What to do if a child cannot go to the toilet for a long time? How to help a baby go to the toilet What to do for children to go

Is your child unable to go outside? This article offers the most effective ways to help your baby cope with the problem of constipation.

You will learn what to do if a child cannot go to bed: what medications, suppositories and microenemas to give, as well as how to cope with the problem without the use of medications, controlling nutrition, doing home enemas and tummy massage.

What to pay attention to when a child cannot walk for a long time

Constipation is a dysfunction of the intestines, expressed in a decrease in the rhythm of defecation, its difficulty, the presence of incomplete bowel movements, hard or lumpy stools. According to WHO, constipation is considered a disease.

Changes in bowel movement frequency

U children over 3 years of age have a stool frequency of at least once a day. Other children can walk long distances and every three to four days. This happens at 3-4 months, when the baby begins to absorb literally everything from breast milk, and they simply have nothing to go around with.

This is not considered abnormal if the stool is not hard, the child defecates easily, and does not experience pain. This sign is an indication for the introduction of complementary foods.

Ideally, a child after a year should have bowel movements every day, or 5 times a week, that is, sometimes it may fall out for a couple of days.

Child's behavior during bowel movements and time spent

Functional constipation in children often occurs as a result of painful bowel movements, followed by the child’s voluntary refusal to walk, wanting to avoid the discomfort of emptying the rectum.

Many life situations can lead to painful bowel movements. For example:

• toilet training,
• changes in diet or insufficient drinking regime,
• stress from going to kindergarten or school, the appearance of a second child in the family,
• inaccessibility of toilets or defecation delay due to the child’s busy schedule,
• the use of drugs with side effects such as constipation,
• endocrine diseases,
• rickets,
• helminthic infestations,
• allergic reactions

This can cause prolonged fecal stagnation in the colon and the formation of increased volume of compacted feces. As stool passes through the intestine, it will stretch and injure it, creating unpleasant painful sensations for the child. Subsequently, the child will be afraid of this and refuse to defecate, holding stool by squeezing the anal sphincter and gluteal muscles.

When children cannot walk at all, they stand on their toes, rock back and forth, twist, fidget, or take unusual positions, often hiding in a corner, behind a curtain.

Because the wall of the rectum stretches, clotting can occur. Over time, this behavior becomes an automatic reaction, and the desire to go largely disappears. The rectum gets used to the pressure of the fecal mass.

In older children, it is necessary to pay attention to the feeling of incomplete bowel movement occurring after defecation. When a child wants to go big, but can’t.

Straining during defecation

As a result of stagnation in the child's intestines, intra-abdominal pressure increases, which leads to a deterioration in appetite and sometimes nausea and vomiting. If in a child, in addition to nausea and vomiting, you notice loss or poor weight gain, fever, you need to think about the organic cause of constipation.

The appearance of dense, lumpy or fragmented stool

In healthy children in the first year of life, stool should have a mushy consistency. In older children, the shape of stool should correspond to type four or three on the Bristol stool shape scale.

How to help without using medications

An enema will not harm your child at all if you do not do it too often. Attitudes towards it are quite biased; you can often hear that if you do an enema all the time, the child will get used to it and will not be able to empty his bowels on his own.

It is better for a child to have an enema when there is no bowel movement for two or three days than to wait until the intestines dilate and the urge to defecate disappears and constipation becomes progressively chronic. Of two evils, an enema is the lesser. There is nothing wrong with a cleansing enema. This is often the best first aid remedy, since laxative pills can cause spasms and colic in the intestines.

How to give an enema to a child

Abdominal massage

Before giving a massage, give your baby a drink of clean drinking water to soften the stool. The massage procedure can be performed up to 5 times a day from 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the age of the child. The younger the baby, the less time you need to massage the tummy.

Massage technique

• Place your palm on the baby's stomach and begin light circular movements clockwise starting from the navel, gradually expanding the circle to the hypochondrium area.
• Grab your lumbar region with two palms and gently move them towards each other. The palms should meet at the navel area.
• Place your palm on your stomach and gently move it from your navel to your pubic bone.
• To achieve maximum effect, you can massage the sigmoid colon. To find it, imagine the child's abdominal cavity as four squares. The location of the sigmoid colon is located at the site of the lower left square. When palpated, it looks like a roller and is located diagonally from top to bottom. Apply light pressure to the intestine and make light circular movements without moving away from the place of pressure.

If the instructions are strictly followed, massaging the abdomen of a child with constipation turns out to be an effective remedy, after which the baby feels the urge to defecate. All movements should be smooth and light, avoid strong pressure, this can harm the baby.

Medicines

Lactulose

To help your child pass, you can use lactulose syrup, which is sold in pharmacies. The dose of this drug should be 1 ml. per 1 kg. weight of the child, otherwise it will not have a laxative effect. Be sure to consult your doctor.

Lactulose is a synthetic disaccharide, its main advantage is that it leaves the body unchanged, that is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It also does not cause intestinal addiction, which allows it to be used to treat constipation in newborns.

Lactulose is a safe substance with virtually no side effects. Preparations based on it have a mild laxative effect, have a beneficial effect on the growth conditions of beneficial microflora, and have a positive effect on the intestinal biocenosis. Disaccharide is the active ingredient of the following suspensions:

• duphalac;
• good luck
• prelax;
• normalase;
• portalac;
• dinolac;
• slack and so on.

Probiotics and prebiotics

To normalize a child’s stool, medications are often prescribed that contain live cultures of beneficial bacteria. A course of treatment with prebiotics helps not only get rid of constipation, but also restore intestinal microflora and normalize peristalsis. Frequently prescribed drugs:

• bifiform;
• acipol;
• lactobacterin;
• Linux for children;
• bifidumbacterin and so on.

