It is normal for infants to get constipated at times. There are many signs and symptoms that you can look for in order to determine if your baby is suffering from constipation. This will help you decide on a course of action to help your infant through this difficult time.
Some of the symptoms include: Straining or obvious difficulty in your infants attempt to pass a stool, a hard or dry stool, bloating (due to excessive gas in the stomach), coated tongue and loss of appetite.
Breastfed babies rarely get constipation. It is generally the formula fed baby that develops the problem. That is because formula has a “harder” consistency than breast milk. It has long been the contention that breast milk is much better for a baby nutritionally, but there are other factors involved as well.
Water is what helps flush out the bowel movement. If there isn’t enough water in the colon, the matter which is in the colon becomes too dry and is unable to move through as easily as it should. This can often happen when a baby doesn’t want to eat. If the infant isn’t eating, he/she will find it much harder to get a bowel movement.
Change in the baby’s diet can cause this constipation as well. New foods are such a big change that it can shock the baby’s system a bit. There is also a chance that the baby could be allergic to the foods that he/she is eating.
It is possible that the constipation is caused simply by the nature of your baby’s make-up. He/she may naturally be prone to constipation. There are many ways to help alleviate the problem though. Talk to your pediatrician about your options.
There are sometimes causes for infant constipation that should be looked at more closely. It is important to note how often your infant gets constipated. Write down the information so that it is handy when you talk to the doctor. You should be able to tell the doctor how many times your infant has had a bowel movement, the consistency of the BM and all symptoms that your infant is showing. This will aid the doctor in determining a course of action.
If you choose to use an over the counter medication to relieve the constipation, it is wise to contact the doctor first to be sure that it is safe for your baby to take it. Always follow the label instructions to the letter. The instructions will be written according the each age group. The amount your give to your infant will be determined solely on his/her age.
Knowing the causes and symptoms of infant constipation can help you pinpoint it much more quickly. That will enable you to get your baby’s digestive tract back in proper working order. When you have gone through it once or twice, you will find out that you are an expert in the field who can help others that have the same problem.
