Question

My child was born 25 days ago and has a bit of constipation. I want to know what I should do?

Answer

Constipation is a common clinical symptom. First, it’s important to determine whether the baby is experiencing constipation or abdominal pain. Breastfed infants rarely suffer from constipation in the first six months. If the baby is formula-fed, consider whether the mixture ratio of formula and water is incorrect. It is a common phenomenon that infants can fully digest and absorb breast milk, resulting in very little food residue produced each day, which is not enough to stimulate the rectum to form bowel movements, ultimately leading to not pooping for several days. Usually, the stool is soft and golden yellow, which is a very normal phenomenon. For constipation issues, you can try the following methods to help the baby defecate:

  1. Ensure the baby has an adequate intake of fluids; you can give them a small amount of warm water or glucose water.
  2. Increase the baby’s physical activity; gentle abdominal massage can help promote gastrointestinal motility.
  3. Perform a gentle abdominal massage on the baby to help stimulate bowel movement.
  4. If the above methods are ineffective, consult a doctor to see if some safe constipation medications are needed. These methods should be carried out under a doctor’s guidance. If the problem persists or there are other discomfort symptoms, please seek medical attention promptly.