen should be prescribed by a doctor. The volume of the medicine should be increased gradually, as it increases gas formation. Commercial names of lactulose are “Duphalak”, “Portalak”, “Goodluck”.

Suppositories with glycerin irritate the rectal mucosa, soften stool and facilitate bowel movements. The suppository is inserted into the anus of the child lying on his side, then his buttocks are squeezed.

In addition, if the baby is constipated, it can be diagnosed. The procedure will require a small syringe and 20-30 ml of water at 25ºC. The tip needs to be lubricated with Vaseline, inserted into the baby’s anus and injected with liquid.

Komarovsky warns against using such folk remedies for constipation in children as a bar of soap, a stick greased with Vaseline, and others. Such “treatment” can lead to injury to the mucous membrane.

Infrequent bowel movements in an exclusively breastfed baby are normal. Provided that he feels well and bowel movements occur without difficulty. Otherwise, constipation is diagnosed. Its treatment is carried out with the help of massage, exercise, suppositories and medications that improve peristalsis. But you shouldn't use them constantly. It is more important to identify and eliminate the cause of bowel problems.