Babies often face various ailments, and it is not so easy for them to let even the closest people know about it. For this reason, young mothers, despite the lack of experience, should show increased care for their children and try to protect them from all kinds of diseases and complaints. Pediatricians note that often babies develop constipation, so care should be taken to ensure the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes of constipation in breastfed babies

Difficulty with defecation usually develops due to serious eating disorders of the mother and her baby. The use of potentially hazardous foods or inappropriate products provoke gastrointestinal problems in children. A particularly responsible approach is required when choosing iron-containing, antispasmodic and other drugs, formula milk, starting complementary foods and observing the crumbs' drinking regime.

Babies can also have various diseases that cause the appearance of deviations from the norm:

• Dolichosigma. In this case, there is an elongation of the sigmoid colon, which presses on itself and the rectum. The appearance of kinks of organs leads to serious problems during emptying.
• Lactose deficiency. If the baby does not have lactose or it is not enough, as a result of which serious violations with trips to the toilet appear.

Self-diagnosis is strictly prohibited. For this reason, it is important to worry about consulting an experienced doctor and determining the factors that cause gastrointestinal disturbances.

The main causes of intestinal dysfunction are:

• the use of products that fix the feces in children;
• insufficient development of the gastrointestinal tract;
• bowel disease;
• the transition from breastfeeding to artificial;
• slow work of the thyroid gland, as a result of which there is a weak production of hormones;
• allergic reactions;
• lack of volume of breast milk produced;
• the woman is taking unsuitable antispasmodics, antibiotics, antidepressants, or iron supplements.

Despite such a variety of reasons, doctors conduct an examination and determine the exact factor that disrupts the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Medical care will allow not only to understand why the baby is experiencing physiological or even psychogenic gastrointestinal disorders, but also how best to help the baby. Often, in case of psychogenic disorders of intestinal functions, one should try to maintain a close connection with the child, therefore, he should be more often picked up, hugged and stroked, pressed to himself.

Symptoms of constipation in newborns

The first and most important question has to do with the specifics of the definition of ailment. The main symptom is considered to be the absence of stool for 1.5 - 2 days or serious difficulty with defecation. For children under the age of three months, stool 2 - 4 times a day is optimal, and by one year of age, the frequency is almost halved.

Children's intestines do not always fully cope with their physiological tasks. The process of digestion and absorption of food is seriously disturbed, so after a day you should be on your guard. It is important to understand that the correct approach to solving an existing problem allows you to eliminate the problem that has appeared in the shortest possible time.

Difficulty emptying is caused by very dense stool. In such situations, it is often necessary to change the mother's diet and take care of observing the rules of breastfeeding.

Signs of abnormalities with defecation in newborn babies:

• long-term, compared with the usual rate for a child, the absence of a chair;
• bowel movements that are difficult and even painful, leading to ineffective pushing, violent screaming or crying;
• dense stool, and it differs in infants with a viscous consistency;
• discharge of feces in small portions.

Such signs should cause heightened alertness. In each case, you need to clearly understand how critical the situation is and how best to proceed. It is advisable to consult an experienced doctor to confirm the alleged diagnosis.

Foods that cause constipation in babies

Difficulty with defecation in infants is usually caused by a woman's unhealthy diet. For this reason, it is necessary, first of all, to correct the menu and try to improve the discharge of intestinal masses. This task is actually much easier to cope with than it initially seems.

The following foods lead to problems with stool:

• Meat. Red varieties of meat products are especially harmful. In this case, it is advisable to abandon fried foods, strong broths. It is advisable to stew lean meat.
• Cereals. Porridge can be combined with fresh vegetable salads, because this option is considered one of the healthiest. It is important to remember that extra care is taken when including rice on water in the menu.
• Kefir (first of all, drinks are not the first freshness). If the child's body is not ready to fully assimilate lactose, any kefir will weaken.
• Some fruits and berries: quince, persimmon, blueberry, chokeberry, black currant, pomegranate, unripe bananas, sour apples with a high iron content, green hard pears. It is important to note that sweet red apples, overripe bananas, yellow pears often normalize stool.
• Fresh baked goods, baked goods, white bread, biscuits and dry biscuits, dryers, crackers and biscuits cause gastrointestinal disturbances in infants. It should be noted that even ordinary pasta can be the cause of stool retention.
• Mashed potatoes in water are also often a source of problems. To prepare the second, it is recommended to add butter or milk, but only in small quantities.
• Hard-boiled eggs and mushrooms are recommended only in moderation. Their frequent use is highly undesirable.
• Black tea, red wine, mint or grape juice, coffee beans without sugar, cream and milk lead to strengthening of intestinal masses for several days.

