Question
My child was just born, and on the second night, I noticed that the baby started to have abdominal distension, with little gas and bowel movement. After taking medication for defecation, the belly quickly swelled up again, and the smell of flatulence was rather strong. What should I do about newborn abdominal distension?
Answer
If a newborn has abdominal distension, the first thing to check is whether there is also vomiting. If there is repeated vomiting with food, even bile or stool, constipation, it will resolve once every 3-5 days, with very little stool. If the baby is losing weight, it may be congenital megacolon, and it should be checked and treated further in the hospital as soon as possible. If the abdominal distension subsides while feeding, but becomes obvious after feeding, without vomiting or occasional vomiting, and the abdominal distension eases after passing gas, with no stool felt upon palpation of the abdomen, normal milk intake, and no weight loss, it may be due to improper feeding methods. The baby may be taking in more air while suckling, causing pressure and abdominal distension. It is recommended to take the child to the hospital for further treatment.