Question

An eight-day-old newborn, who had passed meconium, has been switched to milk feeding due to the mother’s lack of milk. Now, the infant has not had a bowel movement for five consecutive days. The parents are worried whether it might be congenital intestinal obstruction. The baby is calm during the day but more restless at night, feeding every three to four hours, and supplemented with water during this period.

Answer

For infants experiencing constipation, it is recommended to adopt gastrointestinal adjustment methods to alleviate symptoms. Here are some feasible measures:

  1. Encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables to improve constipation.
  2. Suggest drinking warm water and honey water, and taking probiotics in appropriate amounts to achieve the effect of moistening intestines and promoting bowel movements.
  3. Perform abdominal massage; appropriate exercise can promote gastrointestinal motility and aid in defecation.
  4. Avoid eating hot and dry, fire-producing foods and develop the habit of regular bowel movements.