Despite these warnings, you should not be afraid of an overly strict diet. In reality, everything turns out to be individual. Moreover, from the degree of freshness of dairy products and the reaction to lactose, the effect can be not only fixing, but also laxative. In addition, the effect on children's intestines varies even from the variety and degree of ripeness of fruits and vegetables, the consistency of the prepared dishes. It is impossible to know 100% how the baby will perceive this or that food. It is advisable to try different foods and determine what is right and what is not.

Women who are lactating should remember which food leads to stool retention in infants. To do this, they observe not only a diet or switch to proper nutrition, but also take care of carefully keeping a food diary. A well-thought-out diet is a must, because it must be balanced and varied. It is not necessary to give up almost any dish completely and for a long time, but you still have to be extra careful.

How to properly feed a newborn with breast milk so that there is no constipation

Proper feeding of the baby is one of the basic requirements. Breastfeeding or mixed feeding involves much the same approach. The main task is to carefully monitor how the baby eats.

For those babies who are on mixed feeding, you should choose the right milk formula. Otherwise, lactation will not improve the situation. For babies who have a tendency to malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, special mixtures have been developed aimed at improving the functioning of the body and normalizing the intestinal flora.

The amount of food eaten per day is another important aspect. Lack of nutrition or overfeeding of the baby lead to undesirable difficulties. If the baby is full and already refuses to eat, you cannot force him. At the same time, it is undesirable to feed the baby only by the hour and limiting it in time or volume, since this approach can lead to increased appetite, malnutrition and the inability to form feces.

Breast milk for babies meets the needs for food and drink. At the same time, a bottle-fed baby still needs to be offered a small amount of water, and the importance of this task increases in the hot season. Water should supplement food, but at the same time it should not replace the diet of the crumbs. The daily volume of fluid for those who are forced to switch to artificial feeding is 100 - 150 milliliters. Fresh baby water is the best choice, as ordinary liquid will lead to attachment due to imperfect work of the gastrointestinal tract.

If the baby is prone to defecation disorders, early introduction of complementary foods is undesirable. The gastrointestinal tract must be improved before a decision is made to make a drastic change in diet. Subsequently, it is advisable to take care of the very careful introduction of any new products, since each baby reacts to changes in the diet in a special way.

How to avoid constipation in babies

In case of problems associated with bowel movement, you should take care of an additional consultation with an experienced pediatrician. The doctor will examine the baby, determine the cause of the problem and provide detailed advice for further effective treatment.

If the problems persist for some time, it is inappropriate to postpone the visit to the doctor until a later date and believe that everything will work out by itself. At the same time, home treatment also becomes highly undesirable. The state of health of the baby depends on this.

The main task of every young mother is to take care of the implementation of preventive measures:

It takes time for a full-fledged gastrointestinal tract to work in a baby. In this regard, it is necessary to worry in advance about the possibility of carrying out medical or preventive measures. Proper nutrition of a nursing woman is considered one of the most important aspects of normalizing stool in infants, but other aspects should not be discounted.

Stool problems in newborns are familiar to every mom. But how to distinguish constipation in infants while breastfeeding from other gastrointestinal problems? You can understand what is happening with the baby by certain symptoms. On breastfeeding, this phenomenon is quite rare, but sometimes it does occur.

After birth in newborns, on days 1-3, the first-born feces - meconium - the remnants of digested amniotic fluid are released. It can be dark brown to black in color, with a thick oily consistency. Gradually, the feces become softer, light brown or golden in color with the smell of sour milk. Various inclusions are possible - greenish, white and others.

In the first month, stool frequency can vary from 3 to 12 times. Pediatricians believe that it is normal for a child to have a bowel movement after every meal. By 3-4 months, the baby does it less often - 5-6 times a day. At 6 months, when complementary foods begin to be introduced, the child can poop no more than twice a day. These norms are conditional, since all children are individual. Someone may go to the toilet more often, someone less often.

If a newborn's diaper is not stained for several days, this is not a cause for concern, if the baby is feeling good, cheerful and active. The norm for the absence of feces during breastfeeding is considered to be up to 7 days.

Symptoms of constipation in infants

But the baby has more than just stool retention. Symptoms of constipation while breastfeeding in a baby are:

1. Tight tight tummy.
2. Frequent and unsuccessful attempts of the baby.
3. The child poops with crying.
4. Emitted gases with a very unpleasant odor.
5. The child's feces are hard, the so-called "goat".
6. When emptying the intestines, a hard "plug" comes out first, and then a softer stool.