Candles and microenemas

Rectal suppositories are very helpful in the fight against childhood constipation. At the pharmacy you can ask for glycelax or glycerin suppositories. The main thing is to make sure that the dosage of the drug is designed for use by children.

Not so long ago, Microlax microenemas appeared on the shelves, which are suitable for newborns. They are produced in compact enemas for one use and consist of natural ingredients. The thick contents of the microenemas soften the stool and make the child pass easily.

These drugs are not absorbed, do not irritate the skin and intestines, they help stimulate intestinal motility and act as a lubricant at the outlet. Safe, convenient and effective.

Defoamers

Infants under 3 months of age often experience bloating. Symptoms of flatulence are more common in breastfed infants. To eliminate colic, pediatricians often prescribe a suspension of espumizan baby or bobotik. Simethicone is the active ingredient of the drugs; it collapses gas bubbles and stops bubbling. In case of intestinal obstruction, the use of drugs is prohibited.

What not to do

You need to be very careful with laxatives. There is an opinion that plant-based laxatives are less strong and harmless.

Herbal preparations, such as those based on senna, contain glycosides that reduce intestinal sensitivity and can aggravate constipation in a child. This is a one-time aid only.

You can often hear advice to insert a piece of soap or a little vegetable oil into the child’s anus, lubricate the ear stick with baby cream, and insert its tip into the anus half a centimeter.

The listed procedures, of course, can help, perhaps there will be no big trouble, although there is a possibility of injuring the rectum and causing irritation. Why use such “grandmother’s methods” when the pharmacy sells safe remedies for constipation in children.

Nutrition for constipation

There is an opinion that constipation requires a gentle diet, liquid cereals, purees, etc. If you have constipation, it is not acceptable to break vegetables and fruits with a blender; they should be pieces; this will improve intestinal motility. Pears, grapes, bananas are not recommended. It is unacceptable to give fruit purees and juices; this will not help against constipation.

It is bifidobacteria that form the basis of the intestinal microflora of babies up to one year old and are present mainly in the large intestine.

Bacteria in the process of their life produce organic acids, which ensure the normal acid-base balance of the intestinal environment. This ensures normal intestinal peristalsis and promotes rapid movement and removal of contents.

Consequences of frequent constipation

Stool retention leads to impaired absorption of vitamins and microelements, the amount of pathogenic microflora increases and the amount of normal microflora decreases. An inflammatory process may develop in the intestines, and the contents of the intestine stagnate for several days, accumulate toxins and begin to poison the entire body.

If constipation recurs systematically, then this is chronic constipation. It may also be associated with congenital pathologies - intestinal elongation, Hirschsprung's disease.

The dense, lumpy nature of feces quite seriously injures the intestinal wall and causes anal fissures. This is how a vicious circle develops - constipation, anal fissure, painful bowel movements, constipation.

If this circle is not broken in a timely manner, complications arise that require more conservative and sometimes surgical treatment.

If you see that the child cannot pass at all, contact a gastroenterologist who can competently assess the child’s condition. You should not lead the situation to the point of acute intestinal obstruction.

Parents should be alert to the following situations:

• the child is restless
• afraid to go big, it hurts him,
• the abdomen is hard to the touch, palpation causes the baby to cry,
• a month-old baby often moves his legs up,
• hardly farts
• weight loss is observed,
• The child came out with a lot of blood.

Types of constipation

If a child constantly has difficulty going to the toilet, you should contact your pediatrician to find out the reason. In order to properly organize treatment, you need to know why your child is constipated.

Nutritional

Difficulties with bowel movements here are associated with poor nutrition. To treat this type of constipation, medications are not needed; it is enough to review the child’s diet, exclude chips, crackers, and baked goods from it. Include as many vegetables and fresh fruits as possible in your menu.

Medication

Constipation is caused by taking medications: antispasmodics, acetylsalicylic acid, antibiotics, diuretics. To normalize the child's stool, prebiotics are prescribed.

Neurogenic

The cause of constipation in this case is stress or severe emotional shock. Perhaps this is a trip to kindergarten, school, the death of one of your close relatives, or vice versa, the appearance of a second child in the family. To help the child go to the toilet, herbal sedatives are prescribed.

Hypodynamic

This constipation occurs as a result of reduced activity, with prolonged sitting, and is often found in children with disabilities or in patients on bed rest. Lactulose or prokinetics are prescribed as therapy.

Endocrine

The development of constipation is often influenced by problems with hormones. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a pediatric endocrinologist. Etiotropic and complex symptomatic therapy is prescribed.

Mechanical

Constipation in this case is provoked by mechanical injuries, severe bruises, compression, malignant and benign neoplasms on the anus. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor for medication or surgery.

Toxic

In case of poisoning of a child with chemicals, medications, poisons of various origins. The child urgently requires detoxification therapy as well as treatment with prokinetics, eubiotics and antifoams.

If your child is having difficulty walking, consulting a doctor makes a significant difference in treatment. But correction of functional constipation is impossible without the participation of parents. The most important prevention is monitoring the child’s stool and a balanced diet. The best time to have a bowel movement is after breakfast. Now you know what to do to make your child go well. Let's end on a lyrical note.

“Blessed are those who have a bowel movement in the morning without forcing,

Then there will be food according to the gut and all pleasures will be available.”

Having once again discovered an empty pot, concerned parents sound the alarm. Infants are especially worried. After all, constipation in a baby is a complex problem. Older children often keep silent about the problem due to modesty and embarrassment; teenagers try to solve the problem on their own. As a result, a sensitive issue has complex consequences.

The Hidden Dangers of Constipation

Both chronic and episodic problems with emptying lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, pain, and concomitant diseases.

