It is very common for babies to have problems passing stools, and although it is usually dismissed as a simple intestinal constipation and home remedies are used to solve the problem, the truth is that there is another reason that may be behind the intestinal difficulties of your little one, and this is the dyschezia of the infant.
Infant dyschezia is a functional disorder of bowel coordination, and by functional, we mean that it is not a problem in the anatomy or body chemistry, but rather a problem of coordination of certain functions that make defecation possible.
What happens with dyschezia is that the coordination between the abdominal pressure that occurs when wanting to evacuate and the relaxation of the pelvic floor fails. In simple terms, the baby pushes, but this action is not accompanied by the relaxation in the pelvis that is required to evacuate easily, resulting in an excessive use of force to expel the stool, but fails to do so.
How to identify infant dyschezia?
In most cases of dyschezia, what is observed is crying, redness and pushing for 10 to 20 minutes before a bowel movement, and when a bowel movement is finally achieved, the stool is soft or liquid. It is important to note that dyschezia is not accompanied by other symptoms such as fever or vomiting, and that in these cases it is necessary to see a doctor, as it may be another condition.
Why does dyschezia occur?
This lack of coordination is simply a case of immaturity in a series of reflexes, since the action of squeezing and then relaxing to defecate is a complex movement, but with time the reflex is acquired and your bowel movements will improve.
Treatment and recommendations
There is no medical treatment for dyschezia, however, there are exercises you can do with your baby to help with bowel movements and other recommendations on what not to do if your baby suffers from infant dyschezia. In any case, it is necessary to see your pediatrician to rule out any other problem that may be causing similar symptoms.
Starting with what you definitely should not do:
1.- Avoid all types of laxatives, as they will not solve the dyschezia. This also applies to formula, as many mothers opt to switch to a fiber or constipation formula when they see that their baby is having trouble having a bowel movement. This can lead to dehydration from diarrhea.
2.- Using instruments or hands in the rectum as stimulation will not counteract the effects of dyschezia. You may cause unnecessary injury or infection in the digestive tract.
Now, what you can do to help your baby is to massage your index and middle fingers on the stomach, making clockwise circles and exerting light pressure. This will improve the circulation of the intestine.
You can also bring your baby's knees to his chest to help relax the sphincter and save him some pain and discomfort. Finally, patience is key, as this pain and discomfort is only temporary and does not indicate anything serious.
Submit comment Cancel Reply