What are the symptoms of neonatal constipation?

In our daily life, many people have the trouble of constipation. The reasons for constipation are different for each person. Some newborns may also suffer from constipation. Newborns have relatively fragile bodies, and constipation in newborns is a very common symptom.

1. Meconium

If there is no meconium within 24 hours after birth, it should be suspected that there is a congenital malformation of the digestive tract that causes fecal obstruction, and timely diagnosis and treatment are required. If the interval between bowel movements of older babies exceeds 36 hours and there is no meconium or a small amount of abnormal meconium is excreted, this is abnormal and attention should be paid to whether the baby has congenital digestive tract malformations and other diseases.

2. Normal stool

If the interval between bowel movements in the baby exceeds 48 hours, it can be considered constipation. Some babies have difficulty in defecation soon after birth, and they only defecate once every 1-2 days or 3-4 days. The stool is dry and hard, and the baby cries constantly during defecation. Because the stool is dry and hard, and it is difficult to defecate every time, the baby will develop a fear of defecation, leading to a vicious cycle. Constipation in newborn babies is usually functional constipation, which is often ignored by parents, leading to worsening of the condition. If the baby is constipated for a long time, symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal distension and even abdominal pain, dizziness, and restless sleep will occur. In severe cases, there may even be symptoms such as prolapse of the anus or anal fissure bleeding. Therefore, parents must pay attention and observe closely. If constipation is found, it should be cured as soon as possible, otherwise it will cause serious consequences.

Observation of meconium in neonates with constipation symptoms

Normally, babies start to excrete meconium within ten hours after birth. It is dark green or dark green, sticky, odorless, and a bit like asphalt used for paving roads. It is usually excreted within two to three days, about 3-5 times a day. If no meconium is seen within 24 hours after birth, it should be suspected that there is a congenital malformation of the digestive tract that causes fecal obstruction, which requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. If an older baby has no meconium or excretes a small amount of abnormal meconium after a bowel movement interval of more than 36 hours, this is considered abnormal.

Observation of neonatal constipation symptoms and normal stool

1. Small amount of stool, dry stool. Difficulty in defecation, pain during defecation, and constant crying during defecation.

2. Abdominal distension, pain, and loss of appetite.

3. Symptoms such as prolonged bowel movement cycle (3 to 5 days) and feces staining underwear.

4. If constipation lasts for a long time, symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal distension and even abdominal pain, dizziness, and disturbed sleep will appear. In severe cases, symptoms such as anal prolapse or anal fissure bleeding may even occur.

Whether a newborn is constipated cannot be determined solely by the frequency of bowel movements. Instead, it is necessary to observe the quality and quantity of the baby's stool as a whole, and to see whether it has any impact on the child's health. If the stool characteristics and quantity are basically normal, and there are no abnormalities in the baby's eating, general condition, and weight gain, then no treatment is needed.

Moreover, each child has a different physical condition, so the normal number of bowel movements per day is also different. Some babies have multiple bowel movements per day, while others may have only one bowel movement every few days. For example, babies fed with milk or other milk substitutes may have a bowel movement once a day or once every 2-3 days, while babies who are completely breastfed may have more bowel movements per day, and the shape and regularity of their stools may vary greatly. At this time, no matter how long the interval between two bowel movements is, as long as the bowel movement process is not very strenuous and the stool shape is not dry and hard, it is normal. Do not use the length of the interval between two bowel movements as a diagnostic condition for constipation.

The stool of a breastfed baby is yellow or golden yellow, with a uniform consistency, ointment-like, with small particles, and occasionally a little thin, with a small amount of green. If the milk contains more carbohydrates, that is, more sugars, it will ferment in the intestines, making the stool soft and containing a lot of foam, which can increase the frequency of bowel movements.

For artificially fed newborns, if they are mainly fed with milk, their stools are light yellow, dry, and have a distinct odor. This is because milk contains high protein, which smells bad when it is decomposed. There may be white milk lumps in the stool, because milk contains a large amount of complex protein, which is easy to combine with calcium to form soap calcium during digestion.