Getting to know when your baby is constipated

When we talk about a number of stools per day there is no “normal” number of stools per day or a schedule. However, around three – four stools per day are considered a normal number by most of the pediatricians. The number of stools or bowel movement per day depends on the age of your baby. It is bigger in new-born babies and is declining by the age of two or three years. As for babies – they can pass a stool after every meal or wait for a day – it depends on a variety of factors such are the quantity and frequency of feeding, the activity of babies, and the type of food baby is fed with. Every baby has a unique schedule of stools: for one baby 2 bowel movements a day is OK, for another 4 stools a day is less than a normal quantity. Parents are normally familiar with this unique schedule, as they have to change the diapers after every stool made.

Statistically talking, babies fed with breast milk will be less frequently (if will ever be) constipated than babies fed with formula. And almost 90% of babies will be constipated when transiting from breast feeding to formula, due to the difference in food composition. Breast milk is a very balanced combination of proteins and fats, which will extremely rare lead to constipation.

What is baby constipation? Definition of baby constipation.

Constipation is a condition where stools become firmer and harder. According to other authors, constipation is the hard passage of a dry stool. And the third definition you can find – it is a period of four days without a stool. I can not agree with the last one, as I know babies that have bowel movement like once a week and they do not experience any trouble such as pain or discomfort. I think it all depends on a pattern. Constipated baby gives signs of pain and abdominal discomfort, as she needs to empty her bowels and there is no such possibility. Actually, constipation is quite frequent in babies.

Formula fed babies, as I mentioned before, are more frequently constipated. Breastfed babies are very rarely constipated, as the milk composition is perfect for a baby digestive system; it is easily digested and contain some supplemental enzymes to help in digestion. Also breastfed babies, unlike formula fed some, have some special god bacteria in the intestines that help to digest the milk. As a result of this, the breastfed baby’s stool will look different: it will be yellow, just like mustard, and the formula fed babies stool will be pale. Also, the breastfed baby’s stool will be softer and easier to eliminate. The mother’s milk will also change as the baby grows, that is why the baby’s stool will also change. And breast milk contains a special hormone called motiline, which is responsible for bowel movement, increasing movements.

If a baby is developing constipation, stools, as I mentioned before become painful and hard, which leads to logical baby’s response: she will hold her bowel movements. This will aggravate the situation and will lead to even worse constipation. So a vicious cycle is created: constipation leads to pain and pain leads to even worse constipation. Also constipation can start from a painful stool: if a baby has diaper rash or a small tear in the anus, she will also hold her stool to prevent the pain and this will lead to constipation. Constipation in case of diaper rash or tear in the anus is considered less serious and normally disappears once the main problem is solved.

The number of stools per day will vary depending on your baby’s age and pattern. There are babies that poop every 2-3 hours, and also there are absolutely healthy babies that poop once a week. Consider constipation as a problem when the number of stools is decreasing: if your baby used to have 4 stools a day and now have one, check your physician.

Baby constipation, how to deal with it? The questions I had.

As a young mother I’m frequently searching the internet with concerns related to my baby health. The one issue I had to deal with is constipation. I could not understand either my baby is constipated or not, I didn’t know how frequent the stool should occur, and when to start (or stop) worrying about constipation. So, I decided to share my experience, which basically is a synthesis of many small pieces of information I found online.
To find out more about baby constipation continue to read this blog.