At the same time, the baby is often observed - sleep disturbance, capricious behavior, crying, anxiety. The symptoms of constipation will not be all at once in a newborn. The presence of 2-3 already means that you need to see a doctor.

Causes of constipation

There are several reasons for constipation in infants:

1. Underdeveloped nervous system;
2. Bowel defects;
3. Early introduction of complementary foods;
4. Improper nutrition of the mother;
5. The use of antibiotics;
6. Lack of milk.

In the first case, all children are born with an underdeveloped nervous system. In the intestine, the nerve endings are also not yet developed, and therefore it reacts poorly and does not push food.

Intestinal defects are: lengthening of the sigmoid colon, impaired intestinal innervation and lactase deficiency. These diseases are rare, most often have a genetic predisposition and are treated under medical supervision.

The early introduction of complementary foods is fraught not only with constipation, but also with other intestinal disorders. It is also possible volvulus, increased gas production, and much more. Pediatricians consider the normal age for complementary foods to be 6 months. Before that, the baby has enough breast milk.

Malnutrition of the mother is the most common cause of constipation in infants. You need to adjust your diet, then the child's stool will improve. Many foods cause constipation, while others are weak. We need to balance the menu.

The use of antibiotics is a necessity on which the life and health of the child or mother depends. Thereafter, the newborn often has digestive upsets, including constipation while breastfeeding.

Lack of milk - in this case, constipation in an infant is called "hungry". At the same time, the newborn has very little weight gain. You can understand whether the baby has enough food by his behavior - if he is looking for a breast after a rather long feeding, crying, then most likely he does not have enough milk. In addition, you can understand this by control weighing - the baby is weighed before and after feeding. If the increase is from 50 grams or more, then this is normal. But this norm is conditional, since 40 grams of milk is enough for one newborn, and 100 grams is not enough for another. At this point, you need to focus on the behavior of the baby.

In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between constipation and colic. If in the first case it is possible to help with the help of medicines and any other methods, then there is no treatment for colic, they disappear over time. You can understand that a child has colic, and not constipation, for several reasons:

• The time when the child becomes restless and cries is in the evening. Usually it is from 6 to 11-12 hours and is repeated from day to day. With constipation, pain attacks can occur at any time of the day.
• No medicines and methods help. In case of constipation, when choosing the right remedy, there is an improvement.
• If the baby has constipation, then pressing him to himself with his tummy or applying a warm diaper to him can calm him down. This will not help with colic.

But the pediatrician, who can prescribe tests and examinations, will help to introduce accuracy.

Treatment

At the first symptoms of constipation in a child, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician. He will prescribe the correct treatment that will help the baby and not harm his health. This is done after a thorough examination with the delivery of the necessary tests. In this case, the doctor verifies the symptoms, because the same symptoms can be signs of various diseases.

In extreme cases, when it is not possible to contact a doctor, for constipation in newborns with breastfeeding, treatment can be carried out independently in the following ways:

1. Dill water - you can make it yourself by brewing dill seeds, or you can buy it ready-made at the pharmacy.
2. Duphalac, Espumisan, Bobotik and other drugs - in this case the choice is very wide, but you need to select it individually.
3. Glycerin candles.
4. Microclysters Microlax.

In addition to dill water, everything else requires a doctor's confirmation.

You can also massage the tummy, apply a warm diaper.

Massage is done as follows:

1. Put the child on the back and stroke the tummy with soft circular movements. This relaxes smooth muscles, relieves spasms and simply psychologically brings mother and baby closer together.
2. Also put the baby on his back. Bend the legs at the knees and press them against the tummy, then lower them down. Repeat 10-15 times.
3. The baby lies on the back. Bend each leg in turn at the knee and make a circular motion with it, first clockwise and then counterclockwise.
4. Put the baby on his tummy and gently, with light movements, make a rhythmic massage along the spine.

In this case, many grandmothers advise to put an enema or, even worse, insert a bar of soap. In no case should this be done, as it threatens to "wash out" the intestinal microflora, damage the mucous membrane and intestinal microtraumas. It is also impossible to put enemas often, this is an extreme method of dealing with constipation.

If the baby has constipation from breast milk, or rather from the mother's malnutrition, then you just need to adjust the diet of the nursing mother. To do this, remove from the diet everything that causes constipation, and add laxatives and improve digestion.

