What to do if your 4-month-old baby is constipated

Every change in the baby after birth is watched by the mother. Because many new mothers do not understand the baby's growth and development very well, sometimes their judgment of the baby's physical condition is not very accurate. From birth to adulthood, every day is very difficult for babies, and mothers worry about their babies growing up healthily. Some mothers have found that their babies have not defecated for several days. Here are some tips for mothers on how to deal with constipation in 4-month-old babies.

Infant constipation is a common disease, which refers to dry and hard stools with long intervals and sometimes difficulty in defecation. Simple constipation is mostly caused by increased absorption of water and electrolytes by the colon. There are many adverse consequences of constipation, the most direct of which is anal fissure, which can cause bleeding after defecation and pain around the anus. If children feel pain after defecation, they will be unwilling to defecate, which will further cause constipation and form a vicious cycle. Children with severe constipation may also develop external hemorrhoids. In addition, children with chronic constipation often suffer from loss of appetite, which leads to malnutrition, mental depression, and intestinal dysfunction, which aggravates constipation.

(1) Cut the soap into the size of a little finger, 3 to 4 cm long, wet it with water and insert it into the anus to stimulate defecation.

(2) Boil white honey over low heat until it becomes viscous and then shape into tablets. If it is as big as a child's little finger, insert it into the anus.

(3) Use soapy water or saline for enema. Saline is suitable for children under 3 years old.

(4) In a few children, the stool is hard and stagnates at the anus. Adults must use their fingers to dig out the stool to relieve the child’s pain.

(5) Pay attention to supplementing prebiotics. Prebiotics such as isomalto-oligosaccharides help moisturize the intestines and promote bowel movements. Since they are non-drugs, they will not cause harm to the baby.

1. Inadequate diet

When babies eat too little, there is less liquid left after digestion, resulting in less and thicker stools. When there is insufficient sugar in milk, intestinal motility is weak, which may cause dry stools. Insufficient diet for a long time will cause malnutrition, reduced tension of abdominal and intestinal muscles, and even atrophy, weakened contraction force, forming a vicious cycle and aggravating constipation.

2. Improper food ingredients

The nature of stool is closely related to food composition. If the food contains a lot of protein but insufficient carbohydrates, the intestinal flora will change secondary, the fermentation process of the intestinal contents will be less, and the stool will tend to be alkaline and dry. If the food contains more carbohydrates, the intestinal fermentation bacteria will increase, the fermentation effect will increase, and more acid will be produced. The stool will tend to be acidic, frequent and soft. If the food intake is high in fat and carbohydrates, the stool will be smooth. If you eat a large amount of calcified casein, your stool will contain a large amount of insoluble calcium soap, causing increased stool volume and constipation. Among carbohydrates, rice noodles and flour foods are more likely to cause constipation than cereal foods. Children are picky eaters. Many children like to eat meat and eat little or no vegetables. There is too little fiber in their food, which can easily lead to constipation.

3. Intestinal dysfunction

It is common to suffer from constipation due to irregular lifestyle, lack of training for regular bowel movements, and failure to form a conditioned reflex for defecation. In addition, school-age children often do not have the habit of defecating in the morning, and cannot defecate at any time during study time. Holding back bowel movements during class is also a common cause of constipation. Frequent use of laxatives or enemas, lack of physical activity, or chronic diseases such as malnutrition, rickets, hypercalcemia, dermatomyositis, cretinism and congenital myasthenia gravis can all lead to constipation due to weakness and dysfunction of the intestinal wall muscles. Sympathetic nerve dysfunction and weak or paralyzed abdominal muscles also often cause constipation. Taking certain medications can reduce intestinal motility and cause constipation, such as anticholine drugs, antacids, certain anticonvulsants, diuretics, and iron supplements.

Constipation can be caused by anal fissure, anal stenosis, congenital megacolon, spina bifida or tumor compressing the cauda equina. A digital rectal examination, lower spine, and perineum should be performed. Some children are constipated after birth. If there is a family history, it may be related to genetics.

5. Mental factors

Sudden mental stimulation or sudden changes in environment and living habits in children may also cause short-term constipation.