Why does the baby have a rare stool. Chair of a newborn: norms, problems and their solution. Blood in the stool in the baby

One of the concerns of parents is the stool of newborns. Young parents, having no experience with babies, often take the completely normal contents of the diaper for pathology and unreasonably treat the child for all sorts of ailments.

In fact, in the vast majority of such "sick" children, the stool belongs to the variants of the norm, and the main pathologies in them can only be diarrhea (in reality, they do not occur very often). So, what can be a chair in newborns, we will consider in this article.

What should be the chair of a newborn

The stool in children who are breastfeeding from the very first hours may differ significantly from the stool in children who are fed with a mixture. All this is due to the fact that the composition of breast milk is ideal for your baby, and can be absorbed almost completely by him, leaving no waste. Breast milk, passing through the digestive tract of the crumbs, is digested quickly and fully, almost all the nutrients are absorbed, and true problems with stools in infants are very rare.

Stool in breastfed newborns

A breastfed baby can have a variety of stools and all of these are normal variations.

• from 10-12 times a day in small volumes, with a teaspoon,
• up to once a week, but immediately in large quantities.

By consistency, the options for the norm during breastfeeding are:

• stool with thin yellow porridge, with some water around the edges of the diaper;
• the allocation of stool during the passage of gases;
• stool with mucus and white lumps, with greenery.

At the same time, the baby looks healthy outwardly, sucks at the breast and gains weight, does not worry, gas is moving away actively. If you have just such a situation, the child has no problems with stool, during the neonatal period such variations are quite acceptable.

Important! With a short absence of stool (no more than 3 days with breastfeeding) and the normal behavior of the child, you do not need to think about constipation, and solve the problem with radical, sometimes very dangerous methods.

It is forbidden in the absence of a chair to use such methods as:

• introducing a bar of soap into the ass;
• picking in the anus with cotton swabs;
• irritation of the anus with a glass thermometer.

Let's explain why.

• The introduction of soap into the rectum creates a chemical burn of the mucous membrane inside it, soap is an alkali, it causes burning and irritation of the intestinal walls, it is painful, and only leads to an aggravation of the problem, inflammation and cracks in the rectum.
• Mechanical irritation of the anus with sticks or a thermometer leads to injury to the mucous membranes and muscles of the sphincter, can lead to mechanical injury and perforation of the intestine. Plus, such stimulation simply suppresses the reflex to natural defecation, and the condition worsens.
• In order for the baby to empty the intestine, a certain pressure must be created inside it, which presses on the sphincter from the inside, giving an impulse to open it. When there are few fecal masses inside the intestine, this reflex is absent, the volume is accumulated for the minimum necessary. Therefore, before the bowel is emptied, it can take from several hours to several days until a sufficient volume is received.

Sometimes there may be a bowel movement with gases, this is normal.

Supplementing the baby with water, smecta or epumizan will not improve the situation, but only worsen it. These substances interfere with the normal formation of the microbial flora, disrupt the functioning of enzymes and can only provoke a worsening of the situation. Babies need only breast milk, their stool will be established without your intervention.

For a better understanding of why a newborn's stool looks one way or another (at different stages), consider the process of becoming a newborn's stool.

The process of becoming a chair of a newborn

Before birth, the child does not pass stool, it accumulates in the large intestine. From the moment the baby is born, during the first two to three days, the first stool of the child, meconium, leaves. This is a special dark or olive-colored mass, sticky and thick, accumulated during intrauterine life. It contains swallowed amniotic fluid and desquamated epithelium, but almost no microbes. Meconium is practically odorless as a result.

From the moment of birth, the intestines of the crumbs are populated by microbes, which will later form its microbial flora. As a result of this, and with the onset of active consumption of breast milk, the stool changes.

Stool of a newborn in the first 7-10 days after birth.

The stool becomes more frequent, it is heterogeneous in consistency, with lumps, a liquid part and mucus. It also varies in color, it can be bright yellow with areas of dark green and greenish yellow, white lumps. It is watery and runny in texture. The frequency of the chair can be five or more times a day. Such a stool is called transitional, and the very state of stool formation and bowel function is called transient intestinal catarrh.

This process is associated with the restructuring of the intestine to work in new conditions and the process of colonization of its microbial flora. In a normal pregnancy, a baby is born with a sterile intestine. But from the moment of birth, from the skin of the mother's nipple and from the external environment, he receives a lot of microbes. This complex of microbes, getting into the digestive system, causes a response inside it in the form of intestinal irritation, which is called intestinal catarrh. This is a completely normal phenomenon, the adaptation of the intestine to outside uterine life and it passes on its own.

Stool of a newborn aged 10 days to 1-2 months.

After about seven to ten days, the stool gradually becomes smooth, mushy, and turns yellow. Mucus gradually disappears in it and the stool becomes less frequent. The normalization of the intestines contributes to full breastfeeding, as well as the joint stay of the mother and baby from the maternity hospital, the refusal of supplementary feeding, nipple and mixture in the maternity hospital.

The first drops of colostrum received by the baby immediately after birth help in the proper colonization of the intestines with microbial flora and the formation of a full-fledged stool. After the establishment of mature lactation, a “mature” stool is formed in the baby, which will persist until the introduction of new food to the baby (supplementation with formula or complementary foods).

This is a homogeneous stool, yellow mass like liquid sour cream, with a distinct sour-milk smell. This stool indicates the complete digestion of breast milk. Many babies can have a bowel movement after almost every breastfeed, but there may be more infrequent bowel movements, once or twice a day, or even once every few days. This is due to the fact that the assimilation of breast milk occurs almost completely and there is practically no waste left.

Such a chair is considered normal only with exclusive breastfeeding (if neither water nor formula is given). Usually this phenomenon occurs by the age of two to three months. The volume of stool in the first month is about 15-20 g per day, gradually increasing to 40-50 g per day over several bowel movements. On average, the number of bowel movements for the first half of the year is about 5 times a day.

Chair of the newborn on artificial feeding

In artificial children, the stool is formed in the same way as in infants, but usually has a thicker consistency, a brownish color and an unpleasant odor.

Artificers should defecate at least once a day, more rare defecation is a tendency to constipation. Usually children on the IV are emptied no more than 3-4 times a day.

A small amount of mucus is allowed in the stool, as well as small amounts of whitish inclusions, these are the remains of undigested fat from food.

Sometimes the stool of a newborn changes, and this does not always mean that the child is sick and any treatment is needed. Only some changes in nutrition or other points will be needed.

Note. Food and cosmetics can only be returned if the packaging is intact.

Chair with white lumps

Often the stool of children has white lumps, similar to cottage cheese or sour milk. With normal weight gain, this suggests that the baby sucks milk in excess and some of it simply does not have time to be digested. This happens when applied to the chest on demand, for calming, sleeping, etc.

This is not dangerous, part of the milk fat remains in the intestines, which are not digested and form milk lumps.

BUT, if such a chair is formed with poor weight gain, this indicates a decrease in the activity of pancreatic and liver enzymes. In such cases, enzyme therapy is prescribed with their gradual abolition.

Liquid foamy stool

Sometimes the stool has a liquid consistency, watery, foamy and sour smell. A strong watery stain remains on the diaper after defecation of the baby.

Often such a chair in small portions can be released during the passage of gases. The color of the stool remains yellow or mustard.

This can be due to insufficient digestion of carbohydrates in the stool. If part of the carbohydrates remains undigested, passing into the large intestine, it attracts a lot of water. Therefore, the stool becomes more liquid, watery.

Milk sugar (lactose) is mainly present in the stool, and it is digested by a special intestinal enzyme lactase. If the latter is not enough, the rest of the milk sugar enters the intestines, where it is fermented to gas and water by microbes. This gives thin and frothy stools with gas.

Often, in this condition, pediatricians put "lactase deficiency" but this is not true. True lactase deficiency with enzyme deficiency accounts for approximately 1% of children. They need an enzyme from the outside to digest food and milk sugar, it is given when breastfeeding.

