About Newborn Constipation
If you have tried everything to calm your baby to no avail and you can't remember when the last time your baby passed a stool, your baby may be constipated. Constipation is a painful condition for newborns. When a baby isn't pooping normally or if he is passing stool the consistency of a rubber ball your baby may be constipated. If you're wondering if your baby is constipated, here's what you need to know to identify and address this painful problem.
Other People Are Reading
-
Misconceptions
-
While many parents think that constipation is not passing stool, constipation actually describes the texture of a baby's stool and not the frequency of his stools. It is also common for parents to think that a baby who is straining or grunting to pass their stool is constipated. This isn't always the case. Babies need to push their stool out and it's natural to grunt, strain and even make funny faces as they push their stool out. See the Resources section for a link.
Types
-
Constipation can occur for several reasons. These can include stool staying in the colon for too long, insufficient nutritional intake and a change in your baby's diet. The function of your baby's colon is to take water out of the stools. If the colon takes too much water out, the stool can become terribly hard and dry and very difficult to pass. Your baby also needs to take in enough liquids to help breakdown and pass the stools. A baby who isn't getting enough formula or breast milk may become constipated. Formula fed babies and babies who are fed soy-based formulas are at a higher risk of becoming constipated because the colon isn't designed to process the excess residue and stool formula left behind.
-
Prevention/Solution
-
Breastfed babies rarely become constipated, so feeding your baby strictly breast milk can help to prevent constipation. Using a gentle cow's milk based formula that is designed to be more like breast milk can also help reduce residue and constipation. Increasing the amount of breast milk or formula can also help to prevent constipation. Some pediatricians will recommend giving a baby a bit of prune juice, Karo syrup or flax oil, but never give your baby anything besides breast milk or formula without the specific consent of your child's doctor. A rectal exam, performed by your child's physician, infant massage and suppositories may also be prescribed by your doctor to treat constipation.
Identification
-
While you may think that grunting and straining indicates constipation, these aren't true indicators. While babies who are constipated (and not constipated) may do these things when pushing out a stool, true constipation is when your baby passes very hard stools infrequently.
Size
-
Babies who are constipated may pass small circular stools that are commonly compared to rabbit pellets. Babies may pass larger stools when constipated too. When trying to diagnose constipation it is important to focus on the constituency of the stools rather than the size.
-
