Question
My little one is exclusively breastfed and is now three and a half months old. Is it normal for him to have a bowel movement every four to five days? And what should I do if his stools are a bit sticky?
Answer
If a newborn has constipation that lasts for a longer period, you can use rectal suppositories or soap sticks for temporary relief. However, this is just a solution for immediate situations. If it persists for more than 24 hours, you should be vigilant about a condition called neonatal megacolon. Diagnosis of this condition requires gastrointestinal contrast imaging and nerve cell biopsy to determine if there is a deficiency in colonic nerve cells. Additionally, some children may have an intrinsic disease of neurocytes, meaning they have nerve cells but they do not function properly.