Patient's question:
My son hasn't had a bowel movement for 5 days, but he's acting completely normal—still eating and sleeping as usual. The only thing is that he's been talking nonsense, though it's not too smelly. What should I do? He's had constipation twice before: once after eating two spoonfuls of, which lasted for three days, and once for four days. This time he's also eaten, and it's been five days already. It's really making me anxious.Doctor's answer:
Some babies may experience a condition where they only have a bowel movement every three to five days, known as "accumulated stool." As long as the baby does not show any abnormal symptoms such as fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, or poor feeding, it is generally not a concern. If other abnormal symptoms reappear, it is advisable to visit a hospital to check for contagious diseases and undergo a detailed examination of the digestive tract with a color Doppler ultrasound to identify any potential issues. It is important to avoid contact with individuals suffering from colds and to prevent the baby from catching a cold. Breastfeeding mothers should also avoid consuming greasy, spicy, or irritating foods.If the baby feels like they need to have a bowel movement but cannot, using a glycerin suppository can help. If the issue persists, a detailed examination of the digestive tract with a color Doppler ultrasound may be necessary to check for other problems.