Breast milk is the safest option for a baby. It is germ free and can never cause infections unlike bottle feeding. Vomiting and diarrhoea in some breastfed babies is normal. There is no need to worry, if the child is active. To dispel some of the myths read here.It is a must to breastfeed babies at least for the first six months. Exclusively breastfeed babies face digestion related issues like vomiting and other issues related to bowel movements less frequently. Let us take a look at the common concerns of parents related to vomiting and bowel movement of babies.
Can breast milk be the cause of diarrhoea and vomiting in some babies?
This is not true. Breast milk is the safest option. Some exclusively
breastfed babies pass frequent watery motions - at times green or with mucus. Some of them vomit curds or milk off and on. This is no cause for concern if they are active and pass urine frequently. No treatment is required and breastfeeding should be continued. Sometimes normally thriving breastfed babies pass a motion as infrequently as once every three or five days. This does not mean that the baby is constipated unless the stool is hard (which is unlikely in an exclusively breastfed baby).
Do green motions mean that the baby is not getting enough milk?
No, that is another myth. Again, the number of times the baby passes urine is an indicator of his good health or otherwise. If the baby is active and passes urine normally, the green motions are normal. The so called 'starvation stools' are seen in an emaciated starved child who passes traces of green mucus in place of
stools.
Can breastfed babies get constipated?
The chances of constipation in breastfed babies are very low as compared to the exclusively formula fed babies. If babies get adequate amount of
breastmilk, they may not develop issues like constipation. Constipation may also affect babies who are allergic or intolerant to milk-protein.
What are the signs of constipation in babies?
The babies who are constipated pass stools less often. They may pass stools once in 3 to 4 days. When you baby is making faces while passing stools and if she has to apply a lot of pressure, it may indicate that she is coping with
constipation. You must also notice the consistency of the stools. The stools of a constipated baby will be of hard consistency and may look pebbly. In case if the baby is passing stools less often but the consistency of the stools is soft, then there is no need to worry.
How is constipation in babies treated?
Changing the formula for the formula fed babies can be one of the options to help them cope with constipation. You can ask your doctor to suggest another brand of formula which can help your baby to deal with the condition. He or she may also recommend minerals with which stools can soften. Doctor may use the manual technique to remove stools by putting figure in baby’s anus. Such techniques should be only practiced by a doctor and parents must not try such techniques on their babies to avoid the risk of harming the baby.
Other than the above methods, doctor may use treatments like rectal stimulation which can help the baby pass stools within few minutes. He or she may also recommend glycerine suppository which may probably help the baby within an hour’s time.
When should I be concerned?
Although, babies coping constipation do not pass stools for 3 to 4 days, you must immediately report to the doctor in case if a newborn does not pass stools for 3 days. It may indicate that he or she is not getting adequate nutrition. You must also consult your doctor immediately if your baby is passing blood with stools.
It is very important to keep track of your baby’s bowel movement and clarify your doubts if you find something unusual. The best way to prevent issues related to vomiting and bowel movement is to ensure that baby is exclusively breastfed for first six months.
