Question
What are the symptoms of neonatal constipation? My child is just over one month old, but he hasn’t had a bowel movement for a week. Could this be a sign of constipation?
Answer
The symptoms of neonatal constipation typically include small, dry, and hard stools, sometimes even resembling pebbles. Despite the baby still having some bowel movements daily, they often come with difficulty and pain during defecation. Sometimes, constipation can lead to blood on the surface of the stool, fecal incontinence, prolonged defecation time, abdominal pain, and bloating. Severe constipation may even cause anal fissures, leading to a child’s fear of defecation and creating a Vicious cycle. Long-term constipation can also cause other issues such as bloating, pain, anorexia, and sleep disturbances.