Infant Constipation Treatment

Like a good parent, you always want to see your baby, in the pink of health. It torments you to see the apple of your eye in pain. Your worry and concern for your child, sometimes make you paranoid. The moment you hear him sneeze or cough, you rush him to a pediatrician. You curse yourself for being so obsessed with him. But the good news is that you are not the only one. Most parents suffer from this fixation. It's good to be cautious, but most of the time it becomes an unnecessary visit to the doctor. One of the conditions that cause distress in most parents is constipation. It is a very common problem among babies and can be taken care of by treatment. Next time when your baby cries while having a bowel movement, observe the signs of constipation before heading to your pediatrician.

Symptoms

• Infrequent and painful bowel movement
• Bleeding from the anus
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Poor weight gain
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Irritable and cranky
• Streaks of blood in the stool

Causes

1. Normally breastfed babies are not constipated. The breast milk is easily digestible and does not cause any abdominal distention. But when you decide to wean him to formula milk, constipation can occur. Unlike breast milk, formula milk leaves undigested residue. A sudden switch to cow's milk can also cause constipation.
2. Lower intake of fluid causes dehydration in the body and can hamper the process of digestion.
3. When a breastfed baby is suddenly introduced to solid food, the digestive system takes time to cope up with the change in diet, resulting into constipation.
4. Fear of defecation can also lead to constipation. Most infants during potty training, try to hold back their stools. Over a period of time the waste gets accumulated, leading to constipation.
5. Low fiber intake can bother the digestion process, and this can be another cause of constipation.
6. Some babies can be allergic to certain kind of foods. This is a medical condition and needs immediate attention.
7. Some foods like banana, rice cereal, carrots and cheese can trigger constipation in some babies.
8. Medications like antacids, painkillers, antibiotics and iron supplements can also cause constipation.

Treatment

Diet Modification: The cause of constipation is often dietary. The treatment can be promoted by changing the infant's diet. If your baby is already on solid foods, high fiber food such as fruits and vegetables can be introduced. Fruits like peaches, plums, apricot and pears are known to relieve the symptoms of constipation. Make sure that the fluid intake is increased. If a certain baby formula causes constipation, try a different one or turn to another alternative, that is, soy milk.

Medication: Glycerin suppositories help to relieve the symptoms of constipation. Inserting a suppository stimulates the rectum and anus to defecate. Once inside the rectum the suppository melts in the heat of the rectum and lubricates the stool. If the baby is distressed and in severe pain, enema is prescribed. Enema is a liquid that is injected to stimulate evacuation. Milk of magnesia, mineral oil, docusate and malt soup extract are laxatives that can be used in the treatment for infant constipation. Medications for your infant has to be strictly administered after consulting your doctor.

Exercises and Massages: Other remedies include regular exercise and massage. If your baby is not walking yet, you can try to move his legs as if he is cycling. This will loosen the stool and help him defecate. You can even put him on his walker and encourage him to move around. Rolling or crawling can also help. Warm bath and subsequent tummy massage can help in relieving the symptoms.

The next time you hear your baby giggling and you laugh at his funny histrionics, you know that the treatment has helped.