The absence of feces for several days or difficulty passing it is called constipation. In children from birth to six months of age, the act of defecation occurs on average up to three times a day. As they grow older, by 1.5 years, their number is reduced to one. Normally, the consistency of feces is of medium density, mushy, due to imperfect bowel function. If the baby begins to push, grunt, cry, and the stool becomes thick, dense, sometimes in the form of hard balls, then the child has constipation. What to do in such a situation? First of all, parents should calm down and not panic. It is not recommended to take any measures on your own, all actions must be coordinated with the attending pediatrician.
Causes of constipation
In rare cases, constipation occurs due to a violation of the structure of the intestine associated with a genetic or acquired pathology. The most common cause is considered to be functional disorders that are associated with a passing disorder.bowel function and immaturity. Failure occurs due to:
- early weaning;
- quick transfer of the baby to nutrient mixtures;
- insufficient fluid intake for both baby and breastfeeding mother;
- frequent mix changes;
- thick complementary foods;
- improper food handling;
- too much protein and fat in baby food.
In addition, constipation contributes to:
- damage to the nervous system during childbirth or childbearing;
- rickets;
- hypothyroidism;
- anemia;
- dysbacteriosis;
- allergic reactions to food;
- parasitic diseases;
- hemorrhoids;
- psychological factor;
- uncontrolled intake of certain groups of drugs.
In all the above cases, the muscle tone of the intestine is disturbed. With its strengthening, compression and spasm are observed. As a result, the intestine narrows, and the passage of feces becomes difficult. As a result, stools take the form of small hard balls. With a decrease in tone, peristalsis slows down, the intestinal walls expand and a large fecal mass of dense consistency is formed.
One month old baby has constipation
Young parents, faced with this situation for the first time, do not know what to do. In a month old, constipation is a fairly common occurrence. Reasons that provoke it:
- imperfectdigestive tract or abnormalities of its organs;
- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hereditary defects;
- psychogenic factor;
- taking antibiotics;
- errors in the nutrition of a nursing woman and a baby.
With the abuse of the first chocolate, nuts, strong tea or coffee, as well as other products that have a fixing effect, a lack of fiber in the mother's milk, the baby has problems with defecation. With mixed or artificial nutrition, constipation is associated with insufficient water or indicates that the mixture is not suitable for the baby. Constipation in a month old baby - what to do? Contact a pediatrician who will prescribe treatment. If its cause lies in the wrong diet of the mother, then the diet should be adjusted. If the baby eats a mixture, then it must be changed or the amount of water increased between feedings. The doctor may recommend several massage movements to help deal with the problem. Do them up to three times a day:
- with bent fingers make circular movements around the navel in a clockwise direction;
- palms stroking the tummy from right to left, from top to bottom;
- pinch a little;
- end the massage with gentle circular strokes.
Of medicines, the doctor may prescribe glycerin suppositories, a mild laxative, which includes lactulose and a probiotic. If the above measures are ineffective, they put an enema.
How to deal with constipation in the first weeks?
Constipation in a child at 1month - what to do? The first month of a baby's life is one of the most difficult. He adapts to the new conditions of existence, so the main task of the mother is to help him:
- revise diet;
- avoid taking medications that affect the baby's stool;
- drink more fluids and water baby;
- take the little one more often;
- don't wean early;
- Gently use laxatives for constipation.
The best prevention of constipation in newborns is proper nutrition for mom and baby, outdoor walks, massage.
Now you know what to do if your baby is constipated. The main thing to remember is that the occurrence of this disease is not a reason to refuse natural feeding of the baby. However, if the child is on artificial mixtures, then it is recommended to change them.
Constipation in a three-month-old baby
The most common cause of constipation at this age is a lack of fluid, low intestinal motility. In addition, the provocative factor is:
- taking antibiotics;
- complementary feeding;
- weaning and formula transfer;
- malnutrition;
- non-compliance of a nursing mother with a diet.
