Sometimes the reason for the lack of bowel movements is intestinal obstruction, in this case we also observe poor gas discharge. This is a serious reason to provide emergency medical care to your baby. If the baby farts often, but does not poop, you don’t have to worry, everything is fine with patency.
What causes constipation:
- While on artificial nutrition, the baby should receive drinks in addition to the main food. If he doesn't drink enough, this can also lead to constipation;
- complementary feeding too early or transfer to artificial nutrition also creates unnecessary stress on the intestines;
- psychological reasons can also affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- If a baby is breastfed, then the behavior of its gastrointestinal tract largely depends on the mother’s nutrition.
If constipation occurs, the mother needs to exclude from her diet foods that strengthen the intestines and cause increased gas formation.
Constipation in infants and its causes
Constipation in infants, as already mentioned, can be called stool of a hard consistency. Of course, in this case the process of defecation becomes much more complicated.
What can cause problems with stool?
- You should not immediately worry about the irregularity of bowel movements, since, for example, children who feed on mother's milk may not go to the toilet for four days, or even more. All this is due to the fact that breast milk is completely absorbed by your baby, and therefore there is nothing for him to poop with.
- Disturbances in the diet of a nursing mother. She should limit her consumption of certain foods and drinks, including white flour bread, rice, bananas, black tea and coffee. Otherwise, breastfeeding a baby may result in very undesirable consequences for the latter.
- The baby is being bottle-fed due to a lack of fluid (water), which he consumes in addition to formula.
- Consequences of early transfer of a baby from breastfeeding to artificial feeding.
- Premature complementary feeding, since up to six months the infant’s body only needs breast milk, which should serve as the only nutritional option for it.
- Reasons of a psychological nature and a number of others cannot be ruled out.
Causes of constipation in a baby
Problems with stool can be caused by several reasons.
Babies who are breastfed may not go to the toilet for more than four days. The reason for this is that mother's milk is completely absorbed by the baby's body, so there is nothing for him to poop with.
Due to a violation of the diet of a nursing mother, problems with the stool of the newborn also occur. In this case, she will just need to adjust it and give up foods such as rice, bananas, white flour bread, black tea and coffee.
Premature transfer of a baby from breastfeeding to artificial feeding can complicate the situation with stool. When a baby is bottle-fed, he may not have enough fluid (water) consumed in addition to formula.
Up to six months, breast milk is enough for an infant, which is the only nutritional option, and premature introduction of complementary foods will affect his digestion.
We cannot exclude reasons that are psychological in nature.
If a newborn farts a lot, this indicates an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines that need to be helped to come out.
With the help of drugs containing lactulose, the problem can be corrected. They have a mild laxative effect and do not harm the baby’s health at all. A gas outlet tube is also used. Pharmacy teas with fennel and dill water also help remove gases from the baby’s body. Together with the pediatrician, it is necessary to decide whether it is necessary to adjust the child’s diet or replace the formula.
In what cases should you consult a pediatrician for constipation?
Problems with bowel movements in a baby are expressed by certain symptoms, in particular, the baby shows anxiety, is capricious, does not want to eat, has a bloated tummy, sleep disturbances, and sometimes vomiting, and this is a reason to seek professional help.
As for feces in situations of this kind, they are distinguished by their increased density, whereas normally they should be soft or in the form of a pulp, and only gradually, with each subsequent month or a little longer, they become thicker. If we talk about the color of feces, then at the initial stage it has a yellow color, which changes with the introduction of complementary foods and can vary from light to dark shades.
When contacting a pediatrician, the main indicator when assessing a child’s condition in case of problems with stool is his general well-being and the passage of gases.
The combination of constipation in a baby with difficulty passing gas is very dangerous. This may indicate intestinal obstruction. But if a baby farts but does not poop, then this is not so scary, because you can calm down about the patency of his intestines.
Fortunately, medical assistance in situations of this kind is required only in extremely rare cases, and this fact cannot but rejoice.
Source: OtvetyMamam.ru
What to do if your baby farts but doesn't poop?
If your baby farts but cannot poop, you can take the following measures yourself, and this is often enough.
What to do if your child has bad stool:
- Using gentle pressure, massage the tummy clockwise around the navel;
- give warm water if the child is artificial;
- work with your legs - bend them towards your tummy and straighten them;
- place the baby on the stomach;
- Give Plantex a drink.
It happens that the above recommendations do not help much, and the baby still farts a lot, but does not poop. Then you can try to stimulate the anus with a rounded stick lubricated with cream, or try inserting a glycerin suppository.
As a last resort, you can resort to microenemas, but you should not get carried away with this method, as this has a bad effect on the intestinal microflora.
Baby farts but hasn't pooped for 2 days
When a child poops, you need to carefully examine the stool for the presence of dry, hard particles. If they are present, it is better to consult a doctor for advice about the causes of incipient constipation. When the stool is normal, there is no need to worry.
If two days have already passed since the last bowel movement, and the baby is straining, farting, but not pooping, then perhaps the reason is accumulated gases that do not allow feces to pass. It makes sense to resort to a gas outlet tube.
Mom needs to stay calm and look at the big picture. It is necessary to take into account the type of nutrition and the general condition of the baby. And, of course, do not forget that the development of the gastrointestinal tract is not a quick process, and each child is very individual.
Other factors
But there are other situations when a newborn strains, farts, but does not poop, behaves restlessly, cries, and the smell of the emitted air is very pungent. In this case, it is worth finding out what was the reason, and then, depending on the situation, act.
The following factors lead to excessive release of gases:
- getting used to a new type of food;
- transition from breastfeeding to artificial feeding;
- complementary foods are difficult to digest or a new product is given in too large portions;
- a nursing mother violates dietary rules.
Some reasons why a newborn farts a lot but doesn't poop are worth taking a closer look at.
1 month old baby farts but doesn't poop
Quite often, parents encounter problems with their child’s digestion of food. And sometimes such a moment in a baby’s life can come from the first days of birth. If a 1-month-old baby farts but does not poop, this may be a sign of concern.
