Patient's question:
My daughter is four months old. This morning, she only had one bowel movement. Could anyone please tell me what could be the reason and what should be done? ??? : My daughter almost exclusively drinks formula milk and also consumes a lot of water. The day before yesterday, she had a little bit of watermelon juice, but she hasn't been given any other additional foods.Doctor's answer:
Alright, infant and toddler constipation is a common condition, with many possible causes. It can be broadly categorized into two types: one is functional constipation, which can be cured through proper regulation; the other is constipation caused by congenital intestinal malformations, which cannot be cured through general regulation.After a child develops constipation, the hard, dry stool stimulates the anus, causing pain and discomfort. Over time, this makes the child fearful of defecating and reluctant to strain during bowel movements. As a result, the stool becomes even drier, and the constipation symptoms worsen. Therefore, the best treatment method is massage:
Gather the four fingers of your right hand and gently massage in a clockwise direction around the child's navel. This not only helps with defecation but also aids digestion.