Patient's question:
The baby hasn't had a bowel movement for several days. Even when they do, it's very dry, hard, and smelly. What should I do about constipation in a newborn?Doctor's answer:
It's not determined by the number of days without a bowel movement to call it constipation; it's mainly based on the characteristics of the stool to judge whether the baby is constipated. First, if the stool is very dry and hard when it comes out, it will also be judged based on the degree of the stool to determine the severity of constipation. If the baby is indeed constipated and is formula-fed, it can be recommended to switch the baby to breastfeeding. Additionally, if the baby is breastfed and also has constipation, probiotics can be given to the baby, or lactulose can be added on the basis of probiotics to alleviate the symptoms of constipation.