Most children are faced with a state of anterior-hindmilk imbalance:

• "Fore" milk is produced in the breast between feedings, it is very thin, watery, rich in milk sugar lactose. It is sucked out by the baby at the beginning of feeding, he gets drunk with it and receives fast energy;
• “hind” milk is formed during feeding, when the baby suckles for a long time. It is thick, oily and gives the baby saturation and long-lasting energy.

If a child receives a lot of “front” milk and little “back” milk, an excess of milk sugar prevails in his intestines, which is fermented by microbes and gives gas and loose stools. This may happen:

• with rare and short feedings, if the mother accumulates a lot of milk in the breast,
• with frequent breast changes, when the baby simply does not have time to suck up to hind milk,
• with frequent and short attachments, when the baby simply sucks out the milk that has accumulated in the chest.

The foremilk is spent on the momentary needs of the crumbs if he receives little hindmilk, but it will be worse to gain weight. It is necessary to feed the baby as long as possible, without shifting it from one breast to another. Usually fed in one feeding with one breast, so that the baby completely gets to the hind milk.

A similar situation will be with short feedings, when the mother does not allow the baby to hang on her chest for a long time. Then the child simply does not have time to get to the "hind" milk for 5-10 minutes of feeding for short feedings.

Newborn has green stool

Sometimes the stool is green in the diaper, especially in newborns and young children. This always scares parents, but most often it does not pose a danger.

Green stools result from the excretion of unchanged feces. In air, it quickly oxidizes to a green dye, which is why the stool has a light green color.

Also, a similar greenish stool can occur for reasons:

• malnutrition of breast milk with sluggish sucking,
• mother's lack of milk
• for problems with attachment, flat nipples (use for a comfortable and painless latch on baby lips),
• with the predominance of vegetables and fruits in the mother's diet over all other products,
• with inflammation of the intestinal mucosa in a baby.

Inflammation of the intestine often occurs with hypoxia in childbirth, since the intestinal mucosa also suffers from hypoxia. Inflammation can be caused by an allergy to various kinds of synthetic components that enter breast milk from the mother's diet (dyes, food chemistry).

Dangerous symptoms associated with the stool of a newborn

It is worth remembering once and for all: the combination of liquid, green stools with mucus, blood, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain is always a danger. Most likely, this is an intestinal infection or a surgical pathology requiring treatment. You should immediately call a doctor or an ambulance. Self-medication is prohibited in this condition, it is fraught with severe dehydration and complications.

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We express our special gratitude for the preparation of this material to pediatrician Alena Paretskaya.

Understanding what is the normal frequency of bowel movements for a newborn is an important component of success in breastfeeding.

Until recently, little was known about stool frequency and consistency in exclusive breastfed infants. By the middle of the 20th century, most babies were fed homemade cow's milk formula with early introduction of complementary foods. Such nutrition is characterized by formed infrequent stools, which began to be perceived as the norm. In contrast, the frequent and loose or loose stools typical of breastfed babies have sometimes been mistaken for diarrhea and treated accordingly, even with such drastic measures as total weaning. Older children breastfed with normal for infants rare stools, at the same time, were treated for constipation in vain.

Misconceptions about infant stools

Unfortunately, many modern mothers still do not know what a normal baby's stool looks like. Some children are still mistakenly treated for constipation. And one of the most disturbing consequences of the lack of information about the stool of infants is that many people still do not notice the connection between the specific nature of defecation and the possible underweight.

In the 1980s, the concept of the norm for infants of a certain age group appeared: the norm for infants of the first 6-8 weeks of life became multiple daily bowel movements.

Why can't the number of urinations alone serve as a benchmark for evaluating the effectiveness of a baby's suckling? It has long been known that the composition and quantity of women's milk change both within a few weeks after childbirth and during one feeding. The first milk, colostrum, is extremely beneficial for the health of the baby, and also provides a natural laxative effect and promotes the rapid discharge of meconium. Although the volume of a mother's milk increases significantly in the days after birth, when the milk "comes in", the transition from colostrum to mature milk takes several weeks. The composition of transitional and mature milk also affects the stool frequency typical of newborn infants. Thus, the frequency of bowel movements of newborns after the third day of life is at least five times a day, as a result of the presence of additional fats in transitional and mature milk, which increase the volume of the baby's stool.

Two kinds of milk

The terms "foremilk" and "hindmilk" describe the difference between the composition of human milk during one feeding. Milk at the beginning of feeding is called foremilk. Foremilk is abundant and relatively low in calories and fat. As you suck, the amount of fat in your milk increases. The high-calorie milk that a baby sucks at the end of a feed is called hindmilk. It is important for a baby to suckle enough fore milk and hind milk for growth and development.

Based on these data, to the question “Is the baby getting enough milk?” can be answered with the question "Front or rear?" In the first weeks, counting wet diapers can only answer the first part of the question. Wet diapers indicate that the baby is sucking out some of the foremilk. The baby simply won't be able to have bowel movements several times a day unless he first sucks out enough foremilk to keep the body hydrated.

However, the opposite is possible. Feeding patterns, inefficient suckling, or other feeding problems can reduce the mother's milk supply or prevent the baby from sucking enough hindmilk on its own. In such a situation, it is possible that the baby is not dehydrated because it is sucking out enough foremilk, and at the same time the baby is not getting enough calories because it is not sucking out the hindmilk. Thus, frequent urination is a sure sign of consuming enough fluid from sucking out foremilk. Multiple bowel movements are a sign that you are getting enough calories from hindmilk. To fully evaluate breastfeeding in the neonatal period, it is important to consider both conditions.

Lack of stool in the neonatal period may be due to inadequate calorie intake and may also be a symptom of poor weight gain. It is easiest to establish lactation, take care of sufficient milk production and normal weight gain immediately after childbirth. The longer you wait to resolve a problem, the more time and effort it will take to resolve it.

Features and nature of the stool of infants

If a fully breastfed baby's stools are grainy, yellow, mustard, or tan, and the baby has a bowel movement every day, the baby is suckling well and effectively. While it's sometimes difficult for parents to figure out if a baby has peed in a diaper and how many times, a dirty diaper is undeniable. If a mother is worried that her baby has diarrhea, even if she does not speak openly about it, an extra reminder of the normal stool in newborns will only please, calm the mother and inspire confidence that she has enough milk, and the baby is healthy and sucks well.

The bowel frequency norms of older children could be erroneously applied to the newborn. A rare stool could be mistaken for constipation. The child could already be treated for constipation, on the advice of relatives or health workers.

If the baby rarely has a bowel movement, it is very important to discuss in detail the frequency of urination of the child. The urine of an infant sucking enough milk is pale yellow and clear. The volume of urine is determined by the number and weight of wet diapers: after the third day of life, the newborn should noticeably wet 6-8 rag or 5-6 disposable diapers every 24 hours. To recognize a wet diaper, the mother can weigh the diaper with 30-60 ml of water by hand. Although disposable diapers can be dry to the touch, wet diapers are noticeably heavier than dry diapers.

If the infant has insufficient urine output, the mother should be referred to a doctor immediately. Even if the number of urination is normal, the lack of daily stools is a cause for concern.

How to help mom?

Descriptions of the typical number of feedings (10-12) per day and the conversion of foremilk to hindmilk within a single feeding, and the importance of encouraging suckling so that the baby suckles actively on one breast in order to get enough milk, and therefore enough nutritious hindmilk.

Weight gain

If the child has not yet been to a doctor's appointment, and the weight gain from birth is unknown, the child can be weighed without making an appointment with a doctor at the district clinic. Not every mother will go for a weight check right away; someone will wait for an already scheduled appointment with a supervising doctor. In any case, the mother will be mentally prepared for the news of a small weight gain. At the appointment, the mother can describe feeding difficulties to the doctor, which may have affected weight gain, and also mention that she has changed her feeding technique. If weight gain is still low, mom should insist on regular and frequent weight checks for a while while she feeds.

The mother and pediatrician should determine the amount of supplementary feeding required. It is important to bring to the attention of the mother that the child needs approximately 60-75 ml of food per day for every 454 grams of the child's weight to maintain a normal weight. An additional 30-60 ml of food per day for every 454 grams of the child's body weight may be required to compensate for underweight.

