Patient's question:
The baby will be six months old in another week. The baby hasn't had a bowel movement for two days. Today is the third day, and in the morning, I saw the baby straining as if he were having a bowel movement, but nothing came out. In the afternoon, he strained again, but still nothing came out. Later, we used Kao Sai Lu, and he did have a bowel movement, but it looked quite sticky. This has happened once before, but we didn't use Kao Sai Lu then.Please ask the doctor:
1. What could be the reason for the sticky bowel movement?
2. What should be noted when the bowel movement is sticky?
Doctor's answer:
Dietary factors are commonly due to improper food composition. For example, during artificial feeding, milk contains more casein and calcium, which can easily lead to constipation. A diet high in protein but low in carbohydrates alters gut microbiota, reduces fermentation of intestinal contents, and results in alkaline stools, making them dry and prone to constipation. Additionally, children's picky eating habits, such as preferring meat and avoiding vegetables, a refined diet with little fiber, and insufficient dietary fiber, can also contribute to constipation. Furthermore, if infants eat too little, the reduced liquid absorption after digestion leaves fewer residues, resulting in smaller, thicker stools that may cause constipation.