Causes of bloating. Before contacting a pediatrician, you should try to find out the cause yourself and eliminate it as far as possible. If the baby is only breastfed, is not fussy and has no bloating, then there is no need to worry. Doctors explain this process by saying that, apart from gases, there is simply nothing to come out of the child’s body.
Source: imalishka.ru
Why doesn't my baby poop?
Before a baby wants to poop, he experiences a whole series of peculiar sensations. The desire to poop itself arises when the sphincter located in the intestinal lumen begins to experience pressure from feces. After this, you should relax and promote the release of feces.
At this stage of life, the baby still has a weak intestine, and mother’s milk helps him get used to working independently. Thus, the intestine goes through a kind of formation period, as a result of which it is finally formed. Therefore, it turns out that the child may not poop for several days, after which he does it quite often.
Under no circumstances should you conclude that you are constipated if your baby does not poop for more than one day. One can draw a conclusion about its presence only if the baby, when he poops, begins to strain very much, since it is difficult for him to do this and at the same time the feces turn out to be formed and hard. Only in this case can we conclude that an infant has constipation, but not when he has not pooped for some time.
If his stool is rare, but has a normal, familiar consistency, apparently we are talking about the manifestation of some physiological quality of the infant.
Baby doesn't poop for 24 hours
At the very beginning of a baby’s life, only the beginning of the formation of well-known natural reactions of the body occurs. The emission of urine and feces are involuntary and occur when there is an extreme degree of pressure of excretory substances on the walls of the bladder and intestines. The gastrointestinal tract of an infant has its own specific functioning, and its vital functions differ significantly from the functioning of the body of an adult.
The baby's body is not yet able to independently produce certain enzymes necessary for digesting food, which are produced by the adult body. The normal condition of a baby is considered to be stool 2-4 times a day. His stomach still reacts poorly to the presence of food, its composition and quantity. The main food for an infant is mother's milk, the chemical composition of which varies depending on the foods the mother eats. In the first months of a baby’s life, his body learns to develop adequate reactions to all environmental influences.
If defecation is delayed for a day, you should carefully consider the condition of the stool. Intestinal disease can be identified by the presence of inclusions of hard, thick balls in a liquid substance. In this case, you should contact your pediatrician as soon as possible.
If after a daily delay the stool is in a normal state, then nothing bad has happened and the delay itself does not matter.
Baby hasn't pooped for 3 days
If an infant has not pooped for more than two days, it is necessary to pay attention to what he eats, which forms the basis of his daily diet, breast milk or formula. It is considered quite normal for a child to have no bowel movements for several days, if he is on pure breastfeeding, it is normal, even if this period extends to a week. Mother's milk is an absolutely unique, fully digestible product if the baby's body is healthy enough. This situation applies to those children who are breastfed only.
In the event that feeding is done from a bottle, the absence of stool for three days is a reason to seriously think about it and take action. The thing is that the feces of a bottle-fed baby have a specific smell and consistency; the mixture is not completely absorbed, so the body needs to be regularly rid of excess organic substances.
It is impossible to say unequivocally how many times a day an infant should poop. His intestines are still just adjusting their functions and in this situation, various malfunctions in its work are possible. One and a half month old children, as a rule, poop liquid 5-6 times a day, after which the feces thicken, but the child poops less often.
Bowel movement is caused by the following factors:
- formula consumed or mother's milk;
- taking medications by the child’s mother or himself;
- psychological discomfort or comfort of the child;
- existing intestinal disorders.
If the child does not poop for three days, there is no need to be overly nervous. If he feels fine and farts regularly, then you just need to wait. The truly alarming signs that require urgent intervention are:
- hardness in the baby's tummy;
- constant crying of the child and his excitability;
- knotting with legs;
- stagnation of gases.
The means of resolving this situation are individual. A massage of the baby’s tummy, performed clockwise with the whole palm, a warm bath, a heating pad on the tummy, and exercises from the “bicycle” series can help. The mother's diet is very important and may need to be reconsidered. For a bottle-fed baby, you may need to change the formula or purchase one that helps with constipation.
Baby farts, but does not poop - reasons, what to do? When does the gastrointestinal tract work better in infants?
The mother of a newborn is interested in absolutely everything that concerns the development of the baby. Feeding, spitting, urination and bowel movements - nothing is left unattended.
In addition, any deviations from the norm immediately cause a lot of concern.
So what should you do if your baby farts but doesn't poop? How can I help him normalize the microflora in his intestines and get rid of bloating? Answers to these and other questions will be presented in the article.
Features of stool in a breastfed and bottle-fed baby
When a baby is born, its intestines are sterile. During the first two weeks of life, bacteria inhabit it: beneficial and conditionally pathogenic, which under certain conditions can lead to disease.
The main source of beneficial microorganisms is breast milk. It fits the child perfectly. That is why in children who are breastfed, the process of formation of intestinal microflora occurs faster.
Breast milk is absorbed by the baby's body 100%. A breast-fed baby's stool has the consistency of a liquid yellow porridge. In the first month after birth, bowel movements occur very often, up to 10 times a day, literally after every feeding.
Gradually, bowel function improves, stool changes and the number of bowel movements decreases. There may be 2-3 bowel movements per day. But further, if a month-old breastfed baby defecates once every 5 days, this is also the norm.
But only if nothing bothers the baby.
But the stool of a one-month-old baby who is fed an adapted formula has a denser consistency. Artificial nutrition is not completely absorbed by the body, so bowel movements must be done daily. If this does not happen, then constipation occurs. Coping with this problem in children is quite difficult.
Causes of constipation in infants
If a child does not defecate for 1-2 days in a row, then his stool becomes dense and dry. At the same time, the process of defecation itself causes discomfort. This is constipation. It is at this moment that the situation most often occurs when the baby farts, but does not poop. The child's feces have become dense, it is difficult for the baby to get rid of it, he begins to cry angrily and kick his legs.
Other symptoms of constipation in infants are:
- bloating;
- refusal to eat;
- restless sleep.