To avoid the risks associated with the use of artificial nipples, the mother may consider alternative feeding methods. Feeding with a supplementary feeding system stimulates the baby's suckling and promotes the mother's milk production. Other possible feeding methods are pipetting, syringe, spoon or small cup feeding. If the milk has been in the refrigerator long enough and separates, the first thing to do is to give the baby the fatter upper part of the milk.

When faced with feeding difficulties, some women decide to resort to formula supplementation or complete weaning. Refer the mother to the doctor for advice on formula feeding and show respect for her decision.

Exceptions to the rule

Despite the existing bowel habits for fully breastfed newborns, there are several variations of the norm. Infrequent stools in a healthy child with normal weight gain is considered acceptable. Weight loss of 5-7% of birth weight is allowed until the fourth day of a child's life, then weight gain goes at a rate of 115-230 or more grams per week. If the child empties the bowels with an interval of several days, the volume of stool should be significant. Given the fact that infrequent stools in the neonatal period are considered a symptom of milk insufficiency or ineffective suckling, it is advisable to have a doctor's examination to make sure that the baby is all right, and also carefully monitor weight gain.

Breastfeeding protects babies from contagious diseases, but babies still get sick. Twelve to sixteen bowel movements per day, combined with a repulsive odor of the stool, are symptoms of diarrhea. Newborns with diarrhea need medical attention. It is extremely important to continue to breastfeed, especially when you are sick.

Frequent green and watery stools for some time may be a symptom of an allergy to food or medicine, which is absorbed by either the child or the nursing mother. Careful analysis of medications, home remedies, food and drink can reveal the cause of such a reaction.

Green, watery, and frothy stools over a period of time may be due to inadequate absorption of hindmilk. At the same time, the chair comes out under great pressure. This condition is called an imbalance of foremilk and hindmilk or "milk surplus syndrome". The child may also suffer from colic and slowly gain weight. In addition, the mother may have too much milk, or the mother may describe a large rush of milk during feeding. Symptoms of this condition quickly disappear with the use of methods to improve the control of the child's milk flow and increase the amount of hindmilk sucked.

Early detection of infrequent stools in a newborn and strategies to increase intake of total milk and hindmilk in particular may be decisive factors in whether to breastfeed beyond the first days postpartum.

There is nothing more frightening and depressing than hearing at the first appointment with the doctor that the child is not gaining weight. If a mother knows ahead of time that poor weight gain is possible, and has access to information about the signs of milk adequacy, and how to correct the situation in case of feeding problems, half the job of protecting and supporting feeding is done.

Ways to increase total and hindmilk intake

To increase frequent daily stools, good weight gain and effective suckling, you need:

• joint stay of mother and child in the maternity hospital, bodily contact between mother and child and free access to the breast.
• that the first uninterrupted attachment, if possible, occurs in the first 30-60 minutes after birth.
• encouragement of active and prolonged feeding 10-12 times a day.

Almost continuous breastfeeding in the first hours and days after birth gives the newborn a good warm-up while suckling soft breasts in preparation for sucking fuller and heavier breasts after milk arrives. Frequent sucking promotes the consumption of more colostrum, stimulates the rapid passage of meconium and good milk production.

During the first weeks after birth:

• Encourage active continuous feeding 10-12 times a day.
• Pay attention to proper attachment to the breast and catching the breast in the baby's mouth so that the baby can suckle easily and comfortably.
• Listen to how and how much the child swallows.
• To stimulate milk flow, breastfeed in a calm atmosphere and not on an empty stomach.
• If the baby falls asleep while suckling, talk to him, rub him lightly or stroke him to resume active suckling.
• If your baby enjoys sucking on new breasts, try changing breasts frequently during the same feeding session. Four or more breast changes per feed stimulate hindmilk intake well.

Barriers to successful breastfeeding and hindmilk intake, which can lead to infrequent stools, increased bilirubin levels, and/or poor weight gain.

• Delayed first feeding by more than 30-60 minutes after birth.
• Separate stay of mother and child in the maternity hospital, which interferes with frequent and calm feeding.
• Scheduled feedings or indiscriminate feedings (not when the baby shows signs of wanting to suckle, but when someone other than the baby decides it's time to feed), which are fewer than 10-12 feedings per within 24 hours.
• Artificially limited duration of feedings, which leads to a decrease in the total suckling time and the inability to suck out hindmilk.
• Supplementing a newborn with anything other than colostrum and breast milk.
• Use of any kind of artificial nipples.
• Uncomfortable positions for attachment and feeding.
• Cessation of feeding during active sucking and swallowing, even to change breasts.
• Feeding takes place in a very tense stressful environment that does not allow mom or baby to relax.
• Parenting methods to soothe the baby to delay feedings, such as motion sickness, walking, car rides, pushchair rides, pacifier sucking, supplementary feeding, leaving the baby to cry, to teach him to fall asleep on his own.
• Special or involuntary break between any two feedings longer than 4-6 hours.
• Assumption that feeding is over if the baby has sucked from each breast.

If a nursing newborn younger than 6-8 weeks does not have yellow granular stools, and also if he does not empty the intestines several times a day, you can recommend the mother:

• Check the dynamics of weight gain and the general condition of the child with a doctor
• Learn to feed in a comfortable position so that the baby effectively grabs the breast - the baby's mouth squeezes the milk sinuses, and does not suck on the nipple.
• Feed so that the baby can suck out as much high-calorie hindmilk as possible.
• Take measures to increase milk production, increase the duration of each feeding and the total number of feedings per day.
• Seek immediate medical attention if the child urinates less than 6-8 cloth or 5-6 disposable underwear per day, or if the volume of urine is negligible.

Author: Denise Bastein. Translation by Oksana Mikhailechko and Natalia Wilson
For lactation consultants

The stool of babies is one of the problematic moments for many mothers. In the middle of the 20th century, when formula feeding became more common than breastfeeding, a new stereotype of "normal" bowel movements emerged. Formula-fed babies poop differently than babies: artificial stools are relatively infrequent, come out formed, and smell bad, reminiscent of adult stools. While the stool from breast milk in the first 6 weeks of life is usually liquid and frequent, and in the future, on the contrary, it can be of a normal consistency, but with delays. At the same time, often people who do not know that this is quite normal for babies begin to treat the baby either for diarrhea or constipation ...

It is normal for a baby under 6 weeks of age to have bowel movements several times a day, in small, yellow or mustard-colored masses, without an unpleasant odor. At the same time, the stool may well have a heterogeneous consistency, or curdled inclusions, or - after a while, if the mother does not remove the diaper or diaper for a long time - you can notice that the yellow stool turns green, this is a completely natural oxidation process. All these are signs that are characteristic of a healthy baby! If you see white pellets in your child's stool, don't be alarmed. Most likely it's just the immaturity of the intestines. Therefore, if the child is gaining weight well and nothing bothers him, then there is no reason for your concern either.

Signs that may make a mother wary:

• too frequent watery stools - from 12 to 16 bowel movements per day, with a strong smell indicates that the child does have diarrhea (diarrhea). It is necessary to consult a doctor, and it is very desirable to continue breastfeeding, because mother's milk is the best way to make up for the deficiency of the substances necessary for the baby.

• frequent stools (8-12 times a day), which are green and watery, often caused by sensitivity to products or treatment of a child or mother; often such a reaction is caused by cow's milk protein.

Green, watery, foamy stools are usually a sign of what is called an anterior-hindmilk imbalance, which doctors like to call "lactase deficiency." True lactase deficiency is relatively rare, and in the vast majority of cases, this condition of the baby can be corrected by allowing each breast to be emptied to the end before shifting to the next. In this case, the baby will receive a large portion of fatty "hind" milk, which contains little lactose (in contrast to the "front" portion rich in lactose) and therefore is easier to digest. Clarification, so as not to get confused in terms: lactose is the milk sugar found in breast milk, and lactase is the enzyme that is required to break down lactose. The reserves of lactase in the baby's body are relatively small, and if he receives a lot of "forward" milk, then lactase is not enough for its normal absorption, so the baby is tormented by gaziki, and the stool takes on a characteristic appearance. Another problem that often occurs after 5-6 weeks of a child's life is a relatively rare bowel movement, which is often mistakenly considered constipation and the baby is actively treated. At this age, the milk finally becomes mature and the laxative colostrum component leaves it, and therefore most children begin to poop less often. In itself, a rare stool is not a cause for concern, it's just that the child's body finds out how much it can accumulate in itself before pooping. If the process is not interfered with, the child may not poop even up to 7 days once or twice, after which the normal frequency will be restored. If you constantly intervene, forcing the intestines to empty when it is not yet ready, constipation will become habitual. BUT: Indeed, the child may not poop for up to a week, and the mother may not worry under the essential condition: the child TOO don't worry! If this obviously annoys the child, the mother, of course, should not hope that everything “forms on its own”.

