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(334) 664-0463Infant constipation
Concerns for babies being constipated is one of the most common reasons we see infants in clinic. It can be major source of anxiety for parents. Constipation means different things for infants (< 1 year of age), toddlers and preschoolers. Let’s dive into what it means for babies today and we’ll talk about the older kids in another post.
What is normal?
When we talk about poop, we look at consistency and frequency. A persistent change in either or both may represent underlying true constipation.
Most babies will get squirmy, grunt/groan and turn red when trying to pass stool. That does not mean that they’re constipated or in pain. Having a successful bowel movement requires increasing pressure in the abdomen and relaxing our rectal muscles. Babies do not know how to relax the muscles around the anus till 3-4 months of age. Plus, they’re trying to poop lying down, which means they cannot squeeze their belly muscles or push!
When to get concerned about true constipation?
Red flag signs to look for:
No stool or pebble like stool for 3 days- by itself or associated with
What can we do?
Changing the formula (without being seen by a Pediatrician) should not be the first thing to do since it does not help in most cases.
If you’ve tried all the above and your baby is still having trouble pooping, Call your Pediatrician. If this is not your first Rodeo and you’re comfortable giving your baby an OTC infant suppository, it is okay to do so.
However, if he or she needs it more than 2 times, a visit to the Pediatrician is advised!