How to Spot the Symptoms of Newborn Constipation

Are you wondering if your baby is suffering from newborn constipation? This can be a difficult condition for new parents to recognize, particularly when it is their first child and have not had a great deal of experience with other infants. Older children are able to communicate more clearly when they are in pain, but it is much more difficult for newborns to express themselves. It is fairly common for children to experience this, and the symptoms of newborn constipation are easy to recognize.

Instructions

• 1

  Monitor how frequently your child has bowel movements. Most babies will have eight or more bowel movements per day, but not all are the same. Some will have more and some will have less. If you see a sudden reduction in the pattern of your baby's bowel movements, he or she is probably suffering from newborn constipation.

• 2

  Watch your child during a bowel movement. Behavioral cues for newborn constipation will vary a bit between children, but the main things to look for are strain and pain. If the baby is having a great deal of trouble passing stool, is screaming in pain, is visibly straining or is turning red with effort, it is very likely.

• 3

  Check for physical symptoms. The most obvious indicator is a fissure near the anus, but a bloated stomach can also be an indication that something is wrong.

• 4

  Test the consistency of your child's stool. It should be soft and pass easily from his or her body. If it is hard or pellet like, you may want to try home remedies such as sugar water.

• 5

  Contact your pediatrician if necessary. If traditional home remedies are not working, your baby is in a great deal of pain, or more than two days pass without a bowel movement, seek medical attention. This is doubly important if a fissure forms.