Patient's question:
Baby, having a bowel movement every two days and crying uncomfortably—is it constipation? Currently taking Siqu Mo Tang, but it seems to have little effect. How can this problem be resolved?Doctor's answer:
1. Train the child to have bowel movements at fixed times. Since the phenomenon of stool accumulation generally begins around 2 months of age, it is advisable to train the child to have regular bowel movements at this time (e.g., having a bowel movement in the morning and evening each day) to help them develop good bowel habits early on.2. Perform abdominal massage every day. Gently rub the baby's abdomen with the palm of your hand, starting from the navel and moving in a clockwise direction 10 times, then rest for 5 minutes. Repeat the massage 10 more times, and do this 3 times in total.
3. Lay the baby on their back and gently flex their legs, extending and bending them alternately 10 times. Then, repeat the movement with one leg 10 times. This will help stimulate bowel movement and facilitate the elimination of stool.
4. Drink more water appropriately. For babies who are overweight and experiencing stool accumulation, you can offer some plain water or vegetable/fruit water between feedings each day. Once the baby is 6 months old and starts on solid foods, this issue with bowel movements should be resolved completely.
5. Increase milk intake. If the baby has reduced bowel movements and poor weight gain, it may be due to insufficient breast milk. In such cases, you can supplement with formula milk. If the baby is already 4 months old, you can also add some rice porridge to help improve bowel movement.