Breastfeeding constipation

What mothers consider constipation, based on adult physiology, is not always constipation. The first breastfeeding leads to the cleansing of the newborn's body from meconium - primordial feces, and the stool is dark colored and odorless. During the next few days, the nature of feces and frequency of defecation changes: the child empties 1-3 times a day yellowish liquid mass. Up to two months of life, the baby can dirty diapers as after each feeding, and twice or three times a day. Then their frequency decreases to 1-2, and if the body digests mother's milk well, it happens once every few days. What then is constipation in breastfeeding?

Causes of the breastfeeding constipation

Absence of defecation for 2-3 days does not indicate the presence of constipation. The existence of a problem is suggested by his behavior:

• not eating well;
• pulls her legs up to her tummy while feeding;
• pushing during emptying;
• is behind the norm in weight gain;
• feces and gas have a putrid odor.

What are the causes of constipation in infants? There are several:

• Immaturity of the intestine, in which its peristalsis is impaired. This usually goes away by the second month of life;
• anal stenosis;
• underdevelopment of the large intestine;
• rickets;
• damage to the nervous system that affects peristalsis;
• Thyroid underperformance;
• maternal malnutrition.

Foods that cause constipation when breastfeeding

During lactation, it should always be remembered that the foods eaten by the mother get into the baby's body indirectly. These foods can cause constipation not only in the baby, but also in the woman herself:

• fatty meats;
• unripe bananas;
• polished rice porridge;
• hard-boiled eggs;
• whole milk;
• hard, fatty cheeses;
• bakery products, including those made of puff pastry;
• confectionery (chocolate);
• rich broths;
• strong tea, coffee, cocoa.

Breastfeeding constipation in a mom

Not always foods are to blame for the fact that the mother suffers from constipation while breastfeeding. This may be due to a Caesarean section, the body's reaction to anesthesia, stress, medication, decreased tone of the abdominal muscles. Sometimes, if there are ruptures during labor, a woman is afraid of emptying and holds back her urges all the time.

Constipation during artificial feeding in an infant

Constipation is possible in a breastfed baby even with artificial feeding. There are many formula feedings available on the baby food market, but there is no universal formula that would suit everyone. It is necessary to try and change, but do it gradually, because there may be difficulties in emptying.

When feeding formula, you should give your baby more water to drink, its shortage leads to thickening of feces.

Treatment of the breastfeeding constipation

Constipation in children while breastfeeding, as a rule, does not require treatment. The mother will only need to adjust her diet. In this way she will get rid of constipation in herself.

A special diet is not necessary, but more fresh vegetables and fruits are introduced into the diet. Meat and fish are used lean varieties. Suitable chicken, rabbit, turkey, hake, pollock, saffron cod, saithe, river fish: pike, bream, pikeperch.

It is best to use baked or steamed vegetables as side dishes: cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini. It is also good to bake apples, fresh apples can cause bloating in the child.

Milk porridge is cooked from water-diluted whole milk, purchased low-fat milk and various cereals except rice. The diet should include fermented milk products, low-fat cottage cheese. A sufficient drinking regimen of the mother (1.5-2 liters) is important. The meal itself should be fractional and frequent (at least 5 times a day). [1]

Foods for constipation during breastfeeding

There are a number of foods that have a stimulating effect on the intestinal walls: peristalsis improves, stool movement and liquefaction increases. They contain a lot of insoluble fiber: lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose. A good source of dietary fiber are vegetables: carrots, beets, pumpkin, onions.

Possessing a large amount of organic acids, also belong to effective laxatives: fermented milk products (kefir, koumiss, yogurt without fillers), kvass, fruits (plums, apples, pears).

The cereals are wheat, barley, oats, whole grain buckwheat.

Prunes when breastfeeding for constipation

This dried fruit will quite help to cope with the problem of constipation, but not earlier than a few months after childbirth. It is able to establish the work of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as strengthen immunity, cleanse the body of toxins and toxins due to diuretic and choleretic action, increase efficiency. It contains many different vitamins: C, E, K, PP, group B, minerals: potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, organic acids, sugars, fiber.

In the beginning, you should limit yourself to a few berries a day, gradually increasing to 5 pieces. Prunes should be consumed, previously steamed in water. It is used to make tasty compotes or add chopped to yogurt.

Candles for constipation when breastfeeding

Doctors warn that to cause defecation in a small child "grandmotherly methods" (the tip of a thermometer, a piece of soap) in no case can not. In acute need to use glycerin suppositories, which are available in pharmacies without a prescription.

Suppositories irritate the inner surface of the rectum, reflexively increasing their motor activity, soften hard feces, promoting their advancement and excretion.

For small children, glycelax suppositories are produced, which are placed from the age of three months. Once a day, one suppository in a special dosage (0.75g of glycerin) is administered. Laxative effect is observed in 15-30 minutes after administration.

The drug is positioned as an emergency drug and is not used for more than a week.

Dufalac for constipation when breastfeeding

The drug belongs to the laxatives for constipation and can help a woman during breastfeeding a child, because its active ingredient lactulose is completely safe for both mother and baby. In some cases, duphalac in the form of syrups is prescribed even for children.

Lactulose inside breaks down into various acids that absorb water, due to which the consistency of the stool becomes softer and more liquid, then cleansing takes place.

The liquid is taken in the morning with meals in a dose of 5ml for children under 3 years old, adults - 15-45ml. As a rule, the clinical effect comes after 2 days.

Side effects are very rare, but still sometimes occur in the form of abdominal pain and diarrhea. [2]

Prevention

About the problem of constipation in a breastfed infant should definitely be consulted with a pediatrician. But there are a number of preventive measures that should be applied:

• for a mom to take care of her nutrition;
• the baby shouldn't be short of fluids;
• Determine the amount of milk drunk per day by weighing it before and after feeding in order to detect milk deficiency or excess;
• regular massage - circular movements on the tummy in a clockwise direction;
• gymnastics - alternately bending and extending legs (bicycle), pressing both to the stomach;
• laying the baby on his stomach before feeding.

In the absence of serious diseases with time everything will improve and the mother will receive only joy and positive emotions from her motherhood.