Constipation in a breastfed baby

Constipation in a breastfed baby is a hard dry shaped stool, the so-called "goat balls", which are very painful for the baby.
The consistency of NORMAL feces, even with its relatively rare appearance, cannot be considered constipation. These are just the physiological features of this particular organism, like eye color, snub nose angle or nail shape. We will not treat the body for the fact that its eyes are blue, and not brown, like the majority?

Why does such a physiologically rare stool appear (“not constipation”) in infants?

For the urge to defecate, the little man needs to experience a chain of certain sensations. The most important of which is the pressure of feces on the intestines, it is the degree of pressure that forms the skill to relax the sphincters in response to tension, and not to reduce them. The young, not fully formed intestine is still learning to respond to any external changes, gently and not stressfully at this stage of its formation, breast milk helps it - the only native and adapted product. Like any student, the intestines undergo a series of tests or even self-tests. Therefore, the feces of the baby of the first half of the year are heterogeneous - sometimes thick, sometimes liquid, sometimes often, sometimes rarely. And our adult standards for such a young student are unacceptable, the adult intestine is very different from the intestine of the baby.

The main indicator with such a rare stool is the well-being of the child and the passage of gases from him, the most dangerous sign for constipation is the absence of gases, then you can fear for intestinal patency, but if the baby “farts like a machine gun” - then the patency is excellent. If the consistency of feces after defecation is normal, without “balls”, then the child has no problem.
The intestines are simply in a state of testing the degree of pressure of the feces inside on the walls of the intestines for optimal defecation, after the completion of such a test, the body will choose a certain period for defecation. This deadline will be set until ... the next test, after which everything will change dramatically again.
That is, the main thing is to objectively assess the condition of the child, look at the discharge of gases, and not at the calendar.
And yet it is so strange and scary when the chair is not regular and young parents so want to take care of something. What can be done so that the body is “tested” faster, and parents would see the coveted poop and at the same time not harm the child and not resort to medicines.

1. Give extra fluids.

But the problem is not the consistency of the feces! The feces inside are soft, the extra liquid makes it generally liquid and ... delays the natural bowel movement. As a result, additional mechanical stimulation is required (with a cotton swab in oil, with a thermometer), but more often it turns out that due to additional fluid and an extended period, the “front” part of the feces has formed into a dense hard “cork”, and “above” a very liquid watery stool. Throwing out a "cork" is very painful and unpleasant for the baby.
That is, in the case of a rare physiological stool, supplementing with any liquid can worsen the situation.

It should be noted here that the juice is a very large irritant with a high acidity factor. The complete absence of fiber, but a deadly carbohydrate environment, due to sugars. The child's intestines simply cannot digest this yet, for the digestion of juice, additional enzymes are needed that the pancreas of a child does not produce in infancy. And it turns out that an irritating product lies in the intestines - sugar from the juice. Up to a certain age, the mucosa of the baby is very perceptive and sensitive, molecules penetrate into the blood through its walls, and sugars begin to strongly irritate the mucosa, the body receives a signal to get rid of the aggressors as quickly as possible, the pancreas tries to form enzymes to break down juice carbohydrates. The intestine collects additional fluid to partially neutralize aggressive sugars and begins to contract, removing the irritant. Outwardly - quite quickly after the infusion of juice, the child may have a chair. But at the cost of a huge stress on the pancreas, mucous membranes and the body as a whole. At the same time, the necessary minerals and vitamins are washed out of the body, the child loses a lot of fluid. The carbohydrate component creates in the intestines an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic and opportunistic flora (Candida, Staphylococcus aureus), therefore, after co-infusion, thrush in the child's mouth is so frequent.
Juice is one of the most cruel methods of influencing the baby's body.

3. Make an enema.

The liquid will create additional pressure, the very one that the intestines were waiting for and before the physiological readiness of the body there will be a chair. The "self-test" of the body is brought down. Defecation was caused by a mechanical stimulator, bowel contraction, but the child himself needs to learn how to relax. I think everyone has heard stories from two or three year olds who have problems with their stools. Often (not always) these are babies who were either bottle-fed, or the period of “learning” in a safe stool from breast milk passed against the background of defecation stimulation.

So what do you do? Nothing. Wait. If the child behaves as usual and farts well, then this is another “test”.
But if the child makes an effort, blushes, the gases do not go away, the stomach is hard, the child cries on palpation - this is a completely different matter. Help is definitely needed here.

If the child does not walk for a long time and it worries him

• The first step is to massage the tummy. Massage clockwise, full palm. Or cycling exercises.
• A warm bath - to whom only it does not help to relax. Mom and baby are immersed in warm 37 degrees water, breastfeed right in the water, then quickly get out, mom or dad will rub their arms, legs and tummy with baby oil, then you can put the baby to lie down on mom’s tummy relaxed, it’s worth remembering that it’s easier to poop lying down on the tummy or side than on the back, or the mother can feed in the planting position (so that the ass is sagging and the baby is almost vertical) and in 80% you can expect a “desired poop”.
• It is very good to hold a child complaining about the tummy over the sink under the knees, lubricating the anus area with baby oil ... Posture as when planting.

Only when these methods did not help - you can use the first step of mechanical stimulation. Take a hygienic stick, generously smear the tip with petroleum jelly or baby oil and insert a little into the ass. Not more than a centimeter! It is to enter and twist a little. Put away. Put on a diaper and put mom on her stomach, tummy to tummy ... Or press your knees to your stomach in a pose on your back ...

And only if this did not help, then the next step is a glycerin candle.
But as a rule, everything works out at the first step.

I would like to single out the appointment of any treatment, parents should analyze what they are treating, the child's condition or analysis? Does your doctor prescribe bifidobacteria? Is there a correlation with the start of taking and the onset of stool retention? Have you been warned that bacteriological preparations containing bifidoculures affect the stool and can cause chronic constipation, which will already be constipation, and not physiological reactions? ... Always carefully monitor the child's stool at the time of using any medication.

Breastfeeding Mistakes

As practice shows, it is not bacteria that are more often to blame for problems with stools in infants, but improperly organized breastfeeding. Here are the most common mistakes in breastfeeding that prevent the development of normal intestinal microflora of the child:

• Late attachment of the newborn to the breast.
• Rare feeding "by the clock", limiting the duration of breast sucking by a child.
• Dopaivanie baby water, teas.
• Early introduction of formula supplementation or gradual transition to full artificial feeding.
• Introduction of complementary foods before 6 months.

Misconceptions associated with problematic stools in infants

1. In the same place, everything rots inside if he does not walk for more than a day !!

We hear from many mothers. Let's dispel this myth!

Reminds me of high school chemistry. Oxidation, the reaction of interaction with oxygen. Now we take the child and examine the belly for holes. There is not? just a belly button? So you are not in danger of oxidation. If someone says "rots" - also send him to the school chemistry course, where it is said that decay is a slow combustion reaction, in which oxygen access is an indispensable condition. To do this, at least you need a hole in the stomach. And it, as already found out from a higher experience - no.

2. This is dysbacteriosis!
Dysbacteriosis is becoming more popular, however, as well as drugs aimed at its treatment. In the minds of many parents, there was a wrong opinion that every baby has dysbacteriosis, and biological preparations have ceased to be the means that a doctor should prescribe - you can just buy them and give them to your baby: maybe it will help? Let's look at some facts about this condition and discuss them. After all, as you know, "he who is warned is armed."