"A 3-month-old baby has constipation, what should I do?" the parents ask the doctor. First of all, remove the provoking factors. And the best prevention at this age is breast milk, you should not rush to transfer the baby to artificial feeding and introduce complementary foods. The baby's digestive system will be readyto other food a little later, closer to five months. To relieve suffering, the child should be given plenty of water, it will help soften the stool.
The child is constantly constipated, what to do?
Constipation is common among parents and pediatricians. To eliminate this phenomenon and the selection of treatment, find out its cause. The frequency of stools per day, which is considered to be the norm, depends on the age of the baby:
- from birth to nine months - up to 10 times. With natural feeding, defecation acts more often, and with artificial feeding - less often;
- from one to three years - once;
- Over three years - once or every two - three days.
Regardless of age, the frequency of bowel movements affects the condition of the child. Intoxication of the body is a consequence of frequent constipation, as a result of which the condition of the hair, nails, and dermis worsens. The kid complains of a headache, is naughty, nervous, acne appears, jams in the corners of the lips. For the treatment of constipation, different methods are used, which depend on the factors that provoked it and on the age of the baby.
Constipation in a child - what to do? Pediatricians and gastroenterologists are involved in the treatment. In some cases, neurologists, endocrinologists and psychologists consult young patients. Treatment is selected individually, depending on the cause. The main goal of therapy:
- regular bowel movements;
- painless bowel movements with soft stools;
- overcoming the fear of defecation.
Therapy for constipation includes adherence to:
- drinking mode;
- proper nutrition;
- motor activity;
- taking the medicine recommended by the doctor.
Nutrition for constipation
If a one-year-old child has constipation, what should I do first? With frequent constipation, it is necessary to revise the diet - this is especially true for children who are one year old. Until this age, food is difficult to diversify. It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- raw vegetables;
- bran bread;
- fruit;
- berries;
- any gourds;
- fermented milk products;
- oatmeal, buckwheat and pearl barley;
- vegetable oil.
It is advisable to minimize your baby's consumption of sweets, muffins, whole milk, rice, tea and legumes. It is very important to regulate the drinking regimen. From a year, the amount of fluid for a child increases to 200 ml per day. It can be partially replaced with juice, fruit drink or unsweetened tea.
Physical activity for constipation
If a child is constipated, what should I do? Increase physical activity to stimulate bowel function. Useful exercises such as:
- flexion and extension of the torso;
- belly crawling;
- raising and lowering legs;
- pull in and deflate belly.
To relieve constipation, you can also do other physical activities, such as outdoor games,swimming in the pool, skating, skiing, etc.
Constipation in children at 4 and 5 years old
Causes of constipation at the age of four or five years can be congenital anomalies, acquired diseases, functional causes. Psychological problems often act as a provoking factor. The children experience discomfort, are embarrassed to go to the toilet in children's institutions. Thus, they restrain the urge to defecate and endure until they find themselves in a familiar and calm environment. As a result, the accumulation of feces occurs, they become dense and hard. If there was no stool for three days, then a child at 4 years old can be assumed to have constipation. What to do in such a situation? You should visit a pediatrician who will find out the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Additional symptoms observed in the baby:
- pain in the abdomen, discomfort and discomfort in the anus when trying to defecate;
- nervousness;
- tearfulness;
- lack of appetite;
- presence of blood inclusions in the feces (this is due to cracks in the anus as a result of injury by solid fecal masses).
The consequences of prolonged constipation are dangerous for the he alth of the child and are manifested by the following symptoms:
- cracks and bleeding during defecation;
- intoxication of the body;
- violation of the intestinal microflora;
- not enough nutrients and vitamins;
- disorders of a neurological nature due to prolonged painsyndrome;
- impaired circulation in the walls of the intestine.