The causes of constipation are related to the following:
- poor nutrition of the mother of a breastfed child;
- non-compliance with the drinking regime for an artificial baby;
- introducing complementary foods too quickly or abruptly switching to adapted formulas.
The reasons associated with natural feeding are easy to solve. To do this, it is enough for the mother to give up foods that cause increased gas formation in the baby. But a child who is bottle-fed really needs the help of his parents.
If a child does not defecate for a day or more, the following measures must be taken:
- place the baby on his tummy and continue to do this before each meal;
- after each feeding, hold the baby in a “column” position until the air comes out of the stomach;
- massage the belly around the navel;
- apply a warm diaper to the tummy;
- Give your child anti-flatulence medicine.
If the baby still farts but does not poop, a gas tube will help the baby. In order not to harm the child, you must read the instructions for use before use. Having gotten rid of the air in the stomach, the baby will definitely poop. A glycerin-based suppository will also help induce bowel movements.
What can't you do?
Parents, trying to help a screaming baby, often make serious mistakes. Thus, there are cases where a child was given a laxative intended for adults for constipation. Doing this is strictly prohibited. The child’s gastrointestinal tract is not yet fully formed and any medications can only be given to him as prescribed by a doctor.
As for an enema, it is not recommended to give it to a baby. After this, a malfunction may occur in the body, as a result of which natural bowel movements will become a real problem for the child. It is known that people who were often given enemas in childhood suffer from constipation and digestive disorders more often than others in adulthood.
Massage for increased gas formation
You can eliminate the symptoms of flatulence in a baby and help him poop by making stroking movements around the navel. A tummy massage for constipation in a newborn is performed while lying on his back. All movements should be soft and done clockwise. This will allow:
- relax muscle muscles;
- improve blood circulation;
- speed up intestinal motility.
No less effective than massage is the “bicycle” exercise. To perform it, the baby’s legs are alternately bent and unbent at the knee joints. You can bring them to the tummy at the same time and hold in this position for several seconds. It is important that the exercises do not cause discomfort to the child.
Another way to help your baby relax is to bathe him in warm water. After this, the baby’s tummy needs to be massaged again and the baby should be placed on its side. Lying on your back for long periods of time has been proven to prevent bowel movements.
Traditional treatment
The use of any medications can lead to serious problems with the digestive system, intestinal upset or constipation.
Even seemingly harmless bifidobacteria, which are not taken as prescribed by a doctor, can lead to irreversible functional disorders. Therefore, you can only take medications that are prescribed by your doctor.
If any changes in the body are observed while taking them, you should immediately inform your doctor about this.
The drug “Linex” for children in drops has proven itself well. The instructions for use indicate that it has no side effects, since it is designed specifically for young patients. As for the effectiveness of treatment, this drug is ideal for normalizing microflora.
When does bowel function improve in infants?
The most common symptoms for children in the first months of life are colic and gas. They arise as a consequence of intestinal microflora that is not fully formed and a fragile gastrointestinal tract.
Despite the fact that colic causes a lot of discomfort for both the baby and parents, it is temporary.
If we talk about when the gastrointestinal tract improves in infants, then this happens after the baby reaches three months of age.
The main reason for excessive gas accumulation and colic in newborns is the swallowing of air during feeding. Colic can also be triggered by the mother’s poor diet or inappropriate formula. To reduce the amount of gas in the intestines, you need to listen to the recommendations of pediatricians.
Preventing flatulence in babies
To reduce gas formation in the baby’s intestines, you need to take the following measures:
- Maintain drinking regime. Provide bottle-fed babies with extra fluids. This can be plain or dill water, chamomile tea, which will help quickly eliminate the symptoms of flatulence.
- Massage. Simple stroking movements of the abdomen will help the baby get rid of colic and improve intestinal motility.
- Daily gymnastics. Systematic exercises like “bicycle” are an excellent prevention of tummy problems.
- Timely complementary feeding. There is no need to try to transfer the baby to the adult table as quickly as possible.
It is worth noting that the following situation also happens: a newborn farts often, and almost every time, simultaneously with the release of gases, he defecates a liquid consistency. The problem here is rather an intestinal imbalance associated with poor nutrition. The difficulty is that usually, against the background of constant bowel movements, irritation appears around the anus.
In this case, the pediatrician may recommend Linex drops for children. From the instructions for use you can find out that it contains beneficial bifidobacteria, which contribute to the rapid establishment of intestinal microflora.
A standard bottle of medication is designed for a 28-day course. The recommended dosage for children under two years of age is 6 drops. It can be diluted in breast milk, formula or compote.
The main thing is that the temperature of the liquid does not exceed 40° so that the bacteria do not die.
How to feed a baby correctly?
As noted above, excessive formation of gases in the intestines is directly related to the baby’s nutrition. To reduce the symptoms of flatulence, you need to take the following measures:
- When feeding from a bottle, make sure that the baby does not swallow any air bubbles. If this happens, then after eating the baby should be held upright until he burps.
- When breastfeeding, make sure that the baby grasps not only the nipple, but also the areola with his mouth. It is equally important for mother to adhere to proper nutrition.
- From the first day of life, place the baby on his tummy before each feeding. This is how his intestines get rid of excess gases.
Source: https://FB.ru/article/420598/grudnichok-pukaet-no-ne-kakaet—prichinyi-chto-delat-kogda-nalajivaetsya-rabota-jkt-u-grudnichkov
Baby farts but doesn't poop
If an infant farts but does not poop and remains calm, then there is no need to be particularly nervous, in general everything is fine. If your child has a lot of gas, it means he needs help because he is constipated.
The simplest thing you can do is massage your baby's tummy. Apply pressure with your fingers on the tummy carefully in a clockwise direction, in the navel area, making circular movements around it. Then the baby can be placed on his stomach - he can play or just lie down. After this, it is useful to give Plantex a drink - this helps remove gases and has a mild laxative effect, perhaps after this no further measures will be required. Another useful way to eliminate gases is glycerin suppositories. For an infant, it will be enough to insert half a candle. An effective remedy can be a gas outlet tube, which stimulates the rectum to empty and intensifies the removal of gases. You can buy such a tube at any pharmacy; you should insert it after lubricating it with Vaseline or sunflower oil. An enema should be used only as a last resort, when all methods have been tried and not one has justified itself. However, we must not forget that the use of an enema disrupts the intestinal microflora, which can lead to further deterioration.
