Causes of the constipation

The constipation at a baby is a reason for concern for the parents. One speaks about true constipation in the infant when the saddles are done rare (less than three times per week) but also when they are hard.

Causes of the constipation

The majority of the constipations in the child are known as “functional calculuses”, that means that they are not related to a disease, with a precise pathology. Its problem of transit is generally related to food, nutritional factors… and sometimes related to its environment. If, for example, the baby is in the course of weaning (passage of breast feeding by the center with the feeding-bottle), a momentary constipation can occur because of the change of food. The disturbed transit should gradually become again normal.

A constipation can also be related to a stress… even in certain infants. It is the change of environment which can be the reason about it. A baby kept by his mother can express his stress at the time of his first days in crib by a problem of constipation, for example.

A lack of contribution out of water can also cause constipation in the child, in particular the summer.

Complications and other diseases to be feared

If there is chronic constipation, the principal complication is the anal crack. Result: when the child suffers as soon as it has saddles, it will tend to be retained. And it is thus likely to worsen its constipation. Care is then necessary to cure its crack.

A rare disease at the baby can generate constipation, it is the disease of Hirschsprung. It is about a problem concerning the nervous system which innerve the final part of the digestive tract (in other words, baby is born with part of the colon paralyzed, because deprived of nervous circuit). This dysfunction requires an surgical operation which consists in withdrawing the paralyzed part and to connect the healthy parts end to end.

A risk of occlusion?

An obstruction of the bowels is sometimes dreaded by the parents. The symptoms are generally rather characteristic: sudden abdominal pains (the baby cries), a paleness, vomiting, sometimes of blood in the saddles… In very the young child (more often boys), the origin is generally an intestinal problem of invagination. The opinion of a doctor in urgency is essential, and of the examinations will be realized (radiography).

Drugs

One must there have recourse only on medical opinion.
> By oral way, drugs containing macrogol could be prescribed.

> Lubricants can be also advised to contribute with the passage and the evacuation of the saddles, like a drug containing paraffin.

The rectal injections must be practiced exceptionally, and preferably by one looking after.

Our councils

> Avoid excesses of flours in the feeding-bottle. They support the constipation of baby.

> Think of often proposing water with the baby (especially the summer), and split his meals.

> Put a little vegetable fibers in each feeding-bottle, as for example a spoon with coffee of a small vegetable pot which will have a laxative effect.

> To relieve baby, put it on the changing table, remove its layer, and gently mass to him the belly around the navel or fold up its legs on its abdomen to relieve its problems of intestinal transit time.

> If the constipation of baby persists or that he cries of pain, consult!