Mom of a newborn is interested in absolutely everything related to the development of the baby. Feeding, regurgitation, urination and bowel movements - nothing is left without attention. In addition, any deviations from the norm immediately cause a lot of anxiety. So what to do if the baby farts, but does not poop? How to help him normalize the microflora in the intestines and get rid of bloating? Answers to these and other questions will be presented in the article.
Features of a stool in a baby on breast and artificial feeding
When a baby is born, its intestines are sterile. During the first two weeks of life, bacteria are colonized in it: beneficial and conditionally pathogenic, which under certain conditions can lead to disease. The main source of beneficial microorganisms is breast milk. It is perfect for the baby. That is why in children who are breastfed, the process of formation of intestinal microflora is faster.
Breast milk is absorbed by the baby's body at 100%. The baby's naturally-fed stool has a yellow liquid slurry texture. In the first month after birth, bowel movements occur very often, up to 10 times a day, literally after each feeding. Gradually, the work of the intestines is getting better, the stool is changing and the number of bowel movements is decreasing. There can be 2-3 bowel movements per day. But then, if a month-old baby breastfeeding defecates once every 5 days - this is also the norm. But only if the baby is not worried about anything.
But the stool of a month-old baby, who is fed an adapted mixture, has a denser consistency. Artificial nutrition is not completely absorbed by the body, so bowel movements should be daily. If this does not happen, then constipation occurs. It is quite difficult for kids to cope with this problem.
Causes of constipation in infants
If the child does not defecate for 1-2 days in a row, then his feces become dense and dry. At the same time, the bowel movement itself is uncomfortable. This is constipation. It is at this moment that the situation is most often observed when the baby farts, but does not poop. The feces of the child became dense, it is difficult for the baby to free himself from him, he begins to weep tearfully and twist his legs.
Other symptoms of constipation in infants are:
- bloating;
- refusal of food;
- restless sleep.
The causes of constipation are related to the following:
- improper nutrition of the mother of the baby who is breastfeeding;
- non-compliance with the drinking regime for the artificial baby;
- introducing complementary foods too quickly or abruptly switching to adapted mixtures.
The reasons associated with natural feeding are easy to solve. For this, it is enough for mother to refuse products that cause increased gas formation in the baby. But the child who is on artificial feeding really needs the help of parents.
The baby is farting, but not pooping - how to help?
In the event that the child does not defecate for a day or more, the following measures must be taken:
- put the baby on the tummy and continue to do so before each meal;
- after each feeding, keep the baby "column" until air escapes from the stomach;
- massage the stomach around the navel;
- apply a warm diaper to the tummy;
- give your child a cure for flatulence.
If the baby is still farting, but not pooping, the vent tube will help the baby. In order not to harm the child, before use, you must read the instructions for it. Having got rid of the air in the stomach, the baby will definitely cackle. A bowel based on glycerin will also help to defecate.
What can not be done?
Parents, trying to help a screaming baby, often make serious mistakes. So, there are cases when a child was given a laxative for constipation, intended for adults. Doing this is strictly prohibited. The child’s gastrointestinal tract is not yet fully formed and any medications can be given to him only as directed by a doctor.
As for the enema, it is not recommended for the baby to do it. After this, a malfunction in the body can occur, as a result of which natural bowel movements become a real problem for the child. It is known that people who were often given an enema in childhood, in adulthood, suffer from constipation and digestive disorders more often than others.
Massage with increased gas formation
To eliminate the symptoms of flatulence in the baby and help him to poop, you can make stroking movements around the navel. Tummy massage for constipation in a newborn is performed lying on his back. All movements should be soft and performed clockwise. This will allow:
- relax muscular muscles;
- improve blood circulation;
- accelerate intestinal motility.
No less effective than massage is the exercise “bicycle”. For its implementation, the baby's legs are alternately bent and unbent in the knee joints. You can bring them to the tummy at the same time and hold them in this position for several seconds. It is important that the exercises do not cause discomfort to the child.
Another way to help your baby relax is by bathing in warm water. After this, the baby’s tummy should be massaged once more and lay the baby on its side. It has been proven that a long stay on the back prevents bowel movements.
Traditional treatment
Using any medication can cause serious digestive problems, upset bowels, or constipation. Even at first glance, harmless bifidobacteria, which are not taken as prescribed by a doctor, can lead to functional disorders of an irreversible type. Therefore, you can take only those medicines that are prescribed by your doctor. If during their reception any changes in the body are observed, this should be immediately reported to the doctor.
Well-proven drug "Linex" for children in drops. The instructions for use indicate that it has no side effects, as it is specially designed for small patients. As for the effectiveness of treatment, this drug is ideal for normalizing microflora.
When is intestinal function in infants?
The most common phenomena for children in their first months of life are colic and gas. They arise as a result of the incompletely formed intestinal microflora and the fragile gastrointestinal tract. Despite the fact that colic causes a lot of discomfort to both the baby and parents, they are temporary. If we talk about when the gastrointestinal tract is being established in infants, then this happens after the baby reaches three months of age.
The main reason for the excessive accumulation of gases and the appearance of colic in newborns is the ingestion of air during feeding. Also, colic can be provoked by an improper diet of mom or an improper mixture. To reduce the amount of gas in the intestines, you need to listen to the recommendations of pediatricians.
Prevention of flatulence in the baby
To reduce gas formation in the intestines of the baby, you need to take the following measures:
- Observe drinking regimen. To provide the baby who is on artificial feeding additional drink. It can be ordinary or dill water, chamomile tea, which will help to quickly eliminate the symptoms of flatulence.
- Massage. Simple stroking movements of the abdomen will help the baby get rid of colic and establish intestinal motility.
- Daily gymnastics. The systematic execution of exercises on the type of "bicycle" is an excellent prevention of problems with the tummy.
- Timely complementary foods. No need to try to transfer the baby to the adult table as quickly as possible.
It is worth noting that this situation also happens: a newborn often farts, and almost every time at the same time as the release of gases, he has a bowel movement of a liquid consistency. Here, rather, the problem is in the intestinal imbalance associated with malnutrition. The difficulty lies in the fact that usually amid constant bowel movements around the anus, irritations appear.
In this case, the pediatrician may recommend Linex Drops for Children. From the instructions for use, you can find out that it contains useful bifidobacteria that contribute to the speedy establishment of intestinal microflora. The standard medication vial is designed for a 28-day course. The recommended dosage for children under two years is 6 drops. You can breed it in breast milk, in a mixture or in compote. The main thing is that the temperature of the liquid does not exceed 40 °, so that the bacteria do not die.
How to feed a baby?
As noted above, excessive formation of gas in the intestines is directly related to the nutrition of crumbs. To reduce flatulence, you need to take the following measures:
- When feeding from a bottle, make sure that the baby does not swallow air bubbles. If this happened, then after eating the crumb should be held upright until he burps.
- When breastfeeding, make sure that the baby captures with his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola. It is equally important to adhere to proper nutrition for mom.
- From the first day of life, spread the baby before each feeding on the tummy. So his intestines get rid of excess gas.