If a child is constipated at 5 years old, what should I do? Definitely treat. The symptomatology of the disease is similar to the above. Home therapies can be used if a 4–5-year-old baby has no stool for a maximum of two days. To normalize the defecation process, the child's diet is initially reviewed:
- increase the amount of fresh vegetables, fruits, berries;
- added to food cereals and bran, containing a large amount of fiber.
Add foods that have a slight laxative effect to food: sea buckthorn oil, bananas, prunes, dried apricots. Of great importance for the liquefaction of solid feces and the activation of processes in the intestine is the presence of a sufficient amount of fluid in the child's body. Therefore, you should not limit the baby in drinking water. However, carbonated drinks, whole milk, coffee, tea are not recommended.
Children 4–5 years old are very well helped to cope with constipation by physical activity or any physical activity, as well as massage, which helps to accelerate metabolic processes in the body. If the reason for the lack of bowel movements is psychological in nature, then a psychologist's consultation is necessary. Of the drugs, doctors can recommend Duphalac, Linex, Hilak Forte, suppositories with glycerin, sea buckthorn oil. As a last resort, give an enema.
Difficulty defecation at age 6
How to identify constipation inchild at 6 years old and what to do? There are complaints of lethargy, pain in the abdomen. The urge to defecate may be completely absent or, conversely, be frequent. The process of defecation itself causes fear, since the hard consistency of feces injures the anus, causing pain and burning sensations. Constipation lasting more than two days is fraught with intoxication, so therapy should be started immediately after identifying its causes, which may be as follows:
- lack of fluid;
- allergy;
- dysbacteriosis;
- anemia;
- insufficient fiber intake;
- intestinal diseases;
- unbalanced diet;
- long-term use of antibiotics, antiallergic or laxative drugs;
- malnutrition;
- low activity.
Constipation caused by dietary errors is treated by adjusting the diet, increasing physical activity. The doctor may recommend taking a laxative in the form of suppositories with glycerin or microenemas. With frequent and prolonged constipation, a specialist consultation is required.
Constipation in a child at 7 years old, what to do?
At this age, the cause of constipation is mainly a change in the diet and quality of food, insufficient fluid intake, lack of minerals and vitamins, lack of vegetables, fruits and berries in the diet. Schoolchildren begin to absorb more protein and fatty foods. First aid for prolonged fecal retention is an enema or the use of glycerin suppositories. Howeverbefore using them, the child must be shown to the doctor. The best prevention of constipation is considered to be dietary nutrition and compliance with the drinking regimen. The next reason for fecal retention at this age is considered a psychogenic factor if the child went to school at the age of seven. In this case, it is advisable to visit a psychologist.
Performing an enema
When you include milk mixtures in your baby's diet, you need to observe the work of the intestines. With the appearance of rare constipation, when the baby has no feces for one day, you can put an enema. If constipation is persistent, then self-treatment is not recommended. The amount of fluid infused into the intestine (ml) is directly related to age:
- one month - up to 25;
- up to six months - from 30 to 60;
- from six months to a year - 120–130;
- from one to two years - 200.
Step-by-step instruction "How to give a child an enema for constipation"?
- Rinse the pear with boiling water.
- Immediately before setting, check the absence of hot water residues in it. Otherwise, a burn of the intestinal mucosa is possible.
- Place the baby on the back and lift the legs up.
- Dial the required amount of boiled water, not higher than 30 degrees.
- Remove excess air from the pear by squeezing it until liquid appears.
- Anus of the child and the tip of the pear smeared with petroleum jelly.
- For 3-4 cm, gently insert the tip into the baby's anus.
- Slowly squeeze the bulb and inject all the water.
- Carefully remove the enema.
- Squeeze the baby's buttocks for a few minutes to prevent the liquid from flowing out immediately.
- After a short period of time, the urge to void appears.
Parents should remember that enemas are often not recommended for constipated children. What to do instead of her? Currently, a new drug called Microlax has appeared on the pharmaceutical market, which is a microclyster. The preparation is based on a water-s alt solution softened with glycerin. The laxative effect occurs at least five minutes after the administration of the solution.