How long can a baby go without pooping?
Children should not be compared with each other, since each child is individual, and what is normal for one baby may not be suitable for another. However, the same baby may initially poop ten times a day, and then go without pooping for several days.
The frequency of stool in a child largely depends on the type of feeding. Breastfed infants suffer from intestinal disorders less often than formula-fed infants. In the former, the frequency of bowel movements reaches seven times a day, while the latter do it less often - about four times a day.
If the child poops little, there is no need to worry, since even for a baby who is on natural feeding, one stool per day is considered normal. Another thing is if the child strains excessively and cries, this may indicate that he is constipated and it is necessary to use laxatives to solve this problem.
Thus, there is simply no single answer to the question of how long a baby can go without pooping - it all depends on its individual characteristics and diet.
Source: grudnichki.com
The baby farts, but does not poop and cries: reasons for how to help the baby fart - Baby
Good afternoon to all readers of my blog – regular and “new”! Let me remind you that here we discuss everything related to the birth and development of children.
The topic for today's conversation will be quite common, but also quite intimate: babies fart a lot. Faced with such a nuisance, mothers immediately begin to worry.
I hasten to reassure you, my dears: in most cases this is a completely normal situation.
Why does it occur? In the first months of a fry’s life, the digestive system adapts to the need to work and digest food on its own. Even if your baby doesn't poop for several days, it's not always a cause for serious concern.
Problems with stool in a baby may occur in the following cases:
- - When breastfeeding, the baby may often have no bowel movements for several days. This is due to the fact that mother’s milk is completely absorbed - there is simply nothing to walk on for a large child;
- - Mom ate some product unsuitable for children’s digestion (white bread, legumes, cabbage, coffee...);
- — the baby was transferred to artificial feeding early;
- - abruptly replaced one mixture with another;
- - with artificial feeding, the baby lacks water in the diet;
- — complementary foods were introduced early, for which the baby’s stomach or intestines are not yet ready to digest. I wrote about the first feeding here.
In all these cases, both constipation, when the baby farts a lot but does not poop, and gas formation are possible.
When should you worry?
Of course, sometimes situations arise that mothers should take as a cause for concern:
- — the baby hasn’t walked much for several days, and at the same time he looks restless and is constantly capricious;
- - the baby refuses to eat;
- - he has pronounced bloating;
- - insomnia;
- -vomit;
- - colic;
- - a combination of constipation with difficulty passing gas, when the baby farts and cries. This may be caused by poor intestinal patency (or obstruction), when it can be painful for a baby to even fart.
If the baby farts often, but at the same time feels normal, has a soft tummy, and is active, reconsider the above reasons for the baby’s digestive disorders and eliminate them.
Can baby gases “smell”?
Those who have encountered such a phenomenon as the appearance of an unpleasant odor after a baby’s gas has passed are always very surprised: can baby gases have such an odor? If the baby has not had a bowel movement for several days, this is normal.
In principle, if a baby farts often without showing concern, this is even good. Thus, the intestines are freed from excess activity, easing the child’s condition. That is, everything works correctly. If smelly gases are accompanied by crying and the baby pulls his legs towards his tummy, consult a doctor. You may need to take tests of the baby's stool and mother's milk.
How to help a little one
- Pediatricians often advise mothers with severe gas formation to give their children dill water, which has a carminative effect.
- Try to place it on your tummy more often to provide intestinal massage and stimulate it to be active.
- You can put the little one on his back and press his legs against his tummy several times with his knees. This way the accumulated gases will go away faster.
- A gentle massage of the legs and area around the spine may also help.
- Monitor the diet of the baby and mother. Often this reaction is caused by new foods that the mother has eaten or given to the baby.
Ticklish nuances
But this, my dears, “varieties of farts” does not end there. Perhaps some of you will encounter the fact that the little one will start farting with some water. Here you first need to monitor the general condition of the child.
Sometimes such a reaction in a child’s intestines occurs to some new conditions (the feeding regime has changed, the diet has changed dramatically). But if such a symptom does not go away for a long time, consult a doctor, he will prescribe tests for dysbacteriosis and intestinal infections.
It happens that a baby often farts with poop instead of a full-fledged stool. In this case, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. He will examine the child, perhaps examine the stool itself - its color, consistency, smell, and prescribe the same tests - for dysbiosis and intestinal infections.
Don’t worry ahead of time, such troubles disappear after proper treatment. Just don't write it yourself! Replacing water with rice water (or even “better” - oak bark decoction) in such cases will help little, if not harm.
What is important
- Remember if your baby has recently had contact with other children (many intestinal infections are transmitted through toys, dirty hands, etc.).
- Perhaps he ate some product, the freshness of which there is reason to doubt, or you fed him store-bought purees, kefir or porridge, the expiration date of which had not yet expired, but at the same time they were of poor quality. If you still have containers from them with food residues, take them for analysis, this will help determine or exclude the presence of pathogenic microorganisms that came from it.
- Perhaps, against the background of such manifestations, the baby has severe cold symptoms (there are intestinal infections that combine the symptoms of dysbacteriosis and a cold).
All this information will help the doctor more accurately assess the situation, prescribe examinations and make the correct diagnosis. Treatment will most likely consist of taking medications and following a diet (if the baby is breastfed, then the mother will have to follow the diet).
Don't worry, everything we talked about in this article is not as scary as it might seem. Excessive vomiting or acute diarrhea is much more dangerous for the baby - due to large loss of fluid, dehydration of the small body is possible. But even in this case, the doctor will come to your baby’s aid. Remember what I always tell you? Panic is a bad advisor!
