Methods of treating constipation in an infant

 

Methods of treating constipation in an infant

Contents   

Tips and guidelines for getting rid of constipation in infants  

Treatment of constipation in infants pharmacologically   

Reasons for going to the doctor

Tips and guidelines for getting rid of constipation in infants 

The number of times babies defecate normally varies , and this happens as a result of the difference in age and the type of milk the baby gets , it is worth noting that the abdominal muscles in infants are generally weak،Therefore, the infant may feel nervous during the act of defecation, which means that the baby's effort during the act of defecation does not indicate constipation if the stool is not hard،In the context, we mention that the problem of constipation in infants usually begins as a result of adding solid foods to the child's diet, and in fact there are many tips and guidelines that can be followed to treat constipation in infants, and the following are some of these tips:

Changing the diet 

Changing the baby's diet may help get rid of constipation, following the following : 

We add a little water or fruit juice without any additives to the child's diet, as fruit juices such as Apple or peach juice contain sorbitol sugar, which acts as a laxative, and this can be started by providing the child with about 60 to 120 ml of juice and observing whether the child needs a more or less proportion.

Adding fiber-containing foods to the child's diet if his age allows solid foods, examples of these foods are mashed peas, in addition to using whole wheat cereals, barley cereals or multiple cereals instead of rice cereals because they have a higher fiber content.

Change the type of milk; it should be noted that if the child is less than six months old, it is imperative to consult a doctor before any change in his diet; if the child is dependent on formula milk, it is worth visiting a doctor to change the type of milk used to another milk suitable for him, if breastfeeding is his source of nutrition, it is not uncommon for the food eaten by the mother to affect the baby's constipation, but the child may have an allergy to certain foods, so if all necessary measures have been taken and the problem of constipation in the infant persists, it is possible for the mother to consult a doctor to find out the types of foods that may affect her baby's constipation.

Body exercises

Body exercises contribute to the promotion of intestinal motility in infants as in adults, as parents can help them move by moving the baby's legs while lying on his back as if riding a bicycle.

Abdominal massage

There are different techniques for massaging an infant's belly to relieve constipation, and some of these techniques are listed below:

Use the fingertips to massage the baby's tummy in a circular clockwise manner.

We move the fingers of the hand around the circumference of the baby's navel in a circular direction corresponding to the clockwise direction.

Using the fingertips we massage the area of the rib cage and the direction towards the lower abdominal area.

Hold the knees and feet of the baby together, then gently push his feet toward the tummy.

warm bath

A warm bath relieves the discomfort associated with constipation, and helps to relax the abdominal muscles in an infant, which will stop the fatigue caused by constipation.

Temperature measurement through the rectum

Measuring the temperature through the anus may help get rid of constipation, and this is done using a moisturizing and clean thermometer; the use of an anal thermometer is aimed at stimulating the excretory process in case of constipation, and it should be noted that it is necessary to avoid using this method frequently, because it may lead to the baby's discomfort and crying more, in addition, it may cause the baby to get used to it, which will make him stop defecating if he does not receive help.

Treatment of constipation in infants pharmacologically 

Changing the diet of a child or mother contributes to getting rid of the problem of constipation in most cases, but some cases may require the use of drug therapy under the supervision of a specialist, and below we present some drug treatments used to treat constipation in infants:

laxatives

Laxatives can be used to treat constipation in infants after consulting a pediatrician, knowing that some laxatives can be obtained without resorting to a doctor’s prescription for children over the age of six months in case of inability to get rid of constipation by the previous methods, among the laxatives that can be used are macrogol or lactulose

Use of glycerin suppositories

The use of glycerin suppositories may contribute to helping the child to empty, knowing that their use is related to specific cases and not frequently, as the doctor advises using them if blood comes out with feces; in order to facilitate bowel movements, it is worth noting that these suppositories can be obtained without a prescription and used at home with the need to adhere to the attached instructions if the child is more than two years old, and it is better to consult a doctor if the child is less than two years old.

Reasons for going to the doctor

A specialist pediatrician should be seen if the child is unable to defecate for a day or two, coinciding with the appearance of one of the following symptoms:

The appearance of blood in the feces.

The child suffers from stomach pain.

Rapid irritability and mood disturbance in a child.

One of the cases that requires consulting a pediatrician is the lack of improvement in the health of the infant despite the use of home remedies for constipation.