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Constipation is the condition in which an individual has reduced frequency of bowel movements, or finds difficulty in having bowel movements or clearing the bowels. It is uncommon in young breastfed children, but relatively common in children during toilet training period and school-going age.
Constipation can affect your child in many ways. They may refuse to eat and miss out on essential nutrients, among other undesirable effects. Worried? Read this article for more information, and learn more about the causes, symptoms, and how to treat constipation in children.
There are many reasons why constipation can happen, including diet, medications, activity, diseases and disorders. It can sometimes occur in young children, making it difficult to distinguish from colic. Children can also suffer from intentional stool retention, which is constipation due to stress when they’re not ready for toilet training.
An unbalanced diet is a key cause of constipation. Excessive intake of soft drinks, fatty foods, carbohydrates, or even protein can cause your child to become ‘backed up’. Insufficient intake of drinking water, fruits, and vegetables will also affect digestion.
Formula milk can firm up faeces, making it easier to get ‘stuck’. Cow milk protein and lactose found in some formulas can also be constipating for some children, so soy alternatives might help.
Taking some medication – Antipyretics, analgesics, cough medicine, diarrhoea medicine could be a cause of dry stools and difficult bowel movements. Prebiotics, while often effective for certain forms of constipation, might actually worsen symptoms for others. Even vitamin supplement products containing calcium and iron can be a contributory factor.
Difficult and painful bowel movements
That causes inactive peristalsis
Being in a stressful home or family atmosphere, with divorced parents, etc.
Development of disorders related to the colon, rectum, nervous system, blood, etc.
Constipation occurs when your colon has absorbed too much water from your waste which is your stool. This causes your stool to dry out making its consistency hard as well as difficult to be pushed out of the body10.
When your consumed food passes through the digestive tract, the nutrients from said foods are absorbed. The partially digested food or waste that is left behind will move from your small intestine to the large intestine which is also known as the colon. Water is then absorbed from the waste thus creating a solid matter which is the stool. If you are experiencing constipation, your food may be moving too slowly through the digestive tract. This causes the colon to take up too much time to absorb water from your waste. The stool then becomes way too dry, hard and is incredibly difficult — and possibly painful — to push out10.
Your child refuses to go to the toilet
This causes anal muscle spasms and squeezed buttock muscles
As a result, faeces are pushed up to the rectum valve
In turn, this causes constipation in your child
Leading to colon dilation and decreased rectal sensitivity
This results in prolonged faecal cumulation, contributing to constipation and other digestive problems
Constipation is generally difficult to define, as there are no clear indications of what is ‘normal’ in terms of the frequency of bowel movements, and symptoms may vary from child to child. Here are some signs if you’re concerned that your child could be suffering from constipation.
Not all constipation incidents need medical attention. Before you rush to your medical practitioner, you may want to try these tips at home to ease the situation.
If your child is formula-fed, try a different formula. Perhaps a formula milk for constipation. Research the ingredients found in the formula milk to understand its effects and decide on which milk is good for constipation. Formula milk that is made with minimal processing (mild heat treatment) will be easier to digest, compared to heavily processed ones.
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Make your child feel more comfortable with a tummy massage. Use warm hands with gentle pressure and motion
Eating apples, pears and prunes may help make bowel movements smoother
Make sure your child is drinking enough water throughout the day, not just during feeding times. Dehydration is a common cause for constipation and drinking plenty of water can often ease the symptoms.
Ingredients matter – a lot. Feeding them foods rich in dietary fibre such as bran flakes, corn, oatmeal, brown rice, and beans may help soften stools and aid in digestion.
This can help to relax the anal muscles and help to pass the stool
Use a footstool to ensure that the feet are properly supported for better pooping posture
Interested to know what a ‘good’ faeces looks like? The Bristol stool scale is a 7-point standard used for clinical practice and research, and a good indication of whether your child has constipation. Check your child’s stool content and compare it with the following guide. Normal faeces should be the texture of Types 4 to 6, rather than dry and lumpy as shown in Types 1 to 3.
If your child has experienced this condition for a prolonged period, it would be wise to call your doctor. Your healthcare professional may prescribe probiotics, laxatives, or even surgical treatment for critical cases or organic causes. Do seek medical attention if your child is suffering from any of these following symptoms.
Colon dilation (where the colon is unnaturally extended)
Rectocele (or rectum prolapse)
Poor appetite of your child, not accepting even their favourite treats or formula
Slow weight gain in your child
Persistent pain in the abdomen, especially when accompanied by crying
Vomiting
Haemorrhoids or piles are swollen, enlarged veins that form inside and outside the anus and rectum. They can be painful, uncomfortable and cause rectal bleeding11.
Long-term constipation can cause faecal impaction, which is where dried, hard stools collect in your rectum and anus. Once you develop faecal impaction, it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of stools naturally12.
Bowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing stool to leak unexpectedly from the rectum13.
Call your child's doctor if your child is experiencing severe abdominal or rectal pain or if any of the following occurs14:
When you speak to your paediatrician about your child’s bowel movements, it is not a pleasant topic. However, doctors are trained health professionals who have discussed just about every health topic you can think of with their patients15.
Your doctor will first ask you questions about your medical history, bowel movements, and your child’s lifestyle and routines15.
We hope this article has helped answer some of the questions you may have for child constipation as well as helped you decide on which milk is good for constipation. If in doubt, be sure to consult a medical professional for advice.