Knowing which foods cause constipation, they need to be limited in use during the period of feeding the hepatitis B. You do not need to completely remove these foods from the diet, just reduce their amount, while consuming foods from the third column as much as possible. Laxative foods can be helpful in acute cases. When breastfeeding, this option works well. Especially often they say that you need to eat prunes (dried or fresh), it improves intestinal motility well.

Prophylaxis

You can prevent constipation in an infant while breastfeeding. The main thing is to listen to the doctor's advice and adhere to the recommendations that involve the prevention of constipation:

1. The baby's mother needs to eat properly and fully, adhering to the diet of a nursing mother.
2. You also need to drink enough water. And not only for the mother, but also for the baby. Yes, many pediatricians are against it. But if it is hot at home (summer, heating season), the child just needs additional liquid.
3. Place the baby on the tummy as often as possible. In addition, doing a simple exercise every morning - this charges the baby with additional energy, and the body makes it work as it should.
4. When introducing complementary foods, the main thing to remember is the same list of constipation-causing foods. It is necessary to focus on age, because early complementary feeding is not beneficial. But late feeding does not bode well.
5. Overheating must be avoided. Constipation is also possible after it.

Having understood why the baby has a tummy ache, you can help him correctly by choosing a treatment. But it must be remembered that a child's irregular bowel movements are not always a cause for concern. Sometimes this is the norm for this particular baby. You should not sound the alarm and run to the doctors on the very first day of the delay. First, you need to give the baby time to try to cope on his own, so that the baby's body understands how to properly deal with difficulties, including such. But if it did not work out even after two days, then the help of a doctor is needed.

Fermented milk products must be included in the daily diet of every person. Milk is especially useful for a growing body due to its high calcium content, which is necessary for bone formation. Dairy products also help keep your digestive system working properly. Next, we will take a closer look at how to drink milk correctly for constipation in adults and children.

Dairy products have the following features and benefits:

• Positive effect on the protective functions of the body. Immunity and resistance to viral diseases are strengthened.
• Improving the work of important organs and systems.
• The risk of developing heart disease is reduced.
• Milk helps to eliminate swelling of the limbs.
• Excellent prevention of malignant neoplasms.
• Providing the body with useful trace elements necessary for normal human life. Milk is especially beneficial for babies for normal development and growth.
• Calming effect on the nervous system, relieving stress and nervous tension, improving sleep.
• Burning excess body fat.
• Reducing the risk of developing diabetes.
• Dairy dishes are useful for high stomach acidity and gastritis. Regular consumption of milk allows you to eliminate inflammation and normalize the acidity of the stomach.

Dairy drinks and fiber in the diet will help restore normal digestive processes. Milk can be combined with fruits and cereals.

Is there milk constipation?

In some cases, an adult may be constipated from milk. It all depends on the individual characteristics of a particular person and his lifestyle. Next, we will consider the features of cow and goat milk.

Cow's milk

Cow's milk is especially popular in our time, constipation from which occurs in rare cases. First of all, the high fat content of dairy products leads to a violation of the natural processes of defecation. Also, an excessive amount of milk in the daily diet can lead to various digestive problems. If you eat right, you can avoid all of these problems.

Goat milk

Compared to cow's milk, goat's milk has a high content of microelements useful for the body. It is more valuable and nutritious, especially for a growing organism. In addition, goat milk is better absorbed and does not cause allergic reactions. That is why experts recommend that children buy goat milk.

In this case, there are cases when the stomach cannot cope with dairy products and the natural process of defecation is disturbed. This is mainly due to the high fat content of the milk. Therefore, it is recommended to dilute it with water. Goat milk is not recommended for pancreatic diseases and obesity.

It is best to drink milk before meals to avoid digestive problems. You should also drink plenty of water throughout the day to liquefy the stool in your colon.

Treatment

It is recommended to start acquaintance with dairy products with small portions and monitor the reaction of the body. Fermented milk products cannot be completely excluded from the diet because of their invaluable benefits for the human body. Therefore, you need to try to adapt the stomach to lactose, following the simple advice of experts.

Adults

To get the most out of milk for constipation in adults, it is recommended to first reduce the fat content. In addition, you can buy a ready-made product with the required fat content, which is indicated on the package. Fatty dairy products negatively affect the metabolism, which leads to congestion in the colon.

So, we buy skim milk or dilute it with water at home. Also, kefir, which is recommended to drink before bedtime, will be an excellent alternative to restore the normal functioning of the digestive system. Fermented milk products restore beneficial microflora in the intestines and normalize stool. In addition to kefir, you can drink low-fat yogurt with live bacteria at night.