Harmful toxic products leave the body along with feces. If the baby cannot go to the toilet for a long time, the reverse process occurs. Pathogenic substances are absorbed through the intestinal walls into the blood. The body, saturated with toxins, reacts with vomiting, nausea, and hyperthermia. Rotting products cause inflammatory processes, relapses of other chronic diseases and sepsis are possible. Moving through the delicate children's intestines, feces, devoid of liquid, injure the walls. This can cause acute pain, including loss of consciousness. The digestive and immune systems work in tandem. Constipation disrupts the microflora, causing problems with the body's defenses. In addition, difficult emptying negatively affects the absorption of vitamins and microelements. Straining during defecation provokes anal fissures in a child. Advanced cases cause hemorrhoids.

The younger the child, the more dangerous the intoxication of the body is for him.

Constipation in an infant

A newborn reacts to hunger, colic, need for attention, or pain by screaming, so constipation in a baby is not always easy to diagnose.

How many times should a baby go to the toilet?

In the first months of life, the baby has a bowel movement after each feeding. Sometimes the absence of feces for two to three days is a normal physiological condition. A one-month-old baby does not go to the toilet for several days because undigested residues have not yet formed or accumulated. It happens that mother's milk is ideal for the baby and is completely absorbed. In such cases, defecation occurs less frequently, but without complications. The child is calm, active, and gaining weight normally.

When should bowel problems be diagnosed?

the child cannot go to the toilet; the baby began to go to the toilet less often; the consistency of excrement has changed; defecation has become difficult; the child strains and blushes when trying to poop, cries when the tummy is touched.

Causes of constipation in a baby

Non-compliance with diet by a nursing mother. Consumption of too fatty foods, milk, fried foods, insufficient fluid intake. Breast milk deficiency. To rule out this cause, you should monitor your weight gain. Lactose intolerance. Diagnosed by a doctor, enzyme therapy is prescribed for breastfeeding, and for formula feeding - replacement of the formula. Lack of water. Often babies who consume formula experience fluid imbalance. It is necessary to give the baby clean water between feedings. Introduction of complementary foods. When digesting a new product, the baby’s digestive system may react with constipation. Watch your baby's reaction. Respiratory diseases. An increase in temperature, changes in metabolism, and taking medications can cause constipation. To prevent constipation and speedy recovery, it is necessary to give your child plenty of water. This is especially important during artificial feeding.

In rare cases, a baby is diagnosed with organic constipation caused by anatomical changes in the intestine (polyps, tumors, elongation of the intestine, obstruction of the anus). Such conditions are dangerous and require contact with a specialist.

What kind of stool is considered normal for a baby?

Soft stools similar in consistency to porridge are considered normal for a child of the first year of life. Defecation is carried out easily, without crying and excessive redness, gases pass without strain. Abdominal massage does not cause pain in the baby.

How to help a baby with constipation?

Before starting to treat the problem, it is necessary to establish the nature of constipation. If surgical pathologies are excluded, then therapy can be provided by an adult.

What to do when a child cannot go to the toilet:

massage. Gently stroke your baby's tummy clockwise with your palm or fist; thermal effect. Place the baby in a warm bath or apply a heated diaper to the stomach; prone position. Place the baby on his stomach. Try pressing your legs to your abdominal cavity in this position; mechanical stimulation. While lying on your back, alternately press your baby's legs toward your stomach; enema. Prepare a 20-30 ml syringe for your child. Fill it with cool water or chamomile infusion. Pre-lubricate the anus with baby cream or Vaseline. The tip should be inserted carefully so as not to damage the baby’s delicate intestines; glycerin suppository. Place a suppository in the anus; the active substance will soften the stool and bowel movement will be smooth.

If the baby cannot go to the toilet after the manipulations have been performed, consult a doctor.

Constipation in children older than infancy

About a quarter of children of preschool and school age suffer from constipation. New, psychological reasons are added to the anatomical reasons, so it is important to find an approach to the child when identifying a problem.

Why does constipation occur in older children?

Imbalance in nutrition. Children are known opponents of vegetables and cereals. Lack of fiber and fluid makes stool hard. Sedentary lifestyle. Modern schoolchildren seem to be glued to a tablet, computer and TV. Reduced activity, congestion in the pelvic organs, and a sitting position provoke constipation. Disturbance of intestinal microflora. Illness and medications cause an imbalance of bacteria, which interferes with normal digestion. Fear of defecation. If stool has already caused pain, you may become afraid of going to the toilet. Psychological barrier. A child may avoid going to the toilet in kindergarten and school due to stiffness or the presence of other children. The longer the urge is held back, the more difficult it is to defecate. Stress, nervousness. Problems in the family, moving, problems with peers cause nervous tension. This leads to spasms of the liver, stomach and intestines, and, as a result, constipation. Hormonal changes. It is especially important to monitor your stool during adolescence; the functioning of organs and systems is directly related to hormonal levels.

How to recognize constipation in a child?

If it is easy to recognize constipation in a baby due to parental supervision of going to the restroom, it is more difficult to diagnose a dangerous condition in an older child.

Signs of the disease

stool for constipation less than 3 times a week. It is considered normal for a child to stool from 3 times a day to 3 times a week; hard stools that make it difficult to pass bowel movements; a small amount of feces; rash on the forehead and temples; nausea, loss of appetite; change in urine odor; child's anxiety and restlessness.

Treatment of constipation in children

To determine the cause of bowel dysfunction, it is necessary to take a urine, feces and blood test, conduct an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity, an X-ray of the intestines, and, if necessary, perform an endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

The primary diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a therapist or pediatrician. Adjusts the patient's diet and prescribes drug therapy.

A gastroenterologist deals with special treatment of constipation; he conducts a narrow diagnosis of the problem, selects treatment, and refers to related specialists.

Medication assistance

What to do if constipation does not go away? To eliminate the problem, laxatives based on lactulose are used (Duphalac, Bisacodyl, Softovak, Defenorm). The principle of operation is optimization of microflora, softening of feces. It is also recommended to take antispasmodics (Papaverine, No-Shpa, Buscopan, Duspatalin).

