What to do if a premature baby doesn't poop

If a premature baby has trouble defecating, you must pay attention to it. The stomach and intestines of a premature baby are sometimes not fully developed. If constipation occurs, it must be adjusted in time. If it is serious, it should be treated. Parents should massage the baby or use some medication for treatment. In this regard, you must go to the hospital in time and do it under the guidance of a doctor.

What to do if a premature baby doesn't poop

Constipation in newborns is a common symptom. It can be divided into two categories according to the different causes of constipation. One category is functional constipation, which is more common and can be cured by adjusting diet, lifestyle, etc. Another type is constipation caused by congenital intestinal malformations. This type of constipation cannot be cured by general conditioning and must be corrected through surgery to be completely cured. The vast majority of childhood constipation is functional constipation.

Signs of constipation in babies: small and dry stools; difficult and painful stools; abdominal distension and pain; and loss of appetite.

Whether a baby is constipated cannot be determined solely by the frequency of bowel movements. Instead, it is necessary to make an overall observation of the quality and quantity of the baby's stools, and to see whether it has any impact on the child's health. Each child has different physical conditions, so the normal number of bowel movements per day is also different. For example, a baby who is exclusively breastfed may have more bowel movements per day, while a baby who is fed with milk or other milk substitutes may have a bowel movement once a day or once every 2-3 days. As long as the nature and amount are normal and the baby has no other discomfort, it is normal.

How to quickly expel the accumulated stool from a constipated baby

When a baby becomes constipated, the stool is dry and hard. The dry and hard stool will irritate the anus and cause pain and discomfort. The baby is afraid of defecation and dare not force it. The stool cannot be expelled and the constipation will become more serious. The stool remaining in the body for a long time will cause toxins to accumulate in the body, affecting normal metabolism, resulting in malnutrition and decreased resistance. So, how can we get the accumulated stool of constipated babies out of the body as quickly as possible?

1. Massage

Place your palm flat on the baby's navel with your palm facing down, and gently massage in a clockwise direction. This not only speeds up the baby's intestinal peristalsis and promotes defecation, but also helps digestion.

2. Enema method

Cut open the tip seal of the enema. If there are burrs on the tube opening, be sure to smooth it out, and squeeze out a little medicine to lubricate the tube opening to avoid piercing the baby's anus. Let the baby lie on his side, insert the tube of the enema into his anus, gently squeeze the plastic bag to allow the liquid to spray into the anus, then pull out the empty shell of the enema, and clamp a clean paper towel at the baby's anus to prevent the liquid from overflowing and staining clothes or sheets. At the same time, advise your baby to try to wait until he can no longer bear it before defecating, so that the medicine can fully play its role in stimulating intestinal peristalsis and softening stool, achieving the best laxative effect.

3. Glycerol suppository method

Wash your hands, then open the wrapping paper of the conical glycerin suppository, slowly insert it into the baby's anus, and then gently press the anus. Try to wait as long as possible to allow the glycerin suppository to fully melt before defecation.

4. Soap Bar Method

Wash your hands and cut the soap into a conical soap bar about 3 cm long and as thick as a pencil. Moisten the soap bar with a little water and then slowly insert it into the baby's anus. Also, try to keep the soap bar in the anus for a longer period of time to fully stimulate the peristalsis of the anus.