Constipation in infants. Komarovsky E.O. About constipation in infants with breastfeeding, artificial feeding and with the introduction of complementary foods

Such a problem, like constipation, occurs frequently in infants . Not all parents know how to behave in this way. Famous children's doctor Ye. O. Komarovsky advises young mothers not to worry, but to closely monitor the state of the child. Before taking any measures, you need to know exactly what symptoms are accompanied by constipation in the baby. Komarovsky believes that not always with a rare emptying of the baby's intestines should be treated. In most cases, it is enough to adjust the diet and the regime of the child's day. This is what Dr. Komorowski teaches young parents.

Constipation in infants

In medicine, it is believed that a baby up to three months should empty the intestine two to four times a day. And constipation is called a condition where fecal no more than two days. But here everything is individual. Sometimes it happens that the baby on breastfeeding fully absorbs the mother's milk. And the emptying of the intestine takes place every 3-5 days. Before you panic and give the baby medication, Mom needs to know what symptoms are accompanied by constipation in the baby. Komarovsky says that if the baby is well developed and gaining weight, oars and sleeps normally, and emptying the intestines does not cause him unpleasant sensations, then a rare stool is normal. On the disease can be said, when, in addition to constipation, the child has other symptoms: gas formation, pain, bloating, decreased appetite. In addition, it is very important to pay attention to the state of feces. In infants it should be mushy, soft, yellowish. If the child has constipation, the feces will be of a dark color, with an unpleasant odor, firm.

Symptoms of constipation

When should parents take any measures? It is believed that the child is constipation, if there are such symptoms:

• Feces too hard, decorated or in the form of peas;
• Odor defecation putrefactive;
• When trying to poke, the toddler is very pushing, straining;
• The child knits, groans and cries;
• The belly of the baby is hard and swollen;
• The appetite of the baby is lost;
• His chair is less often than 1 time in 3 days.

Causes of constipation

Only a doctor can determine if the child is sick, or if such an emptying of the intestine is normal for him. Therefore, for any deviation in the behavior of the baby, you need to contact the pediatrician. After all, before treating the baby, you need to know what caused his constipation. Such a state can be provoked by many factors:

• Pathologies of intestinal development, for example, Hirschsprung's disease;
• Various inflammatory and infectious diseases, colds;
• Violation of intestinal microflora;
• Taking certain medications, especially antibiotics;
• An allergic reaction to cow's milk and some other foods.

In such cases, only a doctor can treat constipation in infants. Komarovsky advises mothers to take some measures on their own, if a rare emptying is caused by other reasons:

• Lack of breast milk, thus there is a so-called "hungry" constipation;
• The wrong diet of my mother, because everything that a woman ate, goes into her milk;
• Lack of water, which helps to remove stool;
• Transition from breastfeeding to artificial feeding, since up to 4 months the mother's milk not only feeds the infant, but also protects against diseases;
• Introduction of complementary foods, in this case constipation of the baby's intestines can react to unfamiliar food;
• A change in the milk formula, in which there may be a component that is intolerable to the baby;
• Overheating of the child by too warm and dry air, which causes dehydration;
• Stress and experience of the baby due to a change in the situation, his fear when he remains alone.

The norm of stool in newborns

After birth, the work of all the organs of the child is established for some time. In the first three days, a black-and-green clay-shaped calico-meconium emerges from the infants. Then until one and a half months the baby croaks as many times as he eats - 8-12. The stools are mushy, yellowish in color, with an acidic odor. But up to 3 or 4 months the baby has not yet fully formed the functions of the intestine, many enzymes and beneficial bacteria are absent. Therefore, often at this time, there is constipation in the newborn. Komarovsky urges parents not to panic, but to try to adjust the nutrition of a nursing mother or consult a doctor about the choice of a milk formula. Normally, the child with breastfeeding should cough 4-5 times a day. And in artificial animals, bowel evacuation happens less often - 1-2 times. And the feces must be soft, mushy.

