Patient's question:
My baby is three months old now, and she is breastfed. However, recently she has been having difficulty passing stools. Could you please advise what precautions should be taken and how to regulate her diet?Doctor's answer:
Infant constipation is a troublesome issue for parents. Most parents believe it may be caused by excessive "heat" in the body. Lactose deficiency can also lead to constipation in infants, especially those who consume cow's milk. If constipation occurs, it is particularly important to check for this reason. Professor Gu analyzed that the lactose content in breast milk is 7.5%, while the lactose content in cow's milk is only 4.8%. Therefore, infants who drink cow's milk lack fermentable substances in their intestinal tracts, as they do not receive sufficient fermentation, making their stools more prone to becoming dry. On the other hand, apart from the different content, the type of lactose in breast milk is also different from that in formula milk. For infants whose constipation does not improve after dietary adjustments, giving them honey water can be effective. This can be done by either regularly feeding them honey water or adding honey to their cow's milk.