Folk remedies

If a child does not go to the toilet, you can use folk remedies:

taking vegetable oils before meals (sunflower, olive); drinking a decoction of hay grass and raisins (a quarter glass before meals); use of aloe juice (2 teaspoons before meals); taking on an empty stomach a crushed mixture of dried apricots, prunes, raisins, honey (2 tablespoons); drinking dill infusion (1 tablespoon of dill per 1 cup of boiling water)

Nutrition correction

The menu of a child suffering from constipation must include foods rich in fiber. It is recommended to include in the diet:

fresh and boiled vegetables, vegetable juices (beets, carrots, cabbage of all types, pumpkin, zucchini and others); fruit juices with pulp, fruits (pear, apple, apricot, plum and others); vegetable soups; cereals (mainly oatmeal, buckwheat, barley); fresh dairy products; dried fruit compotes; bran and rye bread, bran.

All astringent products should be excluded: rice, semolina, jelly, baked goods, chocolate, drinks containing caffeine.

Be sure to drink enough fluid. For a child 3 years old – 1 liter of water.

How to eat?

You need to eat fractionally, distribute the daily dose of food into 5-6 meals. Half an hour before meals, you can drink half a glass of warm liquid. Food should be boiled, baked or steamed. It is important to chew your food well.

Massage

To help the child go to the toilet, massage can be used as an aid. It should be started no earlier than 2 hours after eating. First, work on the navel area, then proceed to massage the right and left sides. Be careful around the appendix.

The last area to be massaged is the area above the pubic bone. Note the close proximity of the genitals in this area. When manipulating, only light clockwise pressure is allowed.

Before a massage, the child must be examined by a doctor!

Preventing constipation

Simple rules will help you avoid the return of unpleasant symptoms, including:

balanced diet; sufficient fluid intake; sleep and rest schedule; active lifestyle; protection from stress.

Remember, your attention and affection, together with following the recommendations of doctors, is the best cure for the disease.

Do not hesitate to seek help from specialists to preserve your baby’s precious health.

Do you still think that healing your stomach and intestines is difficult?

Judging by the fact that you are now reading these lines, victory in the fight against diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is not yet on your side...

Have you already thought about surgery? This is understandable, because the stomach is a very important organ, and its proper functioning is the key to health and well-being. Frequent abdominal pain, heartburn, bloating, belching, nausea, bowel dysfunction... All these symptoms are familiar to you firsthand.

But perhaps it would be more correct to treat not the effect, but the cause? Here is the story of Galina Savina, about how she got rid of all these unpleasant symptoms... Read the article >>>

A newborn baby has a perfect body, however, its functional features are not fully developed. This also includes a weak digestive system, which malfunctions at the most unexpected moments. We will talk about what to do if a child cannot go to the toilet for the most part: should you panic and call doctors or can you deal with the problem yourself.

Normal bowel movements in newborns and older children

Defecation occurs in different ways in children of different ages: you should not equate a 2-month-old child with a 2-year-old child in terms of the quantity and quality of feces. The normality of bowel movements and their frequency depends on the development and strengthening of the digestive system. Below we will look normal indicators for children of different ages:

Infants up to 5 months
Newborn babies have a weak digestive system, which constantly cleanses the stomach. If nature had not provided for this moment, the child would often suffer from pain and colic. An infant under 5 months produces several bowel movements per day: as a rule, they are equal to the number of feedings. If a child is bottle-fed, the number of bowel movements is reduced to 1-2 times a day, which is also considered a normal indicator. Infants from 5 months
Five-month-old artificial babies do not change their routine: by and large, they also go to the toilet once or twice. But children who feed on mother's milk reduce the number of bowel movements by half. At the same time, the feces take on a formalized appearance. Children after 2 years
After two years, children’s feces take on their final shape and occur with a frequency of once a day. Observe the features of the stool: spherical discharge indicates problems with the intestines and requires contacting a pediatrician.

Organic and functional causes of irregular bowel movements

The causes of complicated and irregular bowel movements are divided into organic and functional. Functional causes are the easiest to influence: they are, in fact, factors of unbalanced nutrition that are easily eliminated. Organic causes lie in disorders of the digestive system. Let's consider each type of violation in more detail.

Functional disorders

As mentioned above, functional impairment in 80% of cases determined by nutritional factor:

A sharp change in the diet: replacement with formulas and cereals from other manufacturers or an inappropriate age-appropriate set of formula components. Incorrect nutrition of a mother who is breastfeeding. Small amount of liquid in the diet. Replacement of vegetable and milk formulas with mixtures containing large amounts of protein. Fatty foods that are unusual for the age of the baby. Deficiency of products of plant origin.

By eliminating these factors, you will correct the functional functioning of the baby’s intestines and forget about problematic bowel movements.

Organic disorders

Organic disorders are an unpleasant event for every mother. The development of painful pathologies acutely affects the baby; the use of medications undermines the overall immunity. Let's look at what leads to problematic bowel movements based on one of the causes of an organic disorder:

Changes in the hormonal level of the baby Calcium deficiency: it entails rickets, and as a result, disruption of the proper functioning of the digestive system Anemia (including iron deficiency) Food allergy Disruption of the normal functioning of the central nervous system.

You can understand that the baby is overtaken by the impossibility of defecation by the facial expression and tense posture: the tummy is swollen, the baby reacts painfully to touch. Children who can speak report abdominal discomfort on their own.

Symptoms of the inability to defecate

Mothers monitor the little man’s bowel movements very carefully and already on the second or third day after defecation is delayed, they begin to sound the alarm on forums and in the doctor’s office. But what can we say about kids whose age has exceeded 3-4 years and who go to the toilet on their own? Some people are silent about such a delicate problem as the absence of bowel movements for a long time: parents, confident that everything is in order, can do not mention it for intestinal problems in an older child. It is important to ask your baby every day if everything is okay with his tummy and if he has gone to the toilet. If your baby doesn’t go to the toilet for more than 3-4 days, it’s time to take care of his health and pay attention for the following symptoms:

The child has no appetite: he reacts sluggishly to his favorite treats The baby often wakes up at night, sometimes does not fall asleep at all The child feels nauseous The child quickly loses interest in toys and gets tired of walking The baby complains of a bad taste in the mouth.