Source: https://xn—46-mddb2ckdn.xn--p1ai/prochee/grudnichok-pukaet-no-ne-kakaet-i-plachet-prichiny-kak-pomoch-mladentsu-propukatsya.html
Mechanism of gas formation
First, let's look at what leads to gas formation in the intestines and study the mechanism of its occurrence:
- During breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the baby may swallow small amounts of air. Traveling through the esophagus and further throughout the digestive tract, the air will tend to escape.
- The baby's intestines are populated with bacteria that will help digest food. During their life, various chemical reactions occur, leading to the release of gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ammonia, etc.
- The release of carbon dioxide also occurs when digestive juices interact with each other.
So, if a child farts, this should not alarm parents. Moreover, the volume will depend on the amount of accumulated gases and their composition. Some parents are scared when their baby farts at night. But let me! If your child eats well before going to bed, it means the digestive system is working hard. So why can't he fart at night?!
But what to do if the baby behaves restlessly, for example, farts and cries, strains, or the smell of the emitted air is too strong? It is necessary to try to understand the reason and further act depending on the situation.
The following factors lead to excessive release of gases:
- adaptation to any new type of nutrition;
- changing the type of feeding (from breastfeeding to artificial);
- difficult digestion of complementary foods, large portions;
- violation of dietary rules by a nursing mother.
Let's look at some of the causes of digestive problems in more detail.
What causes gases to form?
First you need to understand what contributes to the formation of gases in the intestines and what is the mechanism of their occurrence:
- The baby may swallow small amounts of air during bottle feeding or while suckling at the breast. Having passed through the esophagus and further, the air wants to come out.
- There are many bacteria in the baby's intestines that help digest food. Various chemical reactions occur during their life, which release gases such as methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and others.
- When digestive juices interact with each other, carbon dioxide is released.
In this situation, parents should not be alarmed by why the newborn farts but does not poop. The volume of the “farts” will depend on the composition and quantity of accumulated gases.
Many parents get scared when their child farts at night. But there’s nothing wrong with that either, because the baby ate before bed, which forced the digestive system to work hard.
Colic and flatulence
A baby often farts when flatulence develops - increased accumulation of gases. Their excessive formation occurs as a result of the nursing mother eating certain foods that cause fermentation processes, for example, cabbage (cauliflower or cabbage), black bread, legumes or a lot of flour.
For children on artificial nutrition, it is not recommended to frequently change the formula, since such experiments additionally load the intestines. In addition, when switching from breast milk to adapted formulas, the feces themselves become different in consistency and smell. The baby may not have enough fluid, especially in the hot season. As a result, constipation develops - the baby farts, but does not poop.
Some babies may be intolerant to cow's milk.
Then any intake of dairy products can cause intestinal cramps, disorder in the form of diarrhea and increased gas formation.
In case of lactose deficiency or intolerance, the diet is selected together with a nutritionist and pediatric gastroenterologist.
Well, where would we be without infant colic! When we talk about gas in a baby under 3 months of age, it most likely means intestinal colic. Although the reasons for their occurrence are not completely clear, the symptoms are difficult to confuse with something else. A completely healthy-looking child, some time after feeding, writhes in pain, bringing his legs to his tummy, he cries and behaves restlessly, his tummy is tense, as intestinal spasms occur in the stomach. Sometimes he can't fart.
How to help the baby in this case? Some use pharmaceutical drugs such as Espumisan, Infacol, Kolikid. But no less important is massaging the tummy, applying heat to it, and carrying the baby in your arms. Below we will look at methods to help with bloating and colic.
Flatulence
The development of flatulence (increased accumulation of gases) can be the reason why a baby farts but does not poop. If the mother eats certain foods that cause fermentation, this can lead to excess gas formation.
These products include: cabbage (cauliflower or white cabbage), black bread, legumes or flour products consumed in large quantities. Flatulence leads to pain, bloating and the desire to pass gas.
It is not recommended to change the formula too often for children who are bottle-fed. These kinds of experiments overload the intestines. When a transition to adapted formulas from mother's milk occurs, the feces themselves change their consistency, color and smell.
The baby may suffer from a lack of fluid, especially in the summer. This leads to constipation, which causes the newborn to fart but not poop for days.
Many babies may suffer from cow's milk intolerance. Therefore, taking any product containing milk can cause intestinal cramps, diarrhea and excess gas formation. If you have lactose intolerance or deficiency, it is necessary to select a suitable diet together with a pediatric gastroenterologist and nutritionist.
Where does the pungent smell come from?
But what if the baby farts with a smell, or rather, with a very strong smelly smell? The most common reason is, again, a disruption of the intestinal microflora, which we also call intestinal imbalance, and a deficiency of digestive enzymes. As a result, the food does not have time to be processed and putrefactive processes begin inside. The formation of sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan, in most cases is the cause of foul odors similar to rotten eggs.
Thus, an unpleasant odor is possible when eating eggs, cauliflower, and meat. But legumes, despite the fact that they greatly contribute to the development of increased gas formation, do not have a strong odor during processing.
What to do? Review your diet if you are a nursing mother, and also adjust your child’s diet, especially if he has started receiving complementary foods.
Cause of pungent odor
The most common reason that a baby farts with a very strong smelly odor is an intestinal imbalance (disruption of the intestinal microflora) and a deficiency of digestive enzymes. The result is untimely processing of food, leading to putrefactive processes. The formation of sulfur compounds such as mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide occurs, which in most cases are the cause of an unpleasant odor (this is what rotten eggs smell like).
It is especially important to pay special attention to the baby’s digestion during the period of introducing complementary foods, since many foods that are new to the baby can affect the stool and its smell.
An unpleasant odor is possible after eating foods such as eggs, cauliflower, and meat. Interestingly, although legumes cause increased gas formation, they do not have a strong odor during processing.
In such cases, a nursing mother needs to reconsider her diet and that of the child who has begun to receive complementary foods.
