Introduction
In the first few months of life, newborn intestinal problems such as Constipation, constipation, dyschezia e gaseous colic are at theagenda for new parents.
In this article I explain what they are, because they create and especially what are the remedies and the massages that you yourself can do to improve them.
Spoilersdyschezia, constipation and gaseous colic are NOT physiological, your baby is NOT forced to suffer, and they are NOT caused by 'intestinal immaturity'.
Dyschezia, constipation and gaseous colic are caused by a inflammatory bowel picture (see scientific studies below) which causes swelling, air and pain; that is why your baby cries e is sick.
In order of intensity of the problem we have: dyschezia, constipation and gaseous colic of the newborn.
If you live near my YULE Medical CentreI highly recommend a visit in the studio; click here for my contact details and to make an appointment.
If you live far from my studio, don't worry; I have created a video course in which I explain all the causes of dyschezia, constipation and gas colic but above all I practically guide you in the treating them effectively and help your child to be well.
Dyschezia, Constipation and Colic Gas of the Newborn: Different Degrees of Intestinal Inflammation
When theintestinal inflammation is mildthe newborn begins to have first pains belly, does a lot air e difficulty pooping; begins to present those symptoms related to the term 'Dyschezia".
If the inflammation continues, the intestine alters its peristaltic capacity (intestinal motility), becomes swollen (an objective symptom of an inflammatory picture), air is created in the belly and causes pain for the child.
In other words, if the inflammation gets worsethe newborn begins to suffer from what we call gaseous colic (read full article on colic).
The more you protracts the inflammatory picture, the more the child gets unaccustomed to have a regular intestinal transit and may even become constipated.
Constipation is likely to make your baby's bellyache and perceived pain even worse.
That is why, if your baby suffers from dyschezia, constipation and gas colic, I advise you to solve them as soon as possible.
Dyschezia of the newborn
Under the term Dyschezia of the newborn means a functional disorder (i.e. not caused by organic pathology) that manifests itself with a particularly difficult defecationpossibly associated with gas emission and/or stomach ache (usually mild).
It is often said that the cause main is the lack of coordination between the pelvic floor muscles, the anal sphincter and the colon (intestine).
Spoiler: FALSE - I will explain the real cause (and remedies) of dyschezia in the chapters below, read to the end.
Usually little importance is given to the dyschezia of the newborn child because tends to resolve itself. However, in the first months of life, an infant suffering from dyschezia may present pain for the difficulty in pooping and the feeling of momentary intestinal blockage.
In cases of dyschezia, although stools may be soft and physiological, the infant difficulty pooping.
La diagnosis of "dyschezia"It is done in the case of an infant under the age of 6/9 months who presents difficulties with evacuation (crying, flushing, irritability, gas, etc.) but who nevertheless manages to discharge soft stools.
Constipation and constipation in the newborn baby
Constipation e Constipation of the newborn child are two synonyms indicating the difficulty for the child to evacuate.
It means that the child has difficulty in pooping and empty all or part of the colon (final part of the intestine).
Constipation and constipation are found in about 5-7% of infants but, more generally, it is estimated that children suffering from gastrointestinal disorders in the first months of life can be up to 35% about.
The term constipation of the newborn child refers to the difficulty in evacuating associated with constipation, i.e. the fact that the baby does not poop for at least 2-4 days.
La stool consistency in cases of constipation can be soft or slightly more hard.
Most easily, children suffering from constipation are artificially breastfed, but also the breastfed infants may suffer.
Constipation is not an organic disease (a pathology), but is defined as a functional disorder which should improve as the months go by.
Constipation can cause the child to suffer from symptoms such as belly pain, crying, irritability, swollen abdomen and reduced appetite.
These symptoms should improve following evacuation but, in particularly constipated children, may persist (symptomatology similar to that of gaseous colic).
Often the constipation is often preceded for weeks when the child struggles to unloadalready suffers from slight stomach ache or, paradoxically, discharges too often during the day (4-5 times a day but with small amounts of faeces each time).
As with any intestinal disorder, constipation is also caused from a painting inflammatory protracted over time that causes an alteration in the absorption and intestinal peristalsis resulting in constipation.
Consequences negatives of constipation in the newborn
The increase in stool consistencyfatigue to unload and the painful defecation can trigger a vicious circle.
The newborn baby loses the ability to release the anal sphincter to evacuate and, especially in older babies, may develop a real fear related to the act of evacuation.
That is why I advise parents to resolve their newborn's constipation as soon as possible.
Air in the Belly and Bloated Abdomen
Very often it is thought that it is theair in the belly of the baby to cause gaseous colic, but quite the opposite.
It is theintestinal inflammation causing altered transit, pain, abdominal bloating (objective sign of inflammation) and air in the belly.
The child does not have a bellyache or a bloated belly from swallowing air during breastfeeding; the baby often detaches from the breast and is agitated because it already has a tummy ache.
In a child artificially breastfedcare must be taken in the way the bottle is offered to slow the flow and prevent the baby from swallowing the milk.
But even in this case, it is not the air you swallow that causes stomach ache but rather how the type of infant formula e how it is proposed to the child.
This is why to effectively treat air in the belly and theswollen abdomen of the newborn baby, the inflammatory bowel situation must be resolved (improving all the factors that cause it) and the belly massaged with Osteo-Massage.
