Question
My child hasn’t had a bowel movement for five days now. The child has been supplementing with zinc recently and isn’t eating much. They are still breastfeeding, and their bowel movements usually occur every three days. It’s now the fifth day, and they still haven’t had a bowel movement. I’m seeking assistance: Hello, what methods can you suggest?
Answer
A temporary solution is to use one pediatric enema, cut it open, and insert it into the anus. After storing it for five minutes, bowel movements can occur. Alternatively, you can use a soap ball cut into a cylindrical shape and inserted into the anus. Be careful not to overuse enemas and laxatives, as frequent use of enemas or soap ball enemas can lead to the disappearance of normal bowel reflexes, making constipation harder to correct. Never frequently use laxatives, as children have incomplete absorption functions, and using laxatives may cause nausea and vomiting.