The truth about dysbiosis:

1. 1. Dysbacteriosis- this is not a diagnosis according to the Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), the generally accepted international diagnostic classification of the World Health Organization. This is a state of imbalance in the intestinal microflora that accompanies its various diseases (for example, acute intestinal infection). Also, dysbacteriosis develops after surgical operations on the gastrointestinal tract, treatment with antibiotics, cytostatics, and immunosuppressive agents. Therefore, if a child was born healthy, gains weight well, grows and develops according to age, it is not worth looking for dysbacteriosis in him.
   2. In babies who have just been born, the period of colonization of the intestines by microbes is called transient dysbacteriosis and it refers to the borderline conditions of newborns. The main protection and medicine for the crumbs during this period is the mother's breast milk. Colostrum contains a huge amount of antibodies, anti-infective proteins and secretory immunoglobulin A, which provide the infant with primary immunological protection. In addition, the bifidus factor in human breast milk is involved in the formation of normal intestinal microflora, and lactoferrin binds iron and prevents the reproduction of those bacteria that need iron. That is why it is extremely important that from birth nothing but mother's milk gets into the mouth of the crumbs! A healthy baby is not afraid of dysbacteriosis.

1. An analysis for dysbacteriosis does not reflect the true state of the intestinal microflora. Let's remember that the microflora is a dynamic environment, the number of microbial units is in the millions, and these units themselves multiply rather quickly (and die). By the time the parents receive the result of the analysis of the microflora (and this is at least 7 days after the date of its delivery), the microbial "picture" in the intestine will change radically. In addition, microorganisms colonize the intestines unevenly: there are more of them near the walls of the intestine, and not in its lumen, and when taking a stool sample, only “translucent” colonies fall into the “field of view”. That is why experienced and competent specialists do not trust this analysis and are in no hurry to treat children if it is changed, but there are no clinical symptoms.

Question: / 21-11-2011 01:10
Hello! Our baby is 2.5 months old. Problems with the chair began about a month and a half. We were completely on GV. Up to a month and a half, the chair was daily three to four, or even five times a day. Starting from a month and a half, unexpectedly for us, the baby began to poop every three days. This went on for ten days. Then there was a break, which I, as a mother (under the pressure of our grandmother), was able to withstand 6 days. After that, at the end of the sixth day, the baby, on the advice of our pediatrician, received a microclyster * microlax *, and from the next day he received 5 ml of dufalac every morning. On this preparation, the stool returned to normal, again three or four times a day. From two months, I began to supplement the baby with a mixture (supplementary feeding after breastfeeding twice a day - in the afternoon before a walk (equally before daytime sleep) and in the evening before a night's sleep). At first they used nan1, but after reading the reviews, I heard that it often strengthens, they switched to Nutrilon + Nutrilon fermented milk. It worked out like this - during the day a simple Nutrilon, in the evening fermented milk. Two days later, again from the reviews, I learned that in the Nutrilon anti-constipation series, they use not a fermented milk mixture, but Nutrilon Comfort. Now the third day, as a supplement, the baby receives Nutrilon Comfort. With a chair the situation is as follows. We take Duphalac (however, sometimes the baby refuses to take it, spits it out, and sometimes swallows it without problems), but even while taking Dufalac, the stool is about once every three days. If by the evening of the third day it does not pump, I put microlax. The intestines are emptied, and then again a break of three days. The last situation - three days without a chair, on the fourth day in the morning - a glycerin suppository, in the evening the child pooped. What to do next??? Excuse me please, maybe I described everything very confusingly - my main question is as follows: Yes, the baby has a rare stool, and if we were completely breastfeeding, I would not worry at all, but we have mixed feeding, still the baby gets a little mixture (approximately 200 grams per day, 100 during the day, 100 in the evening). Do I need to take some action to stimulate the stool, or already get behind the child, give him the opportunity to establish his own bowel habits? The child is cheerful, not restless, his tummy does not torment him, the gas is moving away very well. To be honest, my mother (doctor) and our head of the pediatric department of our clinic put a lot of pressure on me that supposedly a child of our age should have a stool almost after every feeding, but it’s necessary once a day. And if you let everything take its course, it is fraught with intoxication of the body and volvulus. ... Can you please tell me what to do!!! I really don’t want to interfere in the child’s body ... And if nothing terrible happens, is it possible to somehow fix what we have already done ... (considering all these dufalacs, enemas, suppositories, gas outlets) I would be very grateful to you for your answer !!! Sincerely, a young mother raising her first child

Answer: / 12-02-2013 01:42

Hello, the pediatrician of the first category, the head of the pediatric department of our Center, answers you:

You really have a difficult situation, and it is connected not so much with the real state of the child's health, but with the psychological situation that has developed around him. The pressure of medical relatives is always difficult to resist. I have already answered a lot of questions related to the stool of infants, and at the end of this answer you will be offered links to them. But I will dwell on some of the most important points concerning you specifically.

1. The volume of supplementary feeding in a child is small - about 20%, and the situation can be assessed in the same way as if you had only breastfeeding. By the way, why did the question of supplementary feeding arise at all? I have two assumptions: a) for some reason it was decided that the baby "does not have enough" milk (usually such a conclusion is made by relatives, especially grandmothers, based on the fact that the baby is "too often" applied to the breast). I will note right away - this is a typical mistake and a typical "bad advice" of physicians; b) with the help of the mixture they wanted to solve the problem of stool - if the "correct" mixture is added to breast milk, then the stool will become regular. On this occasion, I want to note: "correct" mixtures do not exist, the reaction to them in children is individual. In addition, a small amount of formula (relative to the total amount of feeding) could not somehow radically change the situation, even if this mixture is “right” for your child. Therefore, before it's too late, I recommend returning to 100% breast milk, otherwise, after 3 months of age, lactation will begin to fade quickly. The 3-month milestone is critical for the development of lactation. If you do not correct the existing errors in the GW now, then after 3 months it is almost impossible to reverse the situation. This is where a GV consultant can help you.

2. Especially for doctors, let me remind you: in the manuals for doctors, the concept of "constipation" is described according to two criteria: FREQUENCY of the stool and its CHARACTER. But for some reason, everyone remembers the first characteristic of the chair and forgets about the second. The "blocking" nature of the stool is dry, dense lumps of feces and a feeling of "incomplete emptying" (although a small child will not say what kind of "feeling" he has). It is difficult to assess the consistency of stool obtained with an enema. But if you wait for the same spontaneous defecation, you will see that the nature of the baby's stool does not match the description of "lock-up" - it will be more or less thick slurry, which is completely normal. If the baby were 100% breastfed, then the color would be ideally yellow, but since the mixture is added, it can now be with a green tint.

3. Let me also remind you that the practice of successful, long-term breastfeeding in our country has only been revived in the last few years, and then with varying success. Thus, the generation of grandmothers-doctors simply does not have sufficient experience of working with children on breastfeeding, and does not know what features are characteristic of them. But in our Center, up to a year, up to 90% of babies are breastfed, and sufficient experience has already been accumulated and many patterns have been identified. I have repeatedly drawn attention to one of these patterns in my answers to questions: between the ages of 3 and 6 months, very many children on breastfeeding begin to poop rarely. One of the explanations is that intestinal enzymes mature, and, as a result, increased fermentation stops and the absorption of breast milk improves. But, probably, there are other reasons that have not yet been studied: innervation and muscle tone of the intestine at this age, other individual characteristics. In your case, this pattern manifested itself earlier, but this also happens. In any case, if a child has been pooping often since birth, then he does not have any serious surgical anomalies of the intestine. As for intoxication, that is. "poisoning" of the body in the absence of daily stools, then the general appearance, mood and well-being of the child speak for themselves: if the baby is active, sociable, with a good appetite, then he has no intoxication.

