Why do premature babies always strain?

Premature babies are more likely to show signs of straining their whole body. Generally speaking, this is a normal physiological phenomenon, so parents don't need to worry. Children's nervous systems are not fully developed, and sometimes they will have some reflex movements. Also, because their digestive systems are immature, they are prone to gastrointestinal burdens, which may also make them feel uncomfortable. Let's take a look at why premature babies always strain.

1. The nervous system is not fully developed

It is normal for babies under three months old to be easily startled because their nervous system is not yet fully developed. During the neonatal period, parents can stimulate the baby's nervous system development by giving the baby touch. Parents can stimulate the development of their baby's nervous system by giving their baby touch.

2. Transition between deep sleep and light sleep

Babies have shorter sleep cycles and often switch between deep sleep and light sleep. During the transition process, they may hum, strain, cry, etc., just like us adults, who also stretch and roll around at night.

3. The digestive system is not yet fully developed

After the baby is born, the nutrition delivered by the umbilical cord changes to direct eating, and this process also requires adaptation. Babies grow the fastest before three months old, and they eat a lot and poop frequently, even while eating, so the burden on their gastrointestinal tract is not light. This causes the baby's stomach to growl and sometimes twist and strain. It is easy for babies to hold their breath when they are trying hard, and it is normal for their faces to turn red.

4. Rapid growth

In the first three months, your baby's weight can double and his length can be more than 20% longer than when he was born. As you can imagine, the baby's bones, tendons, muscles, and skin are all growing rapidly, so they need to be constantly stretched to relieve the discomfort of this process. The baby's exertion and shaking of his arms indicate that his body is developing rapidly.

5. Bloating and abdominal discomfort

If a newborn has a bloated stomach or colic, he or she will not sleep well and will grunt and strain. This is because the baby wants to poop or pass gas, so the stomach needs to exert force while the anus needs to relax.

This article explains in detail why babies always strain. As a parent of a newborn baby, if you find that your baby always likes to exert force, then you don’t need to be overly nervous. This is a common phenomenon in the baby’s growth process and is determined by the baby’s physiological characteristics. You can take some small steps to solve it.