Constipation in infants with breastfeeding

A child who feeds on mother's milk, can not chew until 3-4 days. This is considered normal if the baby does not bother, if he is cheerful and cheerful, sleeps well and gains weight. Hence, breast milk suits him and is well absorbed. Only in rare cases, there is real constipation in infants with breastfeeding. Komarovsky believes that it is necessary to take measures if the baby does not gain weight, is restless and cries. But before using any medication, you should always consult your doctor. In most cases, you can cope with the problem by simply changing the nutrition of your mom.

What rules should a woman follow to have a child with a regular chair?

• It is necessary to drink at least 2 liters of water, it will help stimulate the intestinal peristalsis ;
• Regularly eat prunes, dried apricots, raisins and beets;
• In the daily menu should be buckwheat or oatmeal, pumpkin, apricots, plums and sour-milk products;
• It is necessary to exclude from the diet coffee, tea, chocolate, smoked products, fatty and spicy food;
• Should limit the use of rice, legumes, potatoes, fresh milk, walnuts and baking.

But even if the mother complies with all the rules, there is sometimes constipation in infants with breastfeeding. Komarovsky believes that this is due to lack of water. He recommends in hot weather to finish the baby with clean water or a decoction of raisins. But it is undesirable to use for this bottle with a pacifier, so that the little woman is not used to it. You can drink your baby from a spoon or a special drinker, but you can give a crumb completely to water from a syringe without a needle.

Constipation in infants with artificial feeding

If breastfeeding moms rarely face real problems in emptying the baby's intestines, then artificial it happens more often. What can I do to prevent constipation in infants with artificial feeding? Komarovsky recommends observing such rules:

• It is necessary to dilute the mixture strictly according to the instructions, you can not make it more concentrated;
• Be sure to give the baby water, you can with the addition of a few drops of broth of dill seed;
• If the child's constipation happens often, it is necessary to change the mixture, choosing one that has lactobacilli.

Constipation after introduction of complementary foods

Komarovsky recommends to breastfeed only for 4-5 months. If his mother has enough, the baby will receive everything necessary. Very often there is constipation in infants with the introduction of complementary foods. Komarovsky advises to prevent this, starting not with egg yolks or fruit juices, but with vegetable puree or dairy-free cereal. After a while, the baby's nutrition needs to be diversified, so that he receives a sufficient amount of dietary fiber. Therefore, vegetable soups and mashed potatoes, porridges, especially those not made ready, but made by the mother, are very important in the diet of children. After 7-8 months, you need to give the child a coarse bread, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sometimes it happens that there is constipation in the baby after the introduction of complementary foods. Komarovsky advises in this case to give the child juice or puree of prunes, a pumpkin, a decoction of raisins. It is advisable to include these foods in the diet, if the baby is already 6 months old. Food for the child should be prepared immediately before consumption, it is undesirable to digest it well. If these rules are observed, you can prevent constipation in the baby.

What to do

Komarovsky gives some advice on how you can help a kid. After all, it is not always possible to see a doctor right away. But to ease the condition of the child in the state of each mother. And only if these measures do not help, you must always go to a medical facility. So, what if the baby has constipation? Komarovsky recommends such methods:

• Do massage to the baby, by gently moving the warm hand along the belly of the baby clockwise;
• Helps to activate the functions of the intestine exercise "bicycle": you need to take the baby's legs and gently alternately bend them at least 10 times;
• You can put on the tummy baby diaper, heated iron;
• Help the baby relax a warm bath;
• Effective medicine for constipation, the doctor considers glycerin suppositories;
• In extreme cases, you can give the child a laxative medicine prescribed by a doctor.

It is necessary to call an ambulance or contact a doctor as soon as possible if the child has such symptoms:

• Abdominal pain, gassing, bloating;
• Decreased appetite, refusal to eat;
• Impurities of blood appear in the stool;
• Frequent vomiting;
• The feces and urine of the baby are dark, with an unpleasant odor.

What medications can I use for infants with constipation?

