Gastrointestinal Problems in Newborns

Gastrointestinal problems in newborns are not an uncommon occurrence and should not be considered an emergency in most cases. With some keen observation, you should be able to tell if you are dealing with an everyday problem that you can easily remedy yourself or if you need to talk to the pediatrician. If in doubt, it's always good to talk to the doctor, to be on the safe side.

Reflux

• Almost all babies experience reflux at some point, according to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Monitoring how often it occurs, if it causes pain or discomfort to the child, or if it results in other problems, is key in determining if the newborn's reflux is the common type, or a signal of something more serious.

  If the reflux is an uncommon occurrence, there is usually no cause for concern. But if other complications develop--such as lack of weight gain, wheezing, hoarse cry or other breathing difficulty, or spitting up of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds--an immediate trip to the physician's office is likely in order. If fluid such as formula or milk manages to get past the undeveloped epiglottis, then breathing troubles could eventually lead to pneumonia as well.

Vomiting

• There is a difference between spitting up and vomiting. Spitting up a little milk after a feeding that drips off the chin is entirely different than projectile vomiting that appears to "shoot" out of the baby's mouth. While vomiting may be due to intolerance to formula or an allergy to it, there are more serious potential problems. The ACG says that infants between 4 and 8 weeks old can develop a condition known as pyloric stenosis, which has symptoms that include projectile vomiting. It is an unusual condition that typically requires surgery to cure. The chances are far better that a common sickness or intolerance to a certain food is the cause.

Diarrhea

• Don't mistake your baby's first few bowel movements for diarrhea. For at least one movement, and sometimes for up to a few days, the newborn's bowel movements (known as meconium) will appear unusual. Meconium is a sticky greenish-black substance that forms in the baby's intestines during his development. It is totally normal and should be of no concern. Diarrhea, though, is sometimes caused by virus, bacterial infections or parasites and can be a source of serious concern in babies as it presents the possibility of dehydration.

  If a baby is having frequent watery diarrhea, consult your pediatrician quickly as it doesn't take long for a newborn to dehydrate, according to the University of Virginia Health System. If your newborn is excessively fussy or seems to have no energy in addition to diarrhea it is a good chance they are becoming dangerously dehydrated. Try to get them to drink liquids (such a PediaLyte) as soon as you observe symptoms.

Constipation

• Constipation is an infrequency of bowel movements. A typical infant will have anywhere from three movements per day to three per week, with the first occurring within 36 hours of birth. If an unusual amount of time passes and a child is unable to go, then a pediatrician may need to examine the infant for causes. When solid foods are first introduced to infants, it is not uncommon for constipation to result, according to the ACG.

Colic

• Colic is a condition that is stressful for both the baby and the parents. Colic is not really a gastrointestinal problem, at least not officially. It is defined simply as a baby's unexplained crying. The condition's causes remain unexplained as well, although some speculate that it is related to lactose intolerance or an immature digestive system. There is nothing parents can do about this except try and remain unstressed for the weeks or months that it takes for the condition to go away. Sometimes getting a friends or relative to give a parent a break may work wonders for both the baby and the parent as the stress level of a mother or father may well be sensed by the baby, which only makes the colic worse.