Possible bowel problems in babies
There are two major possible bowel problems in babies, that is constipation and diarrhoea. Constipation can cause your baby some pain, and diarrhoea can easily cause dehydration, so care must be taken in both cases.
Constipation problems in babies
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This is hard, infrequent stools. Infrequent means less often than every three or four days, and hard means hard enough to cause discomfort or pain. Constipation itself cannot make a child ill, and old theories that constipation poisoned the system were discarded long ago.
Constipation without any other signs of illness is nothing to worry about. However, if your baby is straining a great deal to pass a hard stool and it causes discomfort, you should consult your doctor to see if it is necessary to get any medicine to soften the stool. Doctors are loathe to use laxatives or purgatives for a young child, and it is hardly ever necessary to resort to such treatments. In a very small baby constipation is rare and it is nearly always due to not giving the baby enough water. It can, therefore, nearly always be cured by giving your baby more drinks or by adding a little extra water to each bottle. Don't try the old-fashioned remedy of adding sugar to your baby's feeds - it doesn't work, your baby doesn't need sugar, and it will only encourage a sweet tooth.
By far the best way to soften the stools is to alter the diet and to add a little more fibre and roughage. A couple of teaspoons of prune juice added to your baby's water drink will help, and when she's on solids, two teaspoons of sieved stewed prunes with the evening feed should bring results.
Once your child is on a varied diet, he should never be constipated unless his meals don't include enough fresh fruit, vegetables, whole-wheat breads and whole grains. It is very easy to prevent him becoming constipated once he is eating solids: you simply add more of these foods to his diet. In a young child, the bowel always responds to the addition of complex carbohydrates (which are contained in root and green vegetables), because the cellulose within them holds water in the stools and makes them more bulky and soft.
There are really only two reasons why a child should become chronically constipated. The first is due to an over-fussy parent who has become obsessive about the regularity of the child's bowel motions. The second is if a child has previously felt great discomfort and pain when trying to pass a motion, and retains the stools to prevent that pain recurring.
It is fairly common for your child to have a few days of constipation after having an illness with a high temperature. This is partly because she has taken in very little food so there are no waste products to pass, and partly because of the loss of water due to sweating with the fever. The body conserves all the moisture it can by absorbing it from the stools and this makes the motions hard. This kind of constipation needs no treatment at all and it will correct itself when your child goes back on to a proper diet. Don't use patent medicines, laxatives, suppositories or enemas without seeking medical advice.
Diarrhoea problems in babies
True diarrhoea - very loose, frequent, watery stools - is a sign that the intestines are irritated and that the food is “hurrying” along. Once your child is on solids, a change of diet, such as the introduction of a new fruit or vegetable, may be enough to cause it.
Diarrhoea in young babies is always serious because the intestines are not given sufficient time to absorb the water essential for life, and severe dehydration can develop quite rapidly. There is no need to be concerned about the odd loose stool if your baby remains well, eats normally and is perfectly happy. However, if your baby has very watery stools, if they are green and smelly, if she refuses food, has a fever of 38°C (100°F) or more, has blood or pus in the stools and is listless with dark rings under her eyes, then you should contact your doctor immediately.
If your baby is very young (under four months) seek medical advice or go to the hospital emergency department as soon as possible. With an older baby, stop all food and just give drinks of water until you can see your doctor. If your baby has mild diarrhoea and no other symptoms, you can start treatment immediately yourself. If you are breast-feeding your baby continue to nurse. Diarrhoea usually clears up well on breast-milk. If you are bottle-feeding, make up the next bottle at half-strength, with half the regular formula to the usual amount of water. Let your baby take as much of this mixture as often as she likes. She may be off food, taking only small amounts, and will become hungry more quickly. If mild diarrhoea doesn't improve within two days, seek medical advice even if your child seems well.
Once the diarrhoea has cleared up you can start re-introducing normal food. The best foods to start off with are mild, milky ones. Start off with a third to a half the usual serving on the first day and on the second day a half to two thirds of the usual amount. On the third day, if all is going well, and she has a good appetite, you can go back to regular servings.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 03.11.2010
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