4. With regard to the medical measures that you are already taking. The reaction to Duphalac in a child is quite typical: at first it “helped”, but now it doesn’t. And it won't. Therefore, there is no point in continuing to give it. Microlax and Glycerin Suppositories: Of the two options, Microlax is milder and can be used occasionally. You can simply "irritate" the anus with the tip of the gas tube. But all these stimulating measures are for those who cannot calmly wait for a natural bowel movement, for whom the thought "when will he finally poop" becomes the dominant of his life. But, based on the accumulated experience, if you allow the child to poop on their own at any interval, nothing will happen. In any case, in European and American pediatrics, the defecation interval for a breastfed baby has long been officially recognized as 7 (!) Days. After 6 months of age, the problem goes away by itself. What plays the main role here - the introduction of complementary foods or just 6 months - the age limit when the next functions ripen - the question is still open ... You can also try some measures that quite often help: increase the amount of fresh cucumbers, figs, prunes in your diet, boiled beets. But not all at once and little by little! Start, for example, with boiled beets. And give the child Donat Magnesium mineral water (without gas) 1 tsp each. 3 times a day, between feedings. It can be given without interruption for 6 weeks.

P.S. If all of the above seems too radical to your grandmother, then I recommend reading and. She does not directly answer your question, but characterizes the situation in our pediatrics as a whole: most of our children are still healthy, mostly we are talking about age characteristics and small functional deviations.

From the literature on caring for a newborn, mothers know that the baby should poop after each feeding. If a newborn and a baby defecate with a yellowish slurry, then in children who consume the mixture, the feces are more dense. Their smell is specific, harsh. If the baby suddenly did not poop all day, parents are worried and think about using a laxative. But whether the baby really needs help, moms and dads do not know.

Breast emptying mode

To understand why stool retention occurs in a child under the age of one year, nutritional features help. If the newborn is breastfed and does not receive any drink and medicine, the absence of stool will be considered normal even for a week. Mother's milk is completely absorbed by the body of some children, so stool masses simply do not collect.

If the baby is transferred to a bottle and the mother notices that he has not pooped for 2 days or more, this is already a problem. A mixture is an artificial product that cannot be fully recycled. Its remains must leave the body regularly.

The frequency, quantity, type of bowel movements depend not only on the type of feeding of the child. Before 12 months of age, these rates are influenced by several factors:

• nutritional features of the mother if the baby is breastfeeding;
• the composition of women's milk (fat slows down the movement of feces);
• type of mixture (the factor works when transferring crumbs to artificial feeding);
• weakness of intestinal peristalsis and anterior abdominal wall.

Why does the intestine have difficulty defecation? The fact is that the food gruel is slowly transported along the thick section of the tract and loses all the nutrients. Vitamins and water remain in the masses, gradually filling the lower part of the organ. The intestine is stretched, the stool dries up and becomes voluminous and heavy. Since the baby does not have sufficiently developed muscles, the intestines cannot get rid of feces. The process of defecation becomes painful and unpleasant.

When to contact a pediatrician?

A newborn and an older baby reports defecation problems with certain symptoms. Caring parents will definitely notice the following deviations:

1. vomiting;
2. lack of gas;
3. poor sleep and appetite;
4. increased nervousness;
5. anxiety during feeding;
6. twitching of the legs due to bloating and pain in the tummy (possibly hard).

Fecal masses in the presence of these anomalies are characterized by increased density. The color of the feces changes from yellow to dark if the baby is switched to formula. The reason for contacting the doctor is both the strange consistency and shade of feces, and the general condition of the child with problems with stools and gas.

For example, if the baby does not poop and has difficulty with the release of gases, this condition is dangerous for the body. The combination of symptoms signals bowel obstruction. If the baby farts, but does not poop, the violation of patency does not threaten him. Moderate gas formation against the background of rare bowel movements indicates the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

How to lighten the chair for the baby?

In the absence of nutritional problems, problematic defecation is treated by eliminating spasmodic phenomena occurring in the intestines. When the baby cannot poop, he needs to massage his tummy with a “clockwise” hand movement. It will be useful to bend the legs with pressing to the stomach (similar to riding a bicycle). Exercise stimulates intestinal motility and speeds up the elimination of processed food.

If the newborn is worried about the air accumulated in the tract, you can try to put a gas tube. The device irritates the walls of the rectum and forces them to contract involuntarily. At the moment the tube is pushed out, the gases come out with the stool.

If the baby eats mixtures, cereals, juices, but does not defecate for 3 days in a row, parents should give him warm boiled water to facilitate the expulsion of feces. Let the baby consume a sufficient amount of fluid - she will not allow stool retention. You can try feeding your baby a different formula or switching to a special diet that prevents colic and hardening of the stool.

Previously, mothers eased the suffering of children with mechanical stimuli. They inserted a bar of soap, the tip of a thermometer, a hygienic stick in cream or Vaseline into the anus. Today, these methods are not welcomed by pediatricians. If the child, despite everything, poops badly, he is prescribed rectal glycerin suppositories

Medical treatment of children for intestinal problems, doctors suggest to carry out mildly acting means:

• Plantex;
• Normase;
• Duphalac;
• Gutalax;
• Vita-plant;
• Prelaks.

If the delay in defecation is caused by dysbacteriosis, bowel treatment is aimed at restoring the flora. For this purpose, bifidobacteria are prescribed for the baby - Bifidumbacterin, Bifidum, Trilakt, Probifor, etc. It is better to give the baby probiotics in liquid form, because they act immediately in the body. Useful bifidobacteria in infants can be obtained from special fermented milk products. Medical nutrition and medicines are selected individually.

A very important point in the care of a newborn and infant concerns monitoring his stool. This is a very important indicator of the health of the baby. It is very important for parents to understand what secrets and information can carry the contents of your child's diaper, starting from birth.

Everything happens for the first time ... (about the first stool of a newborn):

The very first stool of a newborn baby is called meconium. It is a sticky (hard to wash), dark mass (almost black). Meconium is amniotic fluid and intestinal wall epithelial cells that entered the baby's body in the womb. As a rule, meconium comes out of the baby after birth during the first two days. Frequent attachment of the baby to the breast contributes to the speedy exit of meconium. The first milk - colostrum - has an excellent laxative effect.

The color of meconium is from black to green-black, saturated.

The consistency of meconium is very dense, slightly viscous.

Smell - odorless.

What's wrong with meconium?:

In this case, the violation of the meconium exit process can go in two directions:

◊ early exit. Meconium may pass before delivery. In this case, the amniotic fluid turns greenish. Such an early release of meconium indicates fetal hypoxia and protracted labor. Such a phenomenon requires the help and supervision of specialists;

◊ Meconium exit delay. A long delay in the release of meconium (more than two days) may indicate the presence of congenital diseases (for example, Hirschsprung's disease associated with a congenital lack of innervation of the intestines). In addition, the delay in the release of meconium, its difficult discharge indicate that the child is malnourished.

This may be due to such reasons:

◊ insufficient amount of colostrum in the mother;

◊ irregular shape of the nipples (small or sunken), as a result of which the baby cannot take the breast fully;

◊ the baby, due to physiological characteristics, cannot take the breast (this happens quite often when the lower lip of a newborn strongly sinks under the upper one). As a result, the child cannot take the breast correctly.

Thus, if you are the cause of the late meconium and associated with malnutrition, then use special breast pads. They will help the baby to breastfeed more correctly and fully eat hind milk, which is very high-calorie and healthy!

Thus, it is necessary to monitor the emptying of the baby's intestines and the nature of this content from the very birth of your crumbs.

What's next?:

transition chair. The baby will have this chair until the end of the first week of life. Its composition is the remains of meconium and digested colostrum.

The color of the transitional feces is from greenish or greenish-yellow to white. Such a varied coloration suggests that the baby's stool has not yet been formed and his digestive system is just beginning to develop and adapt to new food and lifestyle. In addition, the intestinal microflora is just beginning to be populated by various microorganisms.

The consistency of the transitional feces is quite liquid, when it hits the tissue surface, a rather large watery spot is noticeable around the contents. In addition, such feces are quite heterogeneous, it can contain areas of different density, consistency and color.

The smell of transitional feces is sour, rather sharp.

In addition, mucus and undigested lumps of food may be present in the impurities of the transitional feces.

All these indicators are within the normal range and should not cause parents to worry too much. The appearance of transitional feces indicates the normalization of the lactation process in the mother and the formation and development of the digestive system in the baby.

