Question
A 37-day-old baby, after experiencing constipation, used to defecate once a day. However, in the past five days, the baby has been defecating 7 or 8 times during the day but not at night. The parents have given the baby two days of probiotic treatment but there has been no improvement. Additionally, the baby’s nighttime urination has decreased to only two times, and the parents are worried that the baby may be showing signs of dehydration. The baby is currently taking probiotics, half a packet each time, twice a day. The parents want to know if this situation is normal and how to handle it if dehydration does occur.
Answer
The baby’s frequency of defecation is relatively high, and if the urine output is significantly reduced, it is indeed necessary to be concerned about the possibility of dehydration. Currently, if the baby’s mental state is good and appetite is normal, attention should first be paid to oral rehydration and appropriate oral rehydration salts should be supplemented. At the same time, in addition to the probiotics mentioned, it can also be considered to use montmorillonite powder in combination to control diarrhea and conduct fecal examination.