Patient's question:
My little baby is 2 months old. We are mixing formula and breast milk for feeding. The baby is drinking normally and urinating normally, but hasn't had a bowel movement in the past two days and nights. The baby was normal with urination and bowel movements right after birth, but it's only been abnormal for these last two days. What are some methods to help with infant constipation?Doctor's answer:
Child constipation is caused by poor intestinal peristalsis, mostly related to an imbalance in the nutritional components of the milk being fed. You need to massage your baby's abdomen every day, using your three middle fingers to massage around your baby's navel in a clockwise direction. Do this for 5 minutes each time, once in the morning and once in the evening. This can help speed up your baby's intestinal peristalsis and stimulate the defecation reflex. If your baby hasn't had a bowel movement for several days, you can use infant glycerin suppositories.