If you notice the presence of at least one symptom, Contact your doctor immediately.

It's important to keep track formality child's stool: Diarrhea causes irritation of the intestinal walls, the child experiences discomfort and a feeling of scabies. Too hard stool, formed in the form of balls, leads to rupture of the anus. Feces that linger for a long time in the intestine poison the body: toxins are absorbed into the intestinal walls and spread throughout the body. In this case, the child looks pale and tired.

How to help your baby

If you notice the symptoms described, consult your doctor: Self-medication is not worth it, after all, you cannot say for sure what type of violation is manifested in the case of your child.

If the doctor finds functional impairment, it is proposed to correct the frequency and quality of bowel movements by changing the diet. Water therapy is prescribed, according to which the child should drink the maximum amount of clean water per day possible for his age. Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is prescribed.

Attention: juices, tea, compote - do not correct the water balance, but are only an additional element in the supply of certain beneficial substances to the body.

Dufolac, Lactusan, Hilak Forte are used as medications for the treatment of constipation. It is not recommended to prescribe medications on your own: Consult your doctor before use.

Gymnastics to relieve pain

To ease the suffering of a newborn or older baby, it is recommended to use the following type of gymnastics:

For babies
Turn the baby onto his tummy and let him lie in this position for at least 10 minutes. Carry out before each feeding. The “bicycle” exercise also helps. Move your baby's legs for 5-77 minutes for better bowel function. For children 2-3 years old
Adult children are encouraged to treat themselves: the child should lie down and put his hands on his stomach. Ask your baby to stroke in circles: 10 times in one direction, 10 times in the other. You need to finish the gymnastics with the “bicycle” exercise.

You shouldn’t worry if your baby hasn’t gone to the toilet for two or three days: as a rule, this indicates that the intestines have processed the food well and there is no bowel movement to pass. However, notice the baby's reactions and sensations during this period - if they correspond to those described, call the doctor and ask for further advice. Health to you and your baby!

The period when the baby does not go to the toilet cannot be ignored.

Symptoms of the disease; Solution to the problem;

Massage to help infants; Folk remedies when the baby cannot pass a big bowel movement;

Therapeutic exercises for difficult emptying of the baby; Proper nutrition for a nursing mother.

Almost every mother faces a similar problem.

Parents it is necessary to understand the signs of the disease, and be able to help overcome it.

Almost every mother faces the problem of constipation.

Symptoms of the disease

Already from the first days, the baby may experience constipation. Normal stool for infants is considered emptying the intestines after each intake of breast milk. But there are children who walk 1-3 times in 24 hours.

If the child has satisfactory behavior, the tummy is not bloated, and the stool is soft and not dry, this is considered normal.

Some types of feces warn in advance of an impending illness.

It is important for mothers, especially first-time mothers, to know the symptoms of constipation:

1. Bloating, hardness in the abdominal area.

2. No desire to eat.

3. Jerking of the lower limbs.

4. The child is tense, the face turns red, there is crying when pooping.

5. Colic torments in the tummy.

6. Baby does not go to the toilet for more than one day.

Solution

Often mothers try to solve the problem of their baby themselves, who finds it difficult to go to the toilet. The best option would still be to visit a pediatrician or call a doctor at home. It will not be difficult for him to determine the cause of constipation. After talking with the mother and examining the baby, the doctor will give an appointment.

The best option would still be to visit a pediatrician; it will not be difficult for him to determine the cause of constipation.

Medicine has identified several traditional methods.

Massage to help babies

It is important for moms and dads to know massage techniques. There are no difficult steps in the procedure, so one visit to the pediatrician is enough. Abdominal massage is done 3 times a day. The timing of it is very important. The procedure must be carried out when the child is in a good mood. Do not do it immediately after breastfeeding. Mom's nails should be well trimmed.

Having washed their hands in advance, the parent needs to lubricate their hands with baby cream or oil. The surface for massage is chosen on a hard base to avoid deflection of the vertebrae. If bowel movements are poor, massage facilitates the movement of stool to the exit. This is carried out for 10 minutes.

The procedure must be carried out when the child is in a good mood.

The procedure begins with gentle stroking of the abdomen. To put it another way, this is preparatory stage. It is important that the baby is relaxed. Only the palms are involved in stroking. Movements go clockwise. Next come the branches from the navel upward. This time the palms should make the movement a little stronger than before.

After this, using the edge of your palm, perform the following movement: starting from the lower right part of the abdomen, draw a line up to the navel and 2 cm above it, then, intensifying the movement, go down to the left part. Explained in simple words, the letter P is obtained. The final movement is carried out along the same line, only in a circle with the pads of the fingers.

The next step is to place the baby on his tummy. As a rule, children like this position. At this stage, the mother should gently stretch the area of ​​the shoulder blades to the line of the hips. It's time for a useful exercise: with the help of the mother, the baby makes a “bicycle”, and in conclusion, it is desirable that the baby crawls.

The next step is to place the baby on his tummy.

Thus, after finishing the therapeutic massage, the baby goes to the toilet in a big way, which means the child's condition will improve.

Folk remedies when a baby cannot pass a big bowel movement

Deciding to resort to solving problems using folk remedies, parents should consult a pediatrician: You never know what kind of reaction a child will have to this or that drug.

Many mothers use old method with baby soap. Take a small piece, roll it with your hands into the shape of a candle and put it into the anus. Then, using circular movements, the parent gently strokes the tummy. This method is good for triggering liberation. Often this method cannot be carried out, since soap irritates the intestinal mucosa.

