Question

For the past one or two months, my child has frequently experienced constipation issues, with hard, lump-like stools. Although the child can pass stool after using glycerin suppositories or soap water, the difficulty in defecation recurs quickly. Despite ensuring that the child drinks plenty of water and consumes vegetables every day, the situation does not seem to improve. What could be the cause of this? Past treatments and effects: We have tried Western medicine, but we are seeking other forms of assistance. We hope to understand how to effectively help the child with defecation.

Answer

Based on the information you provided, your child’s hard stools and frequent difficulties in defecation may be due to intestinal heat. I suggest you take the following measures:

  1. Ensure that your child drinks an adequate amount of water daily and consumes more vegetable soups.
  2. Give your child abdominal massage daily to promote intestinal peristalsis.
  3. Give your child yogurt or take probiotics such as Bifidobacterium longum to regulate intestinal flora.
  4. When introducing complementary foods, avoid high-calorie, high-protein foods like custard, and be cautious not to make formula milk too thick.
  5. Minimize the use of glycerin suppositories or soap water to aid defecation, as this may lead to a fear of defecation in the child, thereby exacerbating constipation issues. In summary, appropriate dietary adjustments are an important method for preventing and improving constipation.