Cure For Constipation

It is common for a newborn to become constipated.  If so, they will have a less than normal number of bowel movements and difficulty in going.  It is usually due to an insufficient consumption of water or poor communication between the nerves and the colon muscles.  Babies should have a bowel movment every day.

The intestines absorb nutrients and water from the food that we eat.  What does not absorb will become fecal matter.   If there has been adequate water intake, the feces will move out of the rectum when the muscles of the rectum and lower intestines contract.

Switching from breast milk to formula can also be a cause of constipation in newborns or vice versa.

The facts about the poop

Infants will have their first bowel movement within a day after they are born.  Though the first few movements are thick and sticky, it will become a yellow color in the first weeks.

Babies who are breastfed will poop more than those who are fed with formula.  Breastfed babies will go 8 to 10 times a day in the first week of their lives, but it decreases to four times a day by the time they are a month old.  By two months old, babies will only poop once or twice a day.

If an infant does not have a bowel movement within 48 hours of birth, they should be given a medical evaluation.  It could be something more serious than constipation such as:

- Hypothyroidism, a hormonal imbalance
- Meconium ileus
-Hirschsprung’s disease

Cures for newborn constipation

There are simple remedies for infants and constipation.  Always seek a doctor’s advice.  Some remedies are:

- Breastfeed.  It is much easier for infants to digest.

- Make sure that enough water is given to the baby.

- Massage the infants abdomen very gently in small circles.  Do this several times a day.

- One teaspoon of flax oil can be given in a bottle with water or breastmilk to help prevent constipation.