Children

To prevent the child from becoming constipated from cow's milk, you need to adhere to the following simple recommendations:

• Only after a year can milk be introduced into the baby's daily diet. By this time, it is best to use special formulas adapted to the child's body, as well as breastfeeding.
• It is best to buy milk for babies from the store. Dairy products must undergo heat treatment and purification from bacteria, therefore they are safe for the health of the baby. Milk purchased from the spontaneous market can contain dangerous viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it is better not to risk it. You can also choose the desired fat content in the store.
• Digestion processes are negatively affected by dairy products with high fat content. Therefore, it is better to choose milk with a fat content of no more than 2.5%.
• Only after reaching the age of three can goat milk be introduced into the daily diet of the baby. A high fat content can harm a baby's imperfect digestive system. Goat milk must also be heat treated and refined to be safe for the baby's health.
• Drinking warm milk is recommended to dilute hardened stool. Cold, on the contrary, can lead to indigestion and colds.
• You can do enemas using warm milk, but only after consulting a doctor.

Benefits of goat milk

Goat milk is especially beneficial for a growing body. It helps the child to grow faster, gain the desired weight, and strengthen the body's protective functions.

Compared to breast milk, goat has less lactose and does not cause an allergic reaction. This is an excellent nutritional option after breastfeeding is complete. In this case, you need to choose products that have undergone heat treatment and are safe for the baby's health. Otherwise, there is a risk of contracting various infections through milk that has not been specially purified.

To avoid problems with bowel movements, it is imperative to monitor the fat content of milk. You can reduce the fat content with boiled water. Also, do not overfeed your children. The menu should be varied and balanced to ensure the smooth functioning of the digestive system.

Constipation from goat milk can be accompanied by pain in the abdomen. In this case, you need to completely exclude dairy products from the diet and consult a doctor.

What is constipation? The position of the official Russian medicine today is as follows. Constipation in children is considered to be self-emptying of the intestines less often than 1 time in 1.5 - 2 days. Constipation in infants is a fairly common problem. Read about the ways to solve it below.

Along with the stool, substances unnecessary for the body are removed from the child's body. Consequently, during stool retention, they accumulate in the intestines, undergo rotting and fermentation, substances that are harmful and toxic to the child are formed, which irritate the intestines and are absorbed into the blood.

As a result, the child may have bloating and intestinal colic, malaise, weakness, lethargy, anxiety and moods, fever (usually a slight 37.1 - 37.2 ° C.

Conclusion- constipation is bad. If the child does not have a chair for 1.5 days or more, you need to help him.

Constipation in infants before the introduction of complementary foods

Why does constipation in infants occur less often than in artificial ones?

Colostrum

Children who are breastfed from the first hours, and with the right approach, from the first minutes of life, receive colostrum. In addition to numerous other useful qualities, colostrum has a laxative effect due to the higher content of oligosaccharides, magnesium and potassium ions in it than in mature milk. This allows the child to quickly clear the intestines of original feces (meconium). And together with it, various metabolic products, hormones, medications that are not needed by the child, which came to him from the mother during or immediately after childbirth, are removed from the body. Therefore, despite the small amount eaten, the newborn child has frequent bowel movements (from 1 time per day, to a number equal to the number of feedings).

Mature milk

In 2-3 weeks after giving birth, colostrum gradually turns into mature milk. Mature human milk also has a mild laxative effect, mainly due to dietary fiber - oligosaccharides. Human milk contains about 10 g / l of oligosaccharides, which are represented by more than 100 different compounds. Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates that can reach the large intestine unchanged. Where they are digested under the influence of the intestinal microflora, in the process of digestion, oligosaccharides are decomposed into simple substances that lower the pH. That contributes to the correct formation of this very microflora, the colonization of the intestines with beneficial lacto and bifidobacteria, and the death of bacteria harmful to the child. Oligosaccharides are able to attract water into the intestinal lumen, they form feces, making them softer. In addition, in the process of their digestion, various gases are formed that irritate the intestines and cause increased peristalsis.

Most bottle-fed products do not contain oligosaccharides. Therefore, in artificial people, constipation occurs more often than in infants.

Lactose

Mature human milk contains more carbohydrates than colostrum. They are represented by lactose. (Approximately 70-75 g of lactose per liter of milk). Most of the lactose is digested in the small intestine by the enzyme lactase. But, some of the lactose enters the large intestine unchanged. According to its chemical structure, lactose belongs to oligosaccharides. Therefore, when it enters the large intestine, it exhibits all their properties, i.e. has a laxative effect.