Transitional feces: what will make you worry ...:

Constipation. Stool retention in the first week after the birth of the baby suggests that the mother has little colostrum and first milk. The kid is simply malnourished. In addition, stool retention can also be due to the fact that colostrum is completely absorbed by the baby's body. And the process of defecation in newborns occurs only when the intestines are sufficiently filled with contents. But since this transitional period from meconium to the feces of infants and from colostrum to milk in the mother is quite short, special attention should be paid to the feces that the baby will have 6-8 days after birth.

Protracted period of transitional stool (more than one week). Such a long process of transition from meconium to normal baby stool indicates violations in the process of formation of the baby's microflora. What are the reasons for this delay?

◊ supplementary feeding of a newborn in the maternity hospital with artificial mixtures;

◊ weaning from the mother in the maternity hospital;

◊ forced intake of antibiotics (then the feces acquire a greenish color with a rather pungent odor);

◊ long breaks in feeding;

◊ violations in the process of lactation in the mother (milk does not come for a long time).

What is important to consider: if a child feels good against the background of such deviations in the formation of a stool, gains weight within the normal range, has a good appetite, then such changes in the stool do not need to be corrected. If, on the contrary, the child is lethargic, eats poorly and gains weight, this is a cause for concern and seeking medical help.

Chair of the baby: how is it normal?:

After a week after birth, the contents of the baby's diaper will change. These changes will happen gradually, so you need to be patient and not jump to conclusions.

The color of the baby's feces - after the transition period, the baby's feces acquire a yellow color.

Important! When taking iron supplements, the feces may turn black.

Consistency - mushy, can vary from denser to thicker. The consistency of the feces of the baby is influenced by factors such as:

◊ Mom's nutrition during breastfeeding. Some foods that a nursing mother eats can loosen or fix a baby's stool.

◊ fat content of milk. If the baby does not suck well at the breast, then he feeds more on the front milk, which is less dense and fatty. The chair at such children, as a rule, is more liquid.

◊ type of infant feeding: breastfeeding or bottle feeding. In formula-fed babies, the stool is more dense due to poorer digestion and absorption of the mixture. In such babies, the problem of constipation is more acute. Breastfed babies have looser stools and less constipation because breast milk is absorbed faster and easier by the baby's body.

Smell - can be varied, depending on the nutrition of the nursing mother. In formula-fed babies, the smell is usually sour-milk.

It should be borne in mind the fact that the main and only nutrition of the baby is milk. This is a natural product that can shift the characteristics of the baby's stool in different directions. You should not strive to ensure that the baby's chair is strictly the same. It is almost impossible to achieve this, and it is not necessary.

Number of bowel movements. After two weeks, this is already an important indicator of the health and nutrition of the baby. This point is important here: the minimum number of bowel movements should be 2-3 per day. Often in children at this age and more often. too rare bowel movements indicate that your baby is not getting enough food (he does not have enough milk).

What can be violations?:

In fact, there are many such violations of the stool of the baby. It should be understood that the following signs in a baby are a cause for concern:

◊ weakness;

◊ low activity;

◊ poor appetite;

◊ poor weight gain;

◊ constipation.

These indicators are an important signal for contacting a gastroenterologist to determine the cause and correct such deviations.

In addition, the following signs of stool changes should alert parents:

◊ Constipation. A prolonged absence of bowel movements suggests that the baby is malnourished. In addition, with a lack of an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar, the stool thickens and also leads to delayed stools and painful bowel movements. In addition, such bowel movements can damage the rectum and cause cracks, which are very painful for the baby.
In formula-fed babies, stools are more dense and bowel movements occur less frequently. This is normal. You just need to choose the right mixture.

◊ A large amount of mucus in the stool. Such a chair indicates that the baby has recently had such an infection. In addition, such a chair is often observed in children during teething.

What to do? If the mucus in the stool persists for a long time, then this is the reason for contacting a gastroenterologist to correct this condition after the examination (as a rule, they take an analysis called a coprogram).

◊ Stools are frothy, slightly greenish, with a very pungent odor. In addition, there is irritation of the skin around the anus. Such a chair most often speaks of overeating and excess milk from the mother.

What to do? Change breasts less often so that the baby eats mostly hind milk. It contains enzymes for the breakdown of milk sugar.

◊ The stool is frothy, green, its appearance is accompanied by a characteristic "cotton", which indicates increased gas formation. This nature of the stool indicates lactase deficiency (lack of an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar). To correct this condition, you need to consult a doctor. And the mother should ensure that the baby receives more hind milk, which is very rich in these enzymes.

◊ Very frequent yellow or green stools with very . This nature of the stool indicates the presence of an infection and requires immediate medical attention.

◊ Blood impurities in the stool. This is a dangerous symptom, which speaks of various pathologies, including: bleeding, allergies to milk protein, hemorrhoids, congenital intestinal diseases, bacterial infection.

All of these features should serve as a reason for contacting a doctor. After all, the nature of the baby's bowel movements is a "litmus test" of all the processes occurring in the baby's body. And analysis of the contents of the diaper can sometimes help to recognize dangerous diseases or abnormalities in time. In order to do this correctly, it is imperative to have information about the norms in the children's chair, which are described above.

Breastfeed your babies! This will avoid many health problems for your baby.

Tummy problems are common early in a child's life. One of these problems is constipation in the newborn, which can appear immediately after birth. Constipation in newborns cannot be treated with drugs that are commonly used for adults. Also, caution should be taken in the treatment of constipation in newborns with traditional medicine. After all, medicinal plants may include substances that have an adverse effect on a small organism.

To help the child, it is necessary to determine the cause. And remember that all drugs for constipation for newborns are prescribed only by a specialist. Moreover, in most cases, if you correctly adjust the mother’s diet and the amount of fluid consumed by the child, this problem can be eliminated.

Signs of constipation in a baby

You need to know that up to 3 months the intestines of the newborn are emptied after feeding. Therefore, a chair up to 8 times a day for a baby is considered the norm. Formula-fed babies should have at least 2 bowel movements per day. If the child is worried about the tummy, he tries to declare it. Constipation in newborns has the following symptoms:

• the child's tummy becomes hard, and he often arches his back;


• the baby is pushing all the time, tucking his legs to his tummy;


• the newborn shows anxiety, constantly cries, is naughty and does not want to eat;


• no stool for more than a day;


• stools unusual for a newborn - hard, smelling of rot.

Causes of delayed stool in a baby

About once a week, a newborn may experience stool retention due to weak bowel function. Since there is a period of adaptation to unusual food for him. And often by 2 - 3 months the problem disappears. But if the difficult stool is repeated very often, you should find out the causes and begin to eliminate them. Because constipation in a newborn can become chronic. Especially with constipation in newborns, excruciating pains appear. There are several causes of constipation in newborns:

1. improper diet of a nursing mother;


2. insufficient feeding;


3. switching from breastfeeding to formula;


4. lack of fluid;


5. violation of the intestinal microflora;


6. inflammatory process or congenital pathology of the intestine;


7. dysbiosis;


8. neurological diseases;


9. infectious diseases;


10. genetic predisposition.

To determine the cause, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician. He will conduct an examination, prescribe medicine for newborns and advise on how to treat the child.

First aid for a newborn

Constipation in a newborn what to do? If the first signs of constipation in a newborn are found, then in order to help the child, it is necessary to increase his mobility. Also, with constipation in newborns, it is necessary to review the daily diet of a nursing mother. But this is not enough, then it is necessary to do certain procedures and treat constipation in a newborn.

Massage

From constipation for newborns, it is necessary to massage the tummy. It is better to carry out the procedure in warm water, as it relaxes the muscles. To do this, put your hand on the baby's tummy and carry out circular movements. You need to massage gently, with light pressure. Then you need to do the exercise: flexion-extension of the legs, pulling them to the tummy. Massage for newborns with constipation helps to strengthen the oblique muscles of the abdomen, due to which the stool normalizes. After six months, the child can be put on a potty. The seat of the potty applies appropriate pressure, and it will be easier for the baby to defecate.

mechanical stimulation

The next method to help with constipation in newborns is mechanical stimulation. Soap for constipation for newborns is not allowed to be used, because it irritates the mucous membrane and can provoke the appearance of microcracks in the anus. For constipation in newborns, a gas tube or pipette tip is used to stimulate. The tube must be treated with baby oil, inserted into the anus by 5-7 mm, then gently twist until the baby starts to push. After this procedure, the child should empty.

