Question
A four-month-old baby has not had a bowel movement for the past six days and usually takes several days to defecate. The parents are worried about the baby’s health condition, as the baby has no other symptoms besides the bowel movement issue. The parents have been breastfeeding the baby exclusively and are wondering about the cause of this situation and are very concerned about the baby’s health. First Question Follow-up: The parents also have bowel movements every 2 to 3 days (the parents have anal fissures), and is this related to the baby’s condition? Can exclusive breastfeeding lead to a similar situation? Will it affect the baby? Second Question Follow-up: The baby has been exclusively breastfed without adding any solid food.
Answer
Firstly, it may be necessary to confirm if dehydration or insufficient diet is causing the constipation. Try increasing the baby’s water intake, and if breast milk is not enough to meet the baby’s needs, consider adding formula milk. Increasing milk intake can help with defecation. For constipation issues, the following methods can help the baby:
- Provide the baby with some water to avoid heat stroke.
- Increase the intake of breast milk or formula milk to promote defecation.
- Try using a soap swab to stimulate the baby’s anus to induce bowel movements. However, this method should not be used frequently to avoid dependence.
- Give the baby abdominal massage to promote gastrointestinal motility.
- Consider using digestive aids like “Mama Love” to help regulate the gastrointestinal system. If the baby’s stool is soft, it may indicate insufficient diet; if it is hard, it may be constipation. The mother’s diet also needs attention, avoiding foods that easily cause heat or irritation.