Question
A premature infant who is nine months old experiences gastrointestinal distension after feeding, even when consuming only five milliliters of milk. X-ray and blood tests show normal results. What are the causes of this symptom, and what treatment should be applied?
Answer
This type of gastrointestinal distension may be due to digestive disorders caused by prematurity, particularly because the infant is still young and has insufficient gastric motility, meaning slower gastric peristalsis. It is recommended to use the index finger to perform abdominal massage on the infant in a clockwise direction daily, to promote gastrointestinal peristalsis. The massage can be done one to two times a day and should be performed with gentle force. Additionally, it is advisable to feed the infant thinner milk during feedings to avoid overly thick milk.