Drinking dill water is one of the common ways to solve the problem if the baby does not go to the toilet regularly.

Grandma's recipe drinking dill water, one of the common ways to solve the problem if the baby does not go to the toilet in a big way. Using this method, you must adhere to the dosage: in the first month from birth, 1 teaspoon is given after feeding and before it, at 2-3 months - 2 teaspoons, at 4-5 months - 2 tablespoons, after 6 months - half a glass (100 grams).

It is not easy to know the dosage, but also correct preparation:

Taken dill seeds in the amount of one teaspoon and pour a glass of boiled water. Three-month-old babies can take 2 teaspoons.
- boil 3 minutes;
- let it brew 15-20 minutes under the lid;
- After cooling completely, strain through cheesecloth.

The seeds can be replaced with dill sprigs: two or three pieces per glass of boiling water.

Therapeutic exercises for difficult emptying of a baby

Can be applied a safe method for a baby is therapeutic exercises.
Children love her very much. The exercises are simple but effective:

1. Touching your knees, mom straightens her legs well and bends them carefully, bringing them to her tummy. Repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times.

2. Bicycle movement. One leg is pulled towards the stomach, the other is straightened, and vice versa. Do 5-8 times.

A safe method for a baby is therapeutic exercises.

3. Pull the bent left arm and right leg towards each other, then make the opposite movement: right hand to the left leg, so 6-8 times.

4. The final exercise is the stand. Mom holds her knees and raises her legs.

Afterwards, he lowers it slowly, without bending his legs, to the surface. Number of exercises – 5 times.

Proper nutrition for a nursing mother

It’s also mom’s fault that the baby doesn’t go to the toilet regularly. A nursing mother is required to monitor her diet during breastfeeding. If it happens that the child has difficulty defecating, then the mother should reconsider her menu. May have been eaten prohibited products.

Mom needs to forget about spices, seasonings, hot peppers, fried foods, and flour products for a while. Products should only be consumed boiled or stewed. Meals should be frequent, but in small portions. Adequate fluid intake is also important. Eating boiled dried apricots and prunes gives good results. It is advisable to eat a few pieces before feeding and drink water.

Grandma's method - boiled beets. Boil in the usual way, peel.

Grandma's method - boiled beets. Boil in the usual way, peel. Beetroot salad, beet salad, and puree are useful in this case. You can use beet broth: cut the peeled beet into cubes, place in boiling water, cook until completely cooked. Use the drink 3 times a day.

Kefir is consumed warm, preferably at night. It is better to drink fermented milk products not completely fresh: let them sit for 1 day in the refrigerator. Pumpkin and apples combine not only irreplaceable taste qualities, but also vitamins that are so important for a nursing mother. Their daily use is encouraged.

Avoid juices and carbonated drinks. It's better to drink plain water. You should drink at least one liter a day. It should be accepted as a rule eat first courses daily. They shouldn't be greasy.

You need to drink plain water. You should drink at least one liter a day.

If the baby still cannot go to the toilet after measures have been taken, A visit to the pediatrician cannot be put off until tomorrow. Sweating, increased body temperature, and obvious irritability of the baby are warning signs.

Many mothers face the problem of stool retention in infants, but timely treatment will prevent the occurrence of digestive system diseases.

Find out now about the most useful drug Plantex for newborns (instructions for use). For colic, constipation, bloating, regurgitation and to normalize digestion.

Constipation, especially in young children, is a very common problem. To some extent, this is due to the immaturity of the nervous system, which causes disruption of the digestive tract. Constipation is the name given to infrequent bowel movements. Let's figure out what to do if a child cannot go to the toilet.

Children under three years of age should normally have daily bowel movements. Children over three years old are allowed to have a bowel movement every other day, but the stool must be of normal consistency. Sometimes the child has bowel movements every day, but the stool is hard or consists of small balls (“sheep” feces). This condition is also commonly called constipation and must be treated.

All reasons can be divided into organic and functional. Organic causes are associated with diseases in which changes occur in the intestinal wall. They lead to inflammation, disruption of innervation, changes in microflora, which causes constipation. Sometimes a child has congenital diseases that contribute to the development of constipation (dolichosigma - expansion of the sigmoid colon, underdevelopment of nerve fibers in the intestinal wall - Hirschsprung's disease). Constipation may be caused by abdominal surgery and the formation of adhesions.

Functional causes of constipation:

• Changing the nature of nutrition with a predominance of fats and proteins.
• Artificial feeding with poorly selected formula.
• A sudden change in infant formula.
• Incorrect diet of the mother during breastfeeding.
• Insufficient drinking regime.
• Insufficient nutrition in the child (small amount of plant foods that stimulate peristalsis)
• Intestinal dysbiosis, which occurs in all children of the first three years, since the microflora has just begun to populate the intestines.

Constipation can also be a sign of other diseases:

• Problems with the thyroid gland (with hypothyroidism, low levels of hormones, a decrease in the amount of hormones is often noted)
• Iron deficiency anemia is accompanied by disturbances throughout the body, as cells are insufficiently enriched with oxygen. Constipation in such cases is common.
• Damage to the central nervous system.
• Rickets is accompanied by a lack of calcium, and it is needed for normal intestinal motility. Therefore, with rickets, constipation begins.
• Food allergies. Constipation occurs due to a lack of nutrients entering the body.

You definitely need to give an enema. The amount of fluid that needs to be administered depends on the age of the child. Instead of an enema, you can use a glycerin suppository or insert a gas tube. These methods should lead to the act of defecation. If this does not happen, then you must definitely call a doctor. If there is increased gas formation, you can give your child Espumisan.

Treatment of constipation

Treatment methods depend on the underlying disease causing constipation. But great attention should be paid to diet therapy. If constipation is caused by nutritional errors, then the use of medications or physical therapy is not required.

