Understanding And Quickly Addressing Newborn Constipation: A Parent’s Guide

   One of the most joyous moments for any family is the arrival of a new member. But parents should remember that newborns are more vulnerable to various kinds of diseases so they should be careful.

One such problem is newborn constipation. It should be treated as soon as possible as it can have a negative impact on the health of your infant. In this article, we are going to understand what newborn constipation is. We will also discuss about the symptoms and causes of this type of constipation. Let us begin.

What is newborn constipation?

Newborn constipation is a condition when the stool of your infant becomes hard and dry, thus making it difficult for him or her release their stool.

This process can be painful sometimes because of the hard stool. It is not uncommon for newborns to suffer from constipation when they are changing from breast milk to infant formula or from infant formula to solid food. 

In some rare cases, constipation can be caused by lack of nerves going to the intestines. It can also occur due to a problem in the formation of intestines during birth. You can conduct some medical tests for your infant for these conditions after discussing with a healthcare professional.

Causes of newborn constipation

Some of the major causes of newborn constipation are as follows:

Change in diet

As mentioned earlier, constipation commonly occurs in newborns during the transition phase between breast milk and infant formula.

This is mainly because formula milk is more difficult to digest compared with breast milk. Studies have found that transitioning from breast milk to infant formula is the most common cause of newborn constipation. 

Your infant may also experience constipation when they start eating solid food for the first time. This constipation occurs because the body is slowly learning about the ways of dealing with new types of food. It may take a few days to resolve. If the symptoms do not improve even after few days, you should contact a doctor.

Certain medicines and dietary supplements

Some medicines and dietary supplements can also be responsible for constipation in newborns. Some of these medicines and supplements are:

●Anticonvulsants

●Anticholinergics

●Antispasmodics

●Iron supplements

●Narcotic pain relief

Dehydration

Another cause of newborn constipation is dehydration. Dehydration occurs due to shortage of water in the body. There are numerous reasons for dehydration in infants.

Increased fluid loss and decreased fluid intake are the two major causes of dehydration in infants. The major reasons of increased fluid loss in infants are as follows:

●Gastrointestinal issues: Gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea are the main causes dehydration in newborns.

●Renal issues: Renal issues like diabetic ketoacidosis can also cause dehydration in infants.

● Excessive sweat: Excessive sweating results in loss of fluids from the body, leading to dehydration.

The major reasons for decreasing fluid intake are:

●Cold

●Pharyngitis

These problems can cause your infant to consume less fluid, which can lead to dehydration.

Health issues

There are numerous health issues which can cause newborn constipation. Some of them are as follows:

●Diabetes

●Spina bifida

●Celiac disease

●Hypothyroidism

●Injuries to brain and spinal cord

●A blockage in colon or rectum

●Narrow colon or rectum

●Hirschsprung’s disease

Stress

Stress is another reason for constipation in infants. Various factors can cause stress for your infant, such as travel, heat and movement. All these factors may affect the bowel functioning of your infant, leading to constipation.

Sickness

Sickness can be considered as another major cause of constipation in newborn infants. Stomach bugs causes vomiting and diarrhea in infants, which can lead to dehydration.

It is already mentioned in the above section how dehydration leads to constipation. Even illness like common cold can decrease the appetite of your infant. They may also feel uncomfortable to nurse from you because of their nasal congestion. Less liquid inside the body increases the chances of dehydration and constipation. 

Can mother’s diet cause constipation in infants?

Majority of women may wonder whether their diet can have any impact on the digestive system of their infants. According to some studies conducted by researchers, women are not required to avoid any kind of food during their pregnancy and even after giving birth.

However, it will be better if breastfeeding mothers avoid the consumption of caffeine because it is harmful for the infant. 

Small amounts of caffeine may pass from the mother to the infant through breast milk. Excessive amount of caffeine will reduce the concentration of iron in breast milk. This may cause mild iron deficiency in some infants.

Mothers are not required to follow dietary restrictions while breastfeeding. They should only try to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.

Symptoms of newborn constipation

Some of the common symptoms of constipation in infants are as follows:

●Prolonged periods of crying: If you notice your infant to be crying for prolonged periods, you can consider this as a symptom of newborn constipation

●Less stool than their usual pattern: Another symptom of newborn constipation is less stool than their usual pattern. If you notice this, you should consult with a doctor immediately

●Loss of appetite: Loss of appetite is another major symptom of newborn constipation. If your infant eats less than usual, you can consider calling a doctor

●Hard stool: Hard stool is also a major symptom of newborn constipation. If you notice hard pellet like stool, fix an appointment with a pediatrician.

Treatment for normal constipation 

Some of the common methods of treatment for newborn constipation are:

Give massage to your infant

Massaging an infant can help him or her to get rid of constipation. You can massage the belly of your infant in order to relieve constipation. Some of the effective massaging techniques are as follows:

●You can make circular motions on the belly of your infant with your fingertips

●You can gently bend the knees of your infant and push the feet towards the belly

●You can gently rub your palm from the top of your infant’s ribcage down to their stomach

Warm bath

A warm bath will have a soothing effect on the abdominal muscles of your infant which can make it easy for the stool to pass through their digestive system.

It is common for infants to experience constipation. Parents should look for the symptoms of newborn constipation. If they notice any symptom, they should consult a pediatrician without any delay.