Patient's question:
The child was just born. The next night, it was discovered that the baby started to have abdominal distension and had very little gas or bowel movements. After taking medication, the stool was expelled, but the stomach quickly swelled again. When passing gas, the smell was quite strong. What should be done about abdominal distension in newborns?Doctor's answer:
If a newborn has abdominal distension, the first thing to check is whether there is vomiting in addition to the distension. If there is food accompanied by repeated vomiting, even bile or feces, constipation, it will resolve within 3-5 days. The amount of feces is very small. If the infant is losing weight, it may be congenital megacolon. Further examination and treatment should be carried out in the hospital as soon as possible. If the abdominal distension subsides during feeding, it becomes more pronounced after feeding, without vomiting or occasional vomiting, and the abdominal distension is relieved after passing gas. There is no feces when the abdomen is touched, the milk is normal, and there is no weight loss. It may be due to improper feeding methods. The child may be inhaling more air while sucking milk, causing pressure and abdominal distension. It is recommended to take the child to the hospital for examination and treatment.