Question
The baby is being breastfed and has not pooped for a continuous seven days. During this period, the baby frequently farts but with no odor. This has happened three times before, and using a lubricant enema was able to relieve the constipation, with the stool not being dry. The baby currently has no discomfort. How should this situation be handled?
Answer
Some babies may experience a situation where they only poop once a week, commonly referred to as “retention.” As long as the baby does not show any abnormal symptoms such as fever, vomiting, abdominal swelling, delayed intellectual development, or difficulty in feeding, there is usually no need to worry excessively. If the baby shows other abnormal symptoms, it is advisable to go to the hospital for an infection check-up and undergo a digestive tract color Doppler ultrasound to rule out any problems. At the same time, attention should be paid to avoid the baby from contacting patients with colds to prevent catching a cold, and breastfeeding mothers should avoid eating greasy, spicy, and other irritant foods. If the baby seems to have a desire to defecate but cannot, consider repeating the digestive tract examination.