The basis of the diet is adequate drinking regimen. If a child eats dry food, then you need to make sure that he washes it down. Water, rather than juices, milk or other liquids, helps intestinal peristalsis best. You should also give your baby raw and cooked vegetables and fruits as often as possible, as they are a source of dietary fiber. Gymnastics, which should be carried out according to the age of the child, helps a lot. To improve peristalsis, it is recommended to simply lay the smallest ones on their stomach 10-15 minutes before feeding. Over time, physical activity expands, and it is recommended to include a large number of exercises in gymnastics. This stimulates peristalsis and improves bowel movements.

If the child is breastfed, then the mother must follow a diet. If feeding is mixed or completely artificial, then the formula must be changed. Professional massage is also recommended for constipation.

Medicines used include drugs that eliminate dysbacteriosis. These include prebiotics (lacto- and bifidobacteria) and probiotics (means that create normal conditions for the development of beneficial microflora - Hilak-forte). You can also use safe lactulose-based drugs to regulate stool in a child.

In the presence of diseases (anemia, rickets or hypothyroidism), the main problem must be treated, since diet and exercise therapy in this case are only auxiliary methods. When the cause is eliminated, intestinal function gradually improves on its own.

If your child cannot go to the toilet for a long time or bowel movements cause him pain, you should immediately consult a doctor. Constipation in a child is a serious problem. Some parents do not treat it with due responsibility, although constipation greatly complicates the life of their child. Intoxication of the child’s body with harmful substances occurs, inflammation of the intestinal mucosa begins due to damage from feces, absorption of nutritional compounds worsens and metabolism changes. Therefore, when the first signs of constipation appear, you should not delay treatment. It is necessary to review the child’s diet, adjust the drinking regime and conduct an examination on the recommendation of a doctor.

What to do in a situation where a baby cannot go to the toilet? Good, well-coordinated functioning of the digestive system plays an important role in the formation of a healthy body, so if your baby is prone to constipation, you should definitely consult a doctor. In this article we will look at how often an infant should have bowel movements, what types of constipation there are, the causes of their occurrence, and how to eliminate them.

Frequency of stool in infants

There is no definitive answer to the question of how often a baby should poop. The frequency of bowel movements is influenced by the type of feeding, the characteristics and eating habits of the breastfeeding mother, and the fat content of her milk.

For example, a newborn baby who is breastfed may poop after every meal, while babies receiving formula poop once a day, maximum 2 times. The composition of the mixture chosen also affects the strength of the stool. For example, adapted baby food with a high iron content can cause constipation.

Causes and types of constipation

To help your child, it is extremely important to understand why he cannot go to the toilet. There are several types of constipation and each of them has its own characteristics.

Physiological

A condition when a 3-4 month old child does not poop for 2-3 days, but feels well, does not refuse food, and has a soft tummy, is called physiological constipation. In modern pediatrics, there is an opinion that in this case, breast milk is 100% absorbed, and the body has nothing to give back.

Let us repeat that constipation is considered physiological only as long as nothing bothers the child. Even the slightest difficulties with going to the toilet (hard feces, grunting, the baby straining) are classified as functional constipation and require help from an adult.

Breastfed babies can digest food almost 100%, so it is considered normal if they poop every other day for a period of time

Organic

The inability to pass properly may be associated with pathological abnormalities, such as the presence of adhesions, tumor formations, and elongated sections of the intestine. Such problems arise extremely rarely and are detected even in the maternity hospital. To solve them, they often resort to surgery.

Functional

If a newborn cannot go to the toilet occasionally, there is no particular problem. For example, on hot summer days, the baby did not receive enough fluids and the feces became thicker and denser than usual, which delayed their evacuation. When a child begins to receive complementary foods, any product (pear, rice porridge) that has the ability to “strengthen” can cause temporary constipation.

In older children, the psychological factor also plays a role. For example, stress during a long move, going on a visit, a new environment, forcefully potty training a child, or simply being scolded for pooping - all this can affect the frequency of bowel movements and, of course, harm the baby.

It’s another matter if there is a constant problem with going to the toilet. The following factors influence the development of regular constipation:

• Lack of digestive enzymes. In a newborn, the digestive system is in the adjustment stage, not all enzymes are yet working as they should, and beneficial microflora is populating the intestines. All this can delay the evacuation of feces.
• Inactivity. In order for intestinal motility to work as it should, the child needs to move actively, as much as possible due to his age. Therefore, tight swaddling, tight or ill-fitting diapers, and failure to do gymnastics with the baby are simply unacceptable.
• Taking medications. Any drug taken by the mother before breastfeeding may end up in the milk and then in the baby's stomach. Sorbents (coal, smecta), antacids containing aluminum (Maalox, Almagel), as well as some antispasmodics can cause stool retention.
• Chronic diseases. A tendency to constipation is observed with the development of rickets, hypothyroidism, and cystic fibrosis.
• Mistakes in feeding a baby. Constipation occurs due to overfeeding the child, frequent exposure to the breast, switching to artificial formula, incorrect selection of the composition or amount of formula per dose. Other reasons are a lack of fluid in the body, as well as the mother’s consumption of foods that cause constipation and flatulence.

First aid for a baby

If the problem is episodic, it is recommended to take the following steps:

Massage

Using warm hands, massage the tummy in a clockwise direction. Taking a warm bath before a massage is effective. After gentle massaging, begin gymnastics: bring the baby’s legs to the tummy and hold for up to 30 seconds, then return them to their original position. Repeat the exercise several times. Our goal is to normalize intestinal motility. However, you should not make any movements through the pain. If the child begins to cry, the procedure should be stopped. A kind of massage is placing the crumbs on the tummy.