It is not recommended to give any medicine to babies without consulting a doctor. Even the safest and permitted to use from birth preparations can damage the unformed microflora of the child's intestines. Therefore, only in extreme cases it is recommended to use medicines to cure constipation in infants.

• It is best to use drugs containing lactulose. This is the safest laxative. Lactulose syrup is a prebiotic. It stimulates the production of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and helps to remove stool outwards. Recommended drugs containing lactulose: "Dufalac", "Normase", "Portalalak", "Lizalak" and some others. To begin with, it is better to give these drugs in a reduced dosage. And if you need a long reception should always consult a doctor.
• To reduce gassing in the intestine, doctors prescribe to kids such drugs: Espumizan, Plantex or Sab-Simplex. They help to relieve spasms and gently discharge gases, relieving bloating.
• The best means of constipation in infants Komarovsky considers glycerin suppositories. Children on sale are very rare, but you can use the usual ones. One candle needs to be cut along in half, and then across. There will be four parts. One piece of candle with clean hands needs to smooth out all the edges and gently insert the baby into the anus. Gently clamp his buttocks and hold it for a while. Such a candle will help soften the stool and gently pull them out.

How to put an enema baby

Many believe that this is the only way to treat constipation in infants. Komarovsky, however, recommends using the enema only in extreme cases. Frequent use of them flushes beneficial bacteria from the intestine and weakens its tone. How to properly make babies an enema?

1. Take a rubber pear with a soft tip, it should be up to 60 ml.
2. Usually for babies use a decoction of chamomile. It must be room temperature. Too warm water immediately absorbed through the walls of the intestine.
3. Put the baby on his side or on the back. Lubricate the anus and the tip of the enema with baby cream.
4. A little squeeze the pear to remove air from it. Carefully insert the tip no more than a couple of centimeters into the baby's intestines. If resistance is felt, do not press.
5. Slowly release the water, do not use force. The process of contraction of the intestine is wavy, so when you feel the resistance you need to wait a little. Pull out the enema.
6. Squeeze the buttocks baby and hold it for a couple of minutes.

But more convenient to use and safe for the child are ready microclysters, which are sold in the pharmacy. For example, you can buy "Mikrolaks." But do not do them often to avoid addiction.

Folk remedies for constipation

Many mothers try to help their child with the help of recipes that their grandmothers used. They push the baby into the anus, a piece of soap, a cotton swab smeared with petroleum jelly or a thermometer. Earlier, babies often had constipation. Komarovsky warns parents against using such tools. He believes that this is a mockery of the child. In addition, such drugs can injure the mucosa, cause irritation in the anus and further exacerbate the problem.

Of the folk remedies, the doctor gives preference to broths that help the removal of gases. It is best to brew dill seed, anise or fennel. Very useful Komarovsky considers a decoction of raisins. In addition to laxative action, this drink enriches the body with potassium, which is very important for the normal operation of the intestine. A greater choice of means is, if constipation in the baby 6 months. Komarovsky recommends giving the baby juice, broth or puree from prunes, to include in the diet foods rich in fiber.

Prevention of constipation

Everyone knows that the problem is best prevented, rather than looking for ways to deal with it. Dr. Komarovsky about constipation in infants says a lot, but most importantly, what he focuses on - you need to establish the correct nutrition of the baby. How should we act to prevent the appearance of constipation?

• A child on artificial feeding should receive a sufficient amount of water.
• If the baby is fed breast milk, the mother should drink at least 2 liters of liquid and eat foods rich in potassium.
• More often lay the baby on his tummy, ideally - every time before feeding for 5 minutes.
• Regularly do with the child gymnastics: raise his legs, bend them in the knees, useful exercises on the gym ball.
• You need to make a baby a light tummy massage, it helps to relieve muscle spasms and reduce gas formation.
• Do not overheat the child.
• The food of babies who are already receiving complementary foods should not be heavily thermally treated and very soft.

Independently one needs to treat constipation in infants only if it is the only symptom. And when the baby experiences abdominal pain, he has excessive gas formation and lacks appetite, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.