Newborn Constipation

Newborn constipation should be defined as hard, dry bowel movements and not necessarily the absence or infrequency of it in a human child less than a month old.

"Not Smelly Poo"

One of the many, many things in life a new arrival has to learn is to have its own bowel movements. A prelude to this important body function is the disposable of materials ingested by the baby while it is developing in its mother's aqueous womb. These materials which include - epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water - the baby will pass out within the first few days of life in the form of viscous tarlike substance called meconium.

Even though meconium is what they called "the first stool", it is not really feces as the composition is different plus there is no odor.

Failure to pass meconium is a symptom of rare congenital Hirschsprung's disease.

Otherwise, true constipation is not common in newborn humans. ( Every newborn kittens are very "constipated", though ) However as newborns undergo tremendous physical development on a daily basis, parents observe alterations in stool patterns such as the initial yellow, seedy feces after every feed which becomes less frequent. Sometimes parent misunderstood this change of patterns as constipation.

Milky Issue

Usually it is the change of breast milk to formulas or switch of formulas that cause newborns to pass harder or larger stools.

Some parents report that soy-based formulas are "more constipating." But this may not be necessarily true, as quality soy-based formulas are considered " safe and effective when needed" by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is also a remedy for constipated babies who cannot tolerate cow's milk formulas. It could be due to the fact that soy beans do produce firmer stools and introducing soy formula to the baby is a switch of milk diet...

Low iron or high iron? Some mothers think iron fortified formulas can cause newborn constipation. The truth is, there is no significant difference in constipation rate between infants fed with low iron formulas and high iron.

Handling Tiny Constipation

What to do if a newborn is having less bowel movements, harder and bigger stools and are hurting to pass? Start with an oz or two of water is reasonable. If this doesn't work, give the baby small amounts of sugary substance to draw water into the gut to soften the stools. For example a 1:1 dilution of water and prune juice* daily. ( No, I am not talking about karo syrup )

At about six weeks old, a chronically constipated baby developing depressed nasal bridge, large tongue, puffy eyes, short thick neck,, very bloated belly, dry cold skin, little crying but hoarse, drinks little, and sleeps for long periods could be displaying symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism.

Comparing a one month old baby with a six month old baby moves us to realize how tender and fragile is the former. Therefore, it makes good sense to refer constipation of babies less than two months old to a doctor who knows better how to give constipation treatments which varies with age. Especially when the measures taken above failed to alleviate newborn constipation.

Reference:

Broadribb's Introductory Pediatric Nursing by Nancy T. Hatfield

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