Farts but doesn't poop
This situation often happens with constipation: the baby strains a lot, turns red, his entire condition shows that he is in pain, but his tummy is tense and he can’t go to the toilet. If the newborn farts a lot, it means that there is an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines that need to be helped to come out. This often happens when switching to artificial nutrition.
The problem can be corrected with the help of Lactulose drugs, which have a mild laxative effect (and it is also safe for babies), as well as the use of a gas outlet tube. In addition, pharmaceutical teas with fennel and dill water are used. At the same time, together with the pediatrician, the question of whether correction of the baby’s nutrition and selection of a new formula is needed.
About dysbiosis
The following situation also happens: a newborn farts often, and every time he tenses, poop comes out. Here, rather, the problem is not the frequent release of gases, but an intestinal imbalance associated with poor diet, taking certain medications, or something else. Another difficulty is that when the baby farts, he has to be washed frequently, which means irritation in the butt area cannot be avoided.
The pediatrician may recommend medications with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli to normalize the microflora, as well as creams for skin irritation. If the stool does not return to normal for a long time, it is necessary to have the stool tested.
Dysbacteriosis
It often happens that a newborn farts a lot, strains and poops a little almost every time. The problem in this case is no longer the frequent emission of gases, but the fact that an imbalance has occurred in the intestines, which could be caused by poor nutrition, taking certain medications, and more.
If your baby poops frequently, you have to constantly wash him, and this has an adverse effect on his delicate skin.
In pediatrics, many drugs are used to solve problems with colic and digestion. Most often these are preparations with lacto- and bifidobacteria, which help normalize the intestinal microflora. If after this the stool does not return to normal, a stool test is prescribed.
Measures to combat gas
We have already looked at some ways to solve the problem when a newborn farts often. Let's now summarize what can be done with a child crying due to flatulence:
- Let your baby drink plenty of fluids. Dill water, Plantex, raisin water, and chamomile tea help.
- For colic or pain, massage the tummy clockwise and apply a warm diaper to the stomach.
- Gymnastics is also effective. Its essence: the baby is placed on his back, and the legs are brought to the tummy, held for a few seconds, then lowered. The exercise is repeated 5-7 times. However, movements should not cause pain to the child!
- Watch your diet, and also properly introduce complementary foods to your baby.
So, if an infant farts, as it seems to you, constantly, but at the same time he is completely calm, does not writhe in pain and does not cry, nothing terrible is happening. This fact only means that the digestive system works for the benefit of the body. So let him fart to his health.
Source: floragaz.ru
Why does a baby fart
Situations in which the human body “emits gases” are quite normal and, from a physiological point of view, simply necessary.
An adult farts up to 15 times a day. And children are no exception. From birth, as soon as the digestive system begins to work in a new mode and the original feces are expelled, a newborn baby has the right to fart.
And while his body gets used to the new food, the baby farts a lot.
Mechanism of gas formation
First, let's look at what leads to gas formation in the intestines and study the mechanism of its occurrence:
- During breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the baby may swallow small amounts of air. Traveling through the esophagus and further throughout the digestive tract, the air will tend to escape.
- The baby's intestines are populated with bacteria that will help digest food. During their life, various chemical reactions occur, leading to the release of gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ammonia, etc.
- The release of carbon dioxide also occurs when digestive juices interact with each other.
So, if a child farts, this should not alarm parents. Moreover, the volume will depend on the amount of accumulated gases and their composition. Some parents are scared when their baby farts at night. But let me! If your child eats well before going to bed, it means the digestive system is working hard. So why can't he fart at night?!
But what to do if the baby behaves restlessly, for example, farts and cries, strains, or the smell of the emitted air is too strong? It is necessary to try to understand the reason and further act depending on the situation.
The following factors lead to excessive release of gases:
- adaptation to any new type of nutrition;
- changing the type of feeding (from breastfeeding to artificial);
- difficult digestion of complementary foods, large portions;
- violation of dietary rules by a nursing mother.
Let's look at some of the causes of digestive problems in more detail.
Colic and flatulence
A baby often farts when flatulence develops - increased accumulation of gases. Their excessive formation occurs as a result of the nursing mother eating certain foods that cause fermentation processes, for example, cabbage (cauliflower or cabbage), black bread, legumes or a lot of flour.
Flatulence causes pain, bloating and the desire to fart
For children on artificial nutrition, it is not recommended to frequently change the formula, since such experiments additionally load the intestines.
In addition, when switching from breast milk to adapted formulas, the feces themselves become different in consistency and smell. The baby may not have enough fluid, especially in the hot season.
As a result, constipation develops - the baby farts, but does not poop.
We recommend reading: Green stool in a baby
Some babies may be intolerant to cow's milk.
Then any intake of dairy products can cause intestinal cramps, disorder in the form of diarrhea and increased gas formation.
In case of lactose deficiency or intolerance, the diet is selected together with a nutritionist and pediatric gastroenterologist.
Well, where would we be without infant colic! When we talk about gas in a baby under 3 months of age, it most likely means intestinal colic. Although the reasons for their occurrence are not completely clear, the symptoms are difficult to confuse with something else.
A completely healthy-looking child, some time after feeding, writhes in pain, bringing his legs to his tummy, he cries and behaves restlessly, his tummy is tense, as intestinal spasms occur in the stomach. Sometimes he can't fart.
How to help the baby in this case? Some use pharmaceutical drugs such as Espumisan, Infacol, Kolikid. But no less important is massaging the tummy, applying heat to it, and carrying the baby in your arms. Below we will look at methods to help with bloating and colic.
Where does the pungent smell come from?
But what if the baby farts with a smell, or rather, with a very strong smelly smell? The most common reason is, again, a disruption of the intestinal microflora, which we also call intestinal imbalance, and a deficiency of digestive enzymes. As a result, the food does not have time to be processed and putrefactive processes begin inside. The formation of sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan, in most cases is the cause of foul odors similar to rotten eggs.
During the period of introducing complementary foods, you should be especially attentive to the baby’s digestion, because a number of foods that are new to the baby can affect both his stool and the way he smells
Thus, an unpleasant odor is possible when eating eggs, cauliflower, and meat. But legumes, despite the fact that they greatly contribute to the development of increased gas formation, do not have a strong odor during processing.