Tummy massage technique for constipation

Medicines

Suppositories with glycerin

The active component of such suppositories is Glycerol. It is considered safe for children, and its action is based on its ability to irritate the rectum. In addition, it slightly softens the stool, which makes it easier to evacuate. The substance is not absorbed anywhere, but comes out along with a portion of feces.

The child is placed on his side, his legs are bent and a candle is carefully inserted in this position, after which the buttocks must be kept closed until the candle begins to melt so that it does not come back out. The effect should be expected within 30-40 minutes after the procedure.

Microlax

Microlax is a separate microenema with active components that liquefy feces.

Microlax has many advantages:

• it is safe for children;
• the effect occurs within 15 minutes;
• the packaging is individual, which means it is hygienic;
• the tip has a mark for administering the drug to children under 3 years of age and after.

Any drug, even the safest one, should not be abused. If the problem recurs again and again, you should consult your doctor

Lactulose preparations

An excellent choice is lactulose-based products. This polysaccharide acts as a mild osmotic laxative. Lactulose helps soften and increase the volume of stool. And although the effect of the drug occurs on the 2nd day, its effect is as delicate as possible, so it is often prescribed for the treatment of constipation in newborns, the elderly, pregnant women and people after surgery.

If constipation becomes constant

If a newborn or older child cannot go to the toilet 2, 3 or 4 times in a row, simply using laxatives or giving an enema will not be correct. Firstly, because only the symptom is eliminated, but the true cause of the problem remains. Secondly, the intestines get used to “help” from the outside and stop doing their job properly. There is even such a concept: “lazy gut.”

Consultation with a pediatrician is required. You may first need to rule out somatic diseases, the symptom of which may be constipation. Together with the doctor, a diet for the mother is selected.

It will look something like this:

• base - porridge (buckwheat, oatmeal);
• pumpkin and beet puree (boiled);
• vegetable soups;
• kefir, yoghurts, fermented baked milk;
• prunes, dried apricots, apricots (if in season);
• fennel tea;
• meat consumption is limited, preference is given to chicken.

Of course, if the baby is already receiving complementary foods, similar products are introduced into his diet. As for babies on artificial nutrition, fermented milk formula may be suitable for them; it is more suitable for difficulties with digestion.

With the help of food you can correct the condition of your stool

Can I use a regular enema? Yes, but not often. Because it, like all mechanical irritants, is addictive, and also washes out the intestinal microflora. Some still remember how their parents inserted a piece of laundry soap into their butts to get the desired result. But let's not forget that this is an alkali that can burn the mucous membrane, which was used only because there were no safer methods.

About problems with urination

Separately, I would like to say about situations when a child cries when trying to urinate and does not pee for a long time. If this happened in the maternity hospital, pathologies associated with the abnormal structure of the organs of the genitourinary system should be excluded. In most cases, pain indicates an inflammatory process developing in the urinary system or on the genitals. Consultation with a pediatrician and pediatric urologist will help determine the cause of what is happening and decide on treatment.

So, we have studied the reasons why a baby may have difficulty going to the toilet. Constipation in young children is common and will occur from time to time. The task of parents is to adjust the diet in time, add the necessary products and remove unnecessary ones from the diet. Let's also not forget about the need to drink enough and how important exercise is for young children. By following all these recommendations, constipation will go away with ease.

While in the womb, the baby is completely dependent on the mother's body. From birth, the child adapts to the environment. All organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, of the baby begin to work independently. There are times when a newborn cannot walk for a long time. In this regard, the baby loses weight, suffers from abdominal pain associated with severe gas formation, and refuses to eat. What should mothers do in such cases?

The reasons why a newborn cannot go to the toilet can vary. It should be noted that children, just like adults, have their own characteristics. One child goes to the toilet 1-3 times a day, and the other 1 time a day, which is quite acceptable from the point of view of gastroenterology.

Symptoms of constipation are:

• swollen and hard tummy;
• twitching of the lower extremities;
• poor gas formation;
• weight loss;
• decreased appetite;
• tension, redness of the face during bowel movements;
• lack of stool during the day;
• crying at night.

Parents need to take into account that each baby is individual. Not always one or more items from the above list indicate that at newborn baby constipation. For example, if a baby goes to the toilet once a day, but is in a good mood during the day, does not cry at night and does not refuse food, then, most likely, such functioning of the digestive system is normal for him.

Causes

There are two types of constipation in newborns : organic and functional factors.

The functional factor develops for a variety of reasons:

• changing your daily routine;
• lack of breast milk;
• unsuitable mixture;
• insufficient water consumption;
• dysbacteriosis;
• consequences of taking antibiotics;
• improper nutrition of the mother while breastfeeding;
• low physical activity of the infant.

Organic factors include congenital pathologies and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, including an incompletely formed gastrointestinal system. In this case, the newborn suffers from pain caused by stagnation of food in the intestines, which are unable to contract in time, which is necessary to remove feces from the body. By 2-3 months of life, such a disorder disappears on its own.

Types of constipation

Constipation in infants also develops when intestinal motility is impaired, which is determined using stool analysis.

There are three types of constipation in newborns:

• atonic – accompanied by strong gas formation and rare release of large-volume feces;
• spastic - dense stool causes sharp pain when passing stool;
• pathological - in this case, the newborn child cannot walk on a large at for a long period of time, and his stool resembles a thin ribbon or trickle.

Whatever the cause of constipation, you should consult your pediatrician.

The effect of nutrition on stool

Stool problems depend on the newborn’s nutrition: breast, artificial or mixed.

Breast-feeding

Constipation in babies is extremely rare when breastfeeding. Most often, mother's milk is well absorbed by the baby's gastrointestinal tract, since it contains all the necessary microelements and beneficial bacteria for the full development of the child. A kind of constipation in a newborn during breastfeeding is caused by malnutrition. In this case, the baby’s intestines have nothing to digest.

Artificial feeding

Whatever the cause of constipation, the famous TV presenter urges parents to seek help from specialists and not self-medicate.