How much lactose gets into the large intestine, and therefore how strong its laxative effect will be, depends on the activity of the lactase enzyme and on the rate at which milk passes through the intestine.

If there is little lactase, a large amount of lactose ends up in the large intestine. As a result, the child has frequent, liquid foamy stools, intestinal colic, and other unpleasant manifestations of lactase deficiency.

The length of time that milk is in the small intestine also matters. The longer the milk is there, the more lactose is digested. This is greatly influenced by the fat content of milk. The fattier the milk, the longer it stays in the small intestine, and the slower it is evacuated into the large intestine.

As you know, human milk has a different composition at the beginning and at the end of feeding. The lactose and protein content in all portions of milk is approximately the same. And the fat content in the first portions of milk is significantly less than in the milk that the child receives at the end of feeding. Therefore, if the baby is at the breast for a short time, receives only the first portions of milk, with low fat content, milk very quickly enters the large intestine. And lactose, not having time to digest, has a laxative effect. And if the child sucks for a long time and sucks out the back, fatty milk, lactose has time to digest and there may be no laxative effect.

Constipation in infants Causes

1. The most common reason

Most often, constipation in a newborn or, more correctly, stool retention occurs due to imperfect intestinal motility. The contents of the intestines are quite liquid, and the child cannot empty himself on his own: peristaltic waves can be directed in different directions - everything is boiling in the stomach, the child is crying, pushing, but there is no stool. This is called functional constipation.

In this case, you need

• gently massage the tummy clockwise,
• more often lay the child on his stomach, so his abdominal muscles are strengthened, abdominal pains are relieved,
• encourage the child's physical activity, move his legs and arms,
• if there is no stool for more than 1.5 days, try to induce a bowel movement in the child, irritating the anus with a gas tube, a cotton cord, a cotton swab.

2. Constipation in infants The child is starving

The child is malnourished, in this case, in addition to the absence of a chair, the baby does not gain weight well.

Most often, this may be due to the fact that the mother has little milk. It is necessary to establish lactation or consider the possibility of introducing supplementary feeding.

A similar situation can arise when a child's appetite decreases as a result of his various diseases, both infectious and non-infectious. In this case, you need to treat the child for the underlying disease.

3. Constipation in infants The child receives little fluid

It is hot at home and outside, you wrap him up too much, the baby loses a lot of fluid with sweat, the child has a fever.

The baby needs supplementation with water or more frequent breastfeeding.

4. Constipation in infants due to mom's diet

Some foods can affect the composition of milk and have a firming effect on both the mother and the baby:

• If the mother eats a lot of fatty foods, especially with a predominance of animal fats (butter, lard, sour cream, fatty cottage cheese), the fat content of the milk rises, which can lead to constipation. Therefore, you should not deliberately try to increase the fat content of milk. However, it is even more harmful to a child to specifically diet to reduce its fat content.
• A strengthening effect is possessed by: rice, pear, pomegranate, strong tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, flour.
• When a mother suddenly switches from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to refined foods, poor in fiber, the mother and child may experience constipation.

If the child has constipation, the mother needs to analyze her diet and change it: try to ensure that the diet is dominated by vegetable fats, fresh vegetables and fruits and dried fruits (especially beets, plums and prunes), cereals from unrefined cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, corn), dairy products. The diet should be changed slowly and gradually. Introduce new products one at a time, starting with small amounts and carefully monitor the child's reaction. With a sharp change in the mother's diet, the child may experience digestive upset.

5. Constipation in infants as a side effect of medications taken by the mother or child

If a child has been prescribed a medicine (smecta, enzymes, iron supplements, etc.), and after the start of taking it, constipation occurs, this should be discussed with the doctor, it may be necessary to change the dose, the regimen of taking the medicine, stop taking it altogether or combine the intake of this drug with another , which has a laxative effect. Medicines taken by the mother can also affect the child's stool pattern.

The use of antibiotics by a child or mother can also cause constipation due to a violation of the intestinal microflora. Therefore, after antibiotics, probiotics (linex, bifidum or lactobacterin, etc.) are usually prescribed to restore it.

6. Various congenital diseases as a cause of constipation

In this case, constipation occurs immediately after birth, is prolonged, worse or not at all amenable to treatment with conventional means.

• Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital malformation of a portion of the large intestine. It is rare (for 15 years in the clinic there was 1 such case). It is manifested by prolonged constipation from birth, not amenable to any treatment, except for surgery. The operation is reduced to the removal of a non-functioning section of the intestine.
• Congenital hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormones. True congenital hypothyroidism is rare, but temporary, passing during the first year of life quite often (especially in premature and immature children). One of the manifestations of the disease is constipation, in addition, the child may be lethargic, gain weight poorly, lag behind in neuropsychic development, etc. A pediatric endocrinologist is involved in the treatment of hypothyroidism. The administration of thyroid hormones leads to a cure for constipation. Hormones are prescribed for a long time, most often they are gradually canceled, but some children take thyroid hormones for life.
• Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease in which the functions of the glands of external secretion, including the pancreas, are disrupted in a child. As a result, the stool becomes very dense and does not move well through the intestines. The child has severe constipation, up to complete intestinal obstruction. Symptoms of the disease are corrected by lifelong intake of enzyme preparations in high doses.
• Dolichosigma is a congenital anomaly (lengthening) of the sigmoid colon. The most common symptom is constipation, dolichosigma may be asymptomatic or manifest as increased gas production, abdominal pain. A gastroenterologist and a pediatric surgeon are involved in diagnostics and treatment. Most often, treatment is reduced to the selection of a diet, massage and therapeutic exercises, laxatives are used less often, surgical treatment is carried out only as a last resort, if all other methods do not work.

7. Hereditary features Constipation in infants

There are people (including children) in whom the movement of the food bolus from the mouth to the anus takes more than 48 hours, but this cannot be explained by any of the above reasons. But you can trace this feature in several generations in the family. This may be due to the high activity of digestive enzymes, less active intestinal peristalsis, and many other hereditary features. In such people (including children), self-emptying of the intestines can occur 1 time in 3 days or even less often. This gives some discomfort, others do not experience any inconvenience about it. But nevertheless, this cannot be considered the norm for everyone.

What is considered the norm for babies

There is such a point of view regarding babies abroad.

A breastfed baby has the right to any smell, color, frequency and consistency of stool, as long as this does not affect his growth and development.

Those. if a child who is exclusively breastfed has no stool for a week, without any other alarming symptoms, this is not a cause for concern, but a variant of the norm. This means that mother's milk is very well absorbed, so well that there is nothing to remove from the child's body.

But this statement has weaknesses.

• Why is this considered the norm only for babies?
• Why can't the mixture digest very well too? Artificial people, as you know, suffer from constipation more often, but for them stool retention for more than 3 days, according to the same foreign experts, is not considered the norm, in such cases, an individual selection of a mixture or laxatives is carried out.
• If you eat constantly refined, poor in fiber, and, therefore, very well digestible food, adults also develop constipation, and everyone recognizes that in this case the diet needs correction, with foods rich in dietary fiber.

Therefore, I, together with official domestic medicine, do not support the position of foreign experts and still believe that independent stool in a child, both breastfed and artificially fed, should not be less than once every 1.5 - 2 days.

Constipation in infants What to do?

If the child has a stool delay of more than 1.5 days,

• Help the child using the methods outlined in paragraph 1.
• If the result is not achieved - use the drug "microlax" or "glycerin candle" or give it to the child. Microlax draws water into the intestines and softens stool. Glycerin suppositories irritate the rectum, stimulating bowel movements.

Enemas and suppositories are emergency options for stool retention. They are needed in case of sudden constipation in order to achieve the result immediately, but once. It is not recommended to repeat them often. It is necessary to achieve regular bowel movements in the child in another way.

If the child has frequent constipation from birth, you need to see a doctor to rule out any serious congenital diseases that may be causing them (see point 6).

After that, together with the doctor

• Analyze whether the child is eating enough, whether he has a good appetite, how he is gaining weight (see point 2).
• If the mother or child is taking medications, study and try to reduce their side effects (point 5).
• Eliminate the option with a lack of fluid in the child's body (point 3). After the establishment of lactation in the mother (and for some medical reasons, even earlier), a healthy newborn child can be given 100-150 ml, for supplementing, you can use baby teas with a slight laxative effect, containing chamomile flowers, fennel seeds, dill.
• Correct mom's diet (see point 4). For artificial people, you can choose the right mixture instead.

Laxatives

If all of the above has not led to the establishment of a regular bowel movement in the child. It is required to choose a laxative for the child. The only laxative that is allowed to be used in children under 1 year old is lactulose (or duphalac).

