Patient's question:
My baby is 43 days old. The night before last, she had one bowel movement, but since then, it has been two days without any bowel movement. She has been exclusively breastfed. Today, she passed a few farts and there was a slight smell of poop. Could she be constipated? What should I give her to eat? Additionally, in 30 days, should I juice some oranges for her every few days? Is it okay? Could her constipation be related to this?Doctor's answer:
Newborns cannot defecate on a regular schedule because their defecation mechanism is not yet mature. As a result, their stools often accumulate, and the nerves in the rectal wall sense the pressure from the expansion, triggering reflexive defecation. This is why some infants may only defecate once every few days. Stimulating with a thermometer can also induce defecation because it can trigger a reflex.Children who are breastfed have relatively complete absorption of breast milk, leading to smaller amounts of stool. In some cases, they may not defecate for several days, and it doesn't necessarily mean they will defecate immediately after eating. Therefore, if a newborn does not defecate for a few days, it does not necessarily indicate constipation. The method to determine whether a newborn is constipated is to observe the stool's consistency. If the consistency is normal, it is normal for them not to defecate for several days.
Note: Drink more water. If the infant is formula-fed, dilute the formula slightly.