What to do? Review your diet if you are a nursing mother, and also adjust your child’s diet, especially if he has started receiving complementary foods.
Farts but doesn't poop
This situation often happens with constipation: the baby strains a lot, turns red, his entire condition shows that he is in pain, but his tummy is tense and he can’t go to the toilet. If the newborn farts a lot, it means that there is an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines that need to be helped to come out. This often happens when switching to artificial nutrition.
The problem can be corrected with the help of Lactulose drugs, which have a mild laxative effect (and it is also safe for babies), as well as the use of a gas outlet tube. In addition, pharmaceutical teas with fennel and dill water are used. At the same time, together with the pediatrician, the question of whether correction of the baby’s nutrition and selection of a new formula is needed.
About dysbiosis
The following situation also happens: a newborn farts often, and every time he tenses, poop comes out.
Here, rather, the problem is not the frequent release of gases, but an intestinal imbalance associated with poor diet, taking certain medications, or something else.
Another difficulty is that when the baby farts, he has to be washed frequently, which means irritation in the butt area cannot be avoided.
There are many drugs used in pediatrics for problems with digestion and intestinal colic.
The pediatrician may recommend medications with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli to normalize the microflora, as well as creams for skin irritation. If the stool does not return to normal for a long time, it is necessary to have the stool tested.
Measures to combat gas
We have already looked at some ways to solve the problem when a newborn farts often. Let's now summarize what can be done with a child crying due to flatulence:
- Let your baby drink plenty of fluids. Dill water, Plantex, raisin water, and chamomile tea help.
- For colic or pain, massage the tummy clockwise and apply a warm diaper to the stomach.
- Gymnastics is also effective. Its essence: the baby is placed on his back, and the legs are brought to the tummy, held for a few seconds, then lowered. The exercise is repeated 5-7 times. However, movements should not cause pain to the child!
- Watch your diet, and also properly introduce complementary foods to your baby.
So, if an infant farts, as it seems to you, constantly, but at the same time he is completely calm, does not writhe in pain and does not cry, nothing terrible is happening. This fact only means that the digestive system works for the benefit of the body. So let him fart to his health.
Source: https://floragaz.ru/zdorovye/pochemu-grudnichok-pukaet
Emptying regimen for infants
Nutritional habits help to understand why stool retention occurs in a child under one year of age. If the newborn is breastfed and does not receive any fluids or medications, the absence of stool will be considered normal even for a week. Some babies' bodies absorb mother's milk completely, so feces are simply not collected.
If the baby is switched to a bottle and the mother notices that he has not pooped for 2 days or more, this is already a problem. The mixture is an artificial product that cannot be processed in full. Its remnants must leave the body regularly.
The frequency, quantity, and type of bowel movements depend not only on the type of feeding of the child. Before 12 months of age, these indicators are influenced by several factors:
- mother’s nutritional habits if the baby is breastfeeding;
- composition of human milk (fat slows down the movement of feces);
- type of mixture (the factor works when transferring the baby to artificial feeding);
- weakness of intestinal motility and anterior abdominal wall.
Why does the intestine have difficulty defecating? The fact is that food gruel is slowly transported through the thick part of the tract and loses all its nutrients. Vitamins and water remain in the masses, gradually filling the lower part of the organ. The intestine stretches, the feces dry out and become voluminous and heavy. Since the baby does not have sufficiently developed muscles, the intestines cannot get rid of feces. The process of defecation becomes painful and unpleasant.
Lack of stool in a baby: what is the problem?
Before you understand why your baby won't poop, you should know how the gastrointestinal tract of babies works. Young parents need to remember that the digestive system of an infant is structured somewhat differently than that of an adult. Even full-term babies are born with an incompletely developed gastrointestinal tract, and its improvement continues for several months after the baby is born. In addition, the microflora of the stomach and intestines of newborns is absolutely sterile: there are no bacteria in it, and the first microorganisms enter the baby’s gastrointestinal tract with mother’s milk.
Due to the peculiarities of the digestive system, the baby has a certain bowel movement pattern. Thus, breastfed newborns poop after each feeding, that is, at least 7 times a day, and sometimes more. The stool is yellow in color and has a mushy consistency. In artificially induced people, acts of defecation occur several times less often - 1-3 times a day, and the feces can be light yellow or brown.
At 2-3 months of age, the baby no longer poops as often. For breastfed babies, 3-6 bowel movements per day are considered the norm. For those who eat formula - 1-2 times a day. After this period, everything becomes very individual: some babies poop every day, others do not defecate for 2-3 days. But pediatricians say: even if an infant does not poop for a day or two, this does not indicate any pathology and is not a symptom of constipation.
Doctors explain why a child does not defecate with the following common reasons:
- weak intestinal motility of the newborn;
- complete absorption of breast milk by the infant’s digestive system;
- errors in the nutrition of a nursing mother;
- poor absorption of artificial formula;
- intestinal infection;
- introducing complementary foods too early;
- lack of fluid (in children who are bottle-fed);
- taking medications by mother or child.
Pediatricians always draw the attention of mothers and fathers to the fact that each baby’s body is individual, and the processes taking place in it may differ from generally accepted norms. Therefore, first of all, you need to monitor not the number of bowel movements per day, but the baby’s well-being and the nature of the feces.
When to contact a pediatrician?
Newborns and older babies report problems with bowel movements using certain symptoms. Caring parents will definitely notice the following deviations:
- vomiting;
- lack of gas;
- poor sleep and appetite;
- increased nervousness;
- anxiety during feeding;
- twisting legs due to bloating and pain in the tummy (possibly hard).
Fecal masses in the presence of these anomalies are characterized by increased density. The color of feces changes from yellow to dark if the baby is switched to formula. The reason for contacting a doctor is both the strange consistency and shade of stool, and the general condition of the child with problems with stool and passing gas.