Lactulose is an oligosaccharide that is produced artificially from lactose. Such a substance does not exist in nature. A person does not have an enzyme capable of digesting it. Therefore, it enters the large intestine unchanged. Where it shows all the beneficial properties of oligosaccharides. Lactulose has no systemic effect on the body. Since, under the influence of intestinal microflora, it decomposes into galactose and fructose. Therefore, long-term use of lactulose is possible. But with an excess of lactulose, the child has diarrhea and increased gas production in the intestines. Therefore, the dose of the drug is selected for each child individually: treatment begins with small doses with a gradual increase until the desired result is achieved.

After that, most often, the stool in children is getting better and there is no need to take lactulose.

It's all about constipation in babies. Stay healthy.

Is it worth drinking milk for constipation or is it better to refuse it? What foods cause intestinal discomfort?

• pain and colic;
• swelling and discharge of gases.

Some people experience stool retention or diarrhea, even children may be constipated from milk if they have an intolerance to some of the substances in this product.

Sometimes, after a glass of milk, constipation appears in an adult, and even in a baby. This is due to the fact that the cause of stool retention is intolerance to milk sugar. It often develops with age, but sometimes the child has a congenital lactose aversion.

In addition, there is a category of people who can react in this way to the milk protein alpha - 1s-casein, which is contained exclusively in milk from a cow. This protein substance is capable of creating a sticky membrane in the digestive organs, which forms along its walls. It interferes with the absorption of nutrients and slows down colonic motility. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink milk in case of constipation.

• rickets;
• anemia;
• low weight;
• frequent colds.

If kids consume this drink, then they will be able to quickly gain weight, replenish the body with nutrients, and increase immunity. But with constipation, it does not need to be given to children to drink, since it has a high fat content, and also inhibits the production of gastric juice and intestinal peristalsis.

Drinking goat's milk with constipation is also impossible, this can lead to a deterioration in digestion and painful acts of defecation. Moreover, such a malfunction of the intestines occurs much more often than after drinking cow's milk.

It is better for adults to refuse to consume milk; various fermented milk mixtures, which are designed specifically for babies, can save children from constipation. Parents who prefer formula milk should be aware that starting from 6 months of age, this product will fill the baby's body with all the necessary nutrients. But sometimes, due to a sharp transition or violation of microflora and acid-base balance in the intestine, the baby may have a stool retention.

Can kefir cause constipation? This nutritious and thirst-quenching product is recommended by doctors to facilitate bowel movements for people with stool retention. But there are times when you can get the opposite result.

1. Remove from the diet foods that contain lactose and casein: some types of cheese, cottage cheese, cream, yoghurts, varenets and other drinks.
2. To soften the stool, you need to drink more water.
3. Increase the intake of easily digestible fats, which will also improve the consistency of feces and lubricate the intestinal walls.
4. To balance your diet, and also to accelerate peristalsis in case of constipation, you can add the amount of foods rich in fiber.

By following all of the above tips, a person with a stool disorder will get rid of it.

Not always a delicate problem arises in a person who uses kefir, due to the intolerance of its constituent substances. Sometimes constipation occurs due to the pathogenic bacterial flora that has developed in it. This happens if you drink kefir that has stood for three to four days or more. Beneficial microorganisms have a beneficial effect on digestion, help to improve the act of defecation, and pathogenic ones, on the contrary, provoke the hardening of feces.

In order to prevent the development of constipation in the body, which entails the occurrence of more serious diseases, it is necessary to understand in detail what caused such a failure in the work of the digestive tract, and eliminate the causes of this violation. If it is difficult for a person to do this himself, then you can visit a specialist who will help solve this problem.

1. Convenience foods and fast food, fast food. These foods are virtually fiber-free, but contain many harmful additives and salt.
2. Fatty, fried foods, smoked meats and sweet creams with the addition of oil.
3. Sweet baked goods made from premium flour.
4. Flour for making matzo.
5. Chocolates and sweets.
6. Red wine.
7. Persimmon, cactus fruit, unripe bananas, dogwood, pomegranate juice, blueberries, pears.
8. Celery, corn and popcorn.
9. Meat, especially red meat.
10. Dishes from potatoes, rice or pasta with meat.
11. Strong tea and coffee.
12. Pickles and marinades, as well as monosodium glutamate.

All of these foods dehydrate the body and remain in the intestines for a long time due to the lack of fiber, which is present in fruits and vegetables. The constant use of such food leads to persistent constipation, especially if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle.

But this problem can be prevented by reducing or eliminating these foods from the diet and adding fiber-rich foods. When it enters the body, it swells, creates volume, then moves through the intestines, cleans it of feces, glucose, cholesterol, carcinogens and leaves without being absorbed.

Therefore, it must be replaced with boiled and baked vegetables.