However, this remedy for constipation in newborns should be used occasionally. Because regular stimulation can lead to the fact that the baby will get used to it and will not feel the urge to defecate.

Candles

In order to eliminate constipation in newborns, candles are also used. You can buy these drugs for constipation for newborns in all pharmacies without a prescription. Candles have two varieties - glycerin and gas-forming. Glycerin suppositories contain glycerin, it softens the feces, facilitating the process of defecation. Gas-forming suppositories activate the urge to defecate through the carbon dioxide produced when they are dissolved. The most comfortable position for the insertion of a candle is when the newborn lies on its side with bent legs. Candles for constipation for newborns should be used after consulting a pediatrician.

Enema

If candles are not available, and the child suffers, then an enema is done. For her take water at room temperature. An enema for a newborn up to 3 months should be 30 ml, for a baby older than 3 months - 90 ml. Preliminarily, the tip of the enema must be treated with petroleum jelly. The enema is placed when the baby lies on his back with his legs raised. It must be remembered that the enema is done in a relaxed state, so it is imperative to reassure the child.

However, suppositories and enemas are not recommended for frequent use. The intestines can get used to these remedies for constipation in newborns, and in the future will cease to perform their functions in the right amount. In addition, the enema flushes out beneficial bacteria from the intestines.

Laxatives

How to help a newborn with constipation if the above methods did not work? You can give laxatives. But only after their appointment by a pediatrician. Most often, doctors recommend treating intestinal motility disorders with a remedy for constipation for newborns based on lactulose, for example, Dufalac, Lizalak, Normaze, Normalakt. They are not harmful to the newborn and are not addictive.

Together with these laxatives, the use of Espumizan is sometimes advised, because lactulose can provoke an increase in gas formation. However, it must be remembered that taking Espumizan can also provoke stool retention, so it is better not to use it for constipation for newborns.

The use of Plantex

To get rid of gases, it is better to use the drug Plantex. This is a special remedy for eliminating gastrointestinal problems. Plantex consists of natural ingredients. It contains fennel, lactose and dextrose. Plantex has an antispasmodic and carminative effect. It improves digestion, has a beneficial effect on the secretion of gastric juice. Plantex promotes rapid and efficient absorption of breast milk or formula. The active ingredients of the drug prevent the formation of gases in the intestines. In addition, Plantex improves intestinal motility and facilitates the process of defecation.
Newborns can brew Plantex 1 sachet per day. You need to take the drug after feeding. To avoid constipation in newborns, it is advisable to give Plantex at the introduction of complementary foods or during the transition from breastfeeding to formula.

Normalization of the intestines of newborns

In order to normalize the activity of the digestive tract of the child, as well as for the purpose of prevention, such conditions must be observed.

Mom's nutrition

To normalize the work of the intestines of the baby, it is necessary to follow the proper nutrition of the mother. You should limit the use of flour products, rice, milk, raw vegetables and fruits. Mom needs to add foods that have a laxative effect to the diet. These are beets, dried fruits (dried apricots, prunes), vegetable oils. It would also be advisable to drink plenty of fluids.

Child nutrition

If the baby is bottle-fed, it is important to choose the right mixture. There is also a special mixture recommended for a newborn from constipation. This mixture is fully adapted for babies, it can be used directly on the first day of stool retention, as a remedy for constipation in newborns. Or completely replace it with food. It includes lactulose, which activates the development of bifidobacteria and helps to thin the stool. The mixture prescribed for constipation to a newborn stimulates the intestinal tract, improves metabolism, and strengthens the immune system.
During the feeding period, you can make oatmeal with plums. In addition, raisins and prunes weaken well, but care must be taken with these products.

Drinking liquids

This is especially true for children who are fed formula. You need to give the child boiled water to drink, you can also give him dill water, Plantex tea for constipation for newborns. A little later, you can cook a light compote of dried fruits, make berry fruit drinks with a laxative effect. If the baby often has stool retention, it must also be supplemented with liquid.

Massage, gymnastics, laying out on the tummy

For a newborn, physical contact with the mother is very important. Laying on the mother's stomach helps to relax the baby. Also, for relaxation, it is recommended to make a warm bath for the child. A massage of the tummy in combination with gymnastic exercises helps to strengthen the muscles and the proper functioning of the digestive organs.

Delayed stool in infants causes a lot of panic in parents. Any manifestation of a problem with bowel movements suggests the presence of constipation in the baby. However, constipation does not always accurately characterize a problem with bowel movements, so it is urgent to find out the reasons for this phenomenon.

Signs and causes: how to recognize them?

It is important for parents to pay attention to the general condition of the baby and the consistency of feces. If the delay is due to constipation, then the child will be moody and whiny. The kid can often push, but this does not lead to the desired result. During an attempt to go to the toilet, the baby is worried, his condition becomes nervous. During constipation, feces in infants have a hard consistency. It looks like peas or has a cork, after which there is a mass of feces.

If there is a delay in bowel movements, but the child is calm, does not refuse feeding, and the act of defecation does not cause discomfort, then this is clearly not constipation. A newborn may often have such a problem: the quality of assimilation of the mixture or mother's milk is too good. In this case, the baby simply has nothing to go to the toilet. In the presence of the following manifestations, you need to find out the reasons. It is necessary to show the baby to the doctor.

Another problem is related to lactose deficiency. It occurs due to a small amount of the enzyme or its complete absence. This enzyme is necessary for the breakdown of milk sugar - lactose. Such a violation manifests itself easily, since the absence of stool can be replaced by diarrhea.

To eliminate the delay, you need to get rid of those reasons that can cause such a phenomenon. For this purpose, the mother's diet is necessarily adjusted and the baby's drinking regimen is observed. In some cases, it is necessary to additionally humidify the air in the room. You should consult your doctor if you need to change the mixture used or adjust the nature of complementary foods.

If there is no result during the implementation of these changes, a diagnosis of the baby's condition should be carried out. This will rule out diseases or detect them. Do not rush to use enemas and various laxatives.

As for the permitted means, it is forbidden to use any laxatives other than Lactulose for a newborn. reduce the baby's reflex, which is associated with the emptying process. The degree of assimilation of useful vitamins and substances decreases, the tone of the intestinal muscles decreases, which only worsens the situation. Therefore, it is required to help the child with harmless means before moving on to more serious medications.

In this case, you need to spread the baby more often on the stomach. It is useful to massage the tummy, followed by the previously named coup. It is necessary to do clockwise movements, and press the legs to the stomach. They can simulate cycling.

Warmth has a relaxing effect on the baby, so you should put a warm diaper on the baby's stomach. You can place the baby on the mother's stomach. Heat not only soothes the baby, but also stimulates peristalsis.

Medications

Earlier it was indicated that it is necessary to try to eliminate the problem without the involvement of drugs. However, drugs can become indispensable helpers if other methods have not helped. It is important to consult a specialist before using a drug treatment method and follow the indicated dosage. Independent choice of funds and dosage selection is prohibited.

Safe for a small child are candles with glycerin. However, most experts do not recommend using them in the treatment of infants. The use of such drugs is justified only in emergency situations, when other means do not give a positive result. This is due to the possibility of an allergic reaction, itching and other irritations. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor. An example of glycerin suppositories is Glycelax.

It is necessary to consult before using enemas and microclysters. Such methods are not natural bowel stimulants, so it is recommended to avoid this method. Like medicines, enemas are used in extreme cases. In this situation, you will need to take 30-120 ml of water at room temperature. The tip of the pear should be greased with petroleum jelly.

A popular prebiotic is the previously mentioned remedy Lactulose, which can be prescribed if stool retention was caused by dysbacteriosis. It is also used as a means of preventing constipation. The tool has a mild effect, so it is safe for the smallest patients. It does not lead to addiction, and with prolonged use it restores the microflora that was previously disturbed.

Problems with stool in infants require careful action on the part of parents. It is imperative to consult a specialist and avoid drugs, which are recommended in extreme cases.

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