Problems with evacuation of the intestine are found in every fourth artificial baby and significantly overshadow the life of the child and his parents. About what to do with constipation from an infant feeding on an artificial feeding we will talk further.
How to recognize constipation in a newborn with artificial feeding?
According to medical norms, constipation in a baby, provided that he is on artificial feeding, can be called a condition in which bowel evacuation occurs less frequently than once a day. But to date, most doctors are increasingly inclined to the idea that establishing a strict framework for defecation is not always appropriate. If the emptying of the intestines in the baby takes place every 2-4 days, but the following conditions are met, then no treatment for the child is required:
- the baby has a good dream, it develops correctly, adds weight, feels well;
- feces of the newborn are soft, mushy, yellowish;
- emptying of the intestine occurs independently, easily, without crying, prolonged and severe straining.
Thus, quite often the delay of defecation up to three and even four days in a child of 2-3 months, which is on artificial feeding, is not called constipation and is not a pathology, but merely indicates that the mixture of the baby is ideal and almost completely absorbed .
But if the baby has excessive gas formation, a swollen abdomen, he is restless, hard and unsuccessful straining, crying, grunting, his stool is dense - help is needed.
Constipation in a month old baby and a child older (up to 3 months) on breastfeeding or artificial feeding in 95% of cases is associated with immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract and does not indicate the presence of any serious pathology.
Constipation in infants with artificial feeding - what to do?
The period of newborns, as well as the first months of life, crumbs are often accompanied by intestinal colic, bloating, and often constipation. Such a state of the baby makes the parents panic and in haste to seek answers to solve the problem. So, what to do if an infant who has been on an artificial feeding has a constipation:
- Do not panic.
- Do not use "adult" laxatives to eliminate constipation.
- To avoid "washing away" of beneficial microflora from the intestine, one should not get involved in a procedure called a cleansing enema.
- If with artificial feeding in an infant a persistent tendency to constipation is observed, it is recommended:
- offer the baby water between feedings;
- or make the milk mixture somewhat less concentrated than recommended in the instructions.
There are two medicines, the use of which is most safe for constipation in infants fed on artificial feeding: lactulose syrup (the most popular drug is Dufalac and its analogues (Lactusan, Prelaxan, Normase, Lizalac, Portalalac) and rectal glycerin suppositories .
The appointment of any other treatment is the duty of the doctor, but not of the parents. Perhaps the doctor will recommend changing the mixture to a fermented milk or a mixture with probiotics. It may be necessary to take medicines to restore the microflora of the baby's intestines.
In addition, with artificial feeding for the prevention and treatment of constipation in newborns, it is appropriate to carry out the following actions:
- massage the baby's tummy, make a circular motion clockwise;
- Do with him a gymnastic exercise called "bike", simulate the legs of the baby on the bike;
- more often lay it on your tummy;
- make the crumb warm baths;
- offer the child fennel tea or dill water .