For example, if a baby does not poop and has difficulty passing gas, this condition poses a danger to the body. The combination of symptoms indicates intestinal obstruction. If the baby farts but does not poop, he is not in danger of obstruction. Moderate gas formation against the background of rare bowel movements indicates normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
How can you tell if your baby is constipated?
Usually, in a situation where a child does not poop for two days or more, young parents begin to worry a lot and try to immediately find out why this is happening and what to do if the newborn does not poop. But doctors warn: first, it is very important to understand whether the absence of bowel movements is really a sign of constipation. Unreasonable interference in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract can only harm the baby, undermining the already unstable digestive system.
If your baby doesn't poop for a long time, pay attention to his behavior. The following symptoms will indicate that the baby is having serious difficulties with defecation:
- the child has not defecated for two or three days (in some cases more) and regularly tries to poop, while pulling his legs towards his stomach, straining, groaning and crying, but his attempts lead to nothing;
- the baby’s tummy is very tense, which causes him great discomfort; due to pain in the abdominal area, the baby becomes capricious, sleeps poorly and may refuse to eat;
- Increased gas formation in the intestines leads to bloating, but with constipation, gases do not escape, causing severe pain. In some cases, the baby farts but does not poop, and this can also be a symptom of constipation;
- the child did not poop for 2 days, and on the third day, dry or too thick stool appeared during bowel movements. With constipation, mushy stool after several days of absence may come out with a “plug” - a solid part of the stool that closed the rectum and prevented the rest of the stool from emptying the intestines.
Isolated cases of difficulty with bowel movements do not mean that the baby suffers from constipation, because many factors can influence the appearance of this abnormality in the functioning of the digestive system. But if such situations are repeated regularly and are accompanied by several of the above symptoms, this indicates that the baby is having problems with bowel movements and needs help.
How to make your baby's stool easier?
In the absence of nutritional problems, treatment of problematic bowel movements is carried out by eliminating spasmodic phenomena occurring in the intestines. When the baby cannot poop, he needs to massage his tummy with a clockwise movement of his hand. It will be useful to bend your legs while pressing against your stomach (similar to riding a bicycle). Exercise stimulates intestinal motility and accelerates the elimination of processed food.
If your newborn is concerned about air trapped in the tract, you can try placing a gas tube. The device irritates the walls of the rectum and forces them to contract involuntarily. When the tube is pushed out, the gases come out along with the feces.
In the absence of a medical instrument, the use of an enema is permitted. Indications for the procedure are bloating, the baby's unsuccessful attempts to defecate, and anxiety. Enemas are done with clean water or Microlax. The rules for setting up microenemas are described here: https://lecheniedetok.ru/gastroenterolog/mikrolaks-instruktsiya-po-primeneniyu-dlya-novorozhdennyh.html
If the baby eats formulas, cereals, juices, but does not defecate for 3 days in a row, parents should give him warm boiled water to facilitate the expulsion of feces. Let the baby consume a sufficient amount of liquid - she will not allow stool retention. You can try feeding the baby a different formula or switching to a special food that prevents colic and hardening of stool.
Previously, mothers alleviated the suffering of children with mechanical stimuli. They inserted a piece of soap, the tip of a thermometer, and a hygienic stick in cream or Vaseline into the anus. Today these methods are not welcomed by pediatricians. If a child poops poorly despite everything, he is prescribed rectal glycerin suppositories https://lecheniedetok.ru/gastroenterolog/glitserinovye-svechi-dlya-novorozhdennyh-instruktsiya.html
Bowel preparations
If your newborn is concerned about air trapped in the tract, you can try placing a gas tube. The device irritates the walls of the rectum and forces them to contract involuntarily. When the tube is pushed out, the gases come out along with the feces.
In the absence of a medical instrument, the use of an enema is permitted. Indications for the procedure are bloating, the baby's unsuccessful attempts to defecate, and anxiety. Enemas are done with clean water or Microlax. The rules for setting up microenemas are described here: https://lecheniedetok.ru/gastroenterolog/mikrolaks-instruktsiya-po-primeneniyu-dlya-novorozhdennyh.html
If the baby eats formulas, cereals, juices, but does not defecate for 3 days in a row, parents should give him warm boiled water to facilitate the expulsion of feces. Let the baby consume a sufficient amount of liquid - she will not allow stool retention. You can try feeding the baby a different formula or switching to a special food that prevents colic and hardening of stool.
Previously, mothers alleviated the suffering of children with mechanical stimuli. They inserted a piece of soap, the tip of a thermometer, and a hygienic stick in cream or Vaseline into the anus. Today these methods are not welcomed by pediatricians. If a child poops poorly despite everything, he is prescribed rectal glycerin suppositories https://lecheniedetok.ru/gastroenterolog/glitserinovye-svechi-dlya-novorozhdennyh-instruktsiya.html
Bowel preparations
Doctors suggest medicinal treatment of children for intestinal problems using mildly effective means:
- Plantex;
- Normaze;
- Duphalac;
- Gutalax;
- Vita-plant;
- Prelax.
If defecation delay is caused by dysbiosis, intestinal treatment is aimed at restoring the flora. For this purpose, the baby is prescribed bifidobacteria - Bifidumbacterin, Bifidum, Trilact, Probifor, etc. It is better to give the baby probiotics in liquid form, because they act immediately in the body. Infants can obtain beneficial bifidobacteria from special fermented milk products. Therapeutic nutrition and medications are selected individually.
- Laxative tea for newborns is the easiest remedy to use. Give your child water to prevent bloating, colic, and stool retention. Healthy drinks are made from raw materials of fennel, chamomile, and thyme.
- Nursing mothers can improve the activity of their children's intestines if they themselves begin to eat boiled beets, peaches, prunes and any foods enriched with fiber. Rice porridge, everything sweet and starchy, as well as strong tea must be removed from the diet.
If the doctor prescribed bifidobacteria for your baby, use the medications regularly. Dilute dry forms with cool boiled water according to the instructions. Give the solution to the baby either half an hour before feeding, or the day before breastfeeding.
Source: LechenieDetok.ru