Dyschezia, Constipation and Air in the belly of the newborn: the real causes
Dyschezia, constipation and gas colic are NOT caused by intestinal immaturity (can an immature intestine give pain?!) nor by the child's lack of ability to coordinate the release of the anal sphincter.
Dyschezia, constipation and colic are caused by an inflammatory bowel picture which alters intestinal absorption and transit, causing air and difficulty in discharge.
This is demonstrated by without a shadow of a doubt a recent scientific study of 2018 (Tu Mai et al., "Infantile Colic, New Insights into an Old Problem', published in the magazine Gastroenterology Clinics of North America)
To be precise, the aforementioned study documents that breastfed babies suffering from colic have high levels of faecal calprotectin (a factor indicating the degree of intestinal inflammation).
In fact, the results indicated values more than two times higher than those of infants without colic, resulting in comparable to those found in children with inflammatory bowel diseases.
This is why we can say with certainty that dyschezia, constipation, air in the belly and gaseous colic of the newborn are a inflammatory bowel problems.
Dyschezia, constipation, air in the belly and gaseous colic of the newborn child are due to an inflammatory bowel picture caused by so many factors which manifests itself with strong irritability, crying, changes in transit and difficulty evacuating.
La multifactoralityproof that these issues are caused by various factorsreports it scientific study quoted above.
Only in the light of this new discovery and the real causes of dyschezia, constipation and air in the infant's belly, we can understand remedies.
Dyschezia, Constipation and Air in the Baby's Belly: Remedies
I remedies for dyschezia, constipation and air in the belly of the newborn starts with knowledge of all the factors that cause them.
That is why I was only able to discover the true causes of gas colic thanks to my work experience combined with cross-sectional scientific studies concerning nutrition, obstetrics, paediatrics and psychology.
I Main factors that irritate a child's intestine and that, accordingly, cause gas colic, dyschezia, constipation and air in the belly are as follows.
If the child is breastfed, to solve dyschezia, constipation and air in the baby's belly one has to evaluate:
- the mother's diet (there are certain foods eaten by the mother that irritate the baby's gastro-intestinal system in pregnancy and in breastfeeding - yes, you got it right, the phrase "the mother can eat whatever she wants and has no influence on the child is FALSA” )
- one must assess any food supplements mother and child;
- one must assess the microbiota maternal;
- the presence of gastrointestinal tension created by the inflammatory picture must be assessed (just feel if the abdomen is swollen and sore) and you have to improve them with massage belly osteopath that I teach to parents (Osteo-Massage to the newborn, massage to be done twice a day until colic resolves);
- other fundamental parameters for the mother, the parents and the child
Here's how to treat your newborn's gaseous colic, constipation and dyschezia if your baby is artificially breastfed:
- one must assess the type of infant formula (all milks have the same nutritional values but not all types/brands of milk are digested well, on the contrary),
- the type of feeding bottle,
- the teat,
- as it comes positioning the child during bottle-feeding,
- the rhythm of the feeding itself and the breaks,
- the presence of gastrointestinal tension created by the inflammatory picture must be assessed (just feel if the abdomen is swollen and sore) and you have to improve them with massage belly osteopath that I teach to parents (Osteo-Massage to the newborn, massage to be done twice a day until colic resolves);
- other fundamental factors...
Probe, Microclimates and Thermometer to help your newborn relieve himself: Caution
Usually, the Most frequently used remedies for dyschezia, constipation and constipation of the newborn child are the lactic ferments (insufficient to solve it - here I explain why), the tube and/or microclimates (e.g. Melilax).
Unfortunately these remedies are symptomatic, but do not really solve the cause for which the child is constipated, indeed; they often make the situation worse.
Inserting a rectal tube or using a microclism that facilitates evacuation do not solve the cause why the child has a bellyache and has become constipated; on the contrary, disabuse him of his own discharge.
The more we use them, the less the child will be able to learn to poo on its own.
NBcan sometimes be useful for particular episodes, but to solve constipation effectively, one must trace the origin constipation and belly pains.
What is a rectal tube and how to use it
The rectal tube is a small silicone tube which should be inserted into the baby's bottom to stimulate the perianal musculature and facilitate the evacuation of faeces and the emission of air.
As it is not an extremely pleasant practice for the newborn, when performing the probing you must be careful not to cause damage.
How to use the rectal probe for the newborn baby?
- first of all, make sure that the tube is the one specifically for newborns;
- wash your hands and baby's bottom well with soap and water;
- Lay the infant on its side and slightly bend its legs towards your chest;
- lubricate the anus and the probe with a water-based lubricating gel to avoid perianal scratching or irritation;
- Gently insert the tube into the rectum by a few centimetres 1-3 cm;
- wait for the baby to poop or at least give out air and gas;
- Gently pull out the tube;
- clean the baby's bottom well with soap and water.
As reiterated in this article, these instruments represent short-term solutions which must be associated with the resolution of the real causes for which the child became constipated and al belly massage of the newborn baby (Osteo-Massage to the newborn baby).
What is Microclism (enema) and how is it used?
The microclismalso called a baby microcystister is a disposable medical device used to perform a enemai.e. the entry of a liquid solution with laxative action in the child's rectum.
How is rectal microclism used?
- first of all, make sure that the tube is the one specifically for newborns;
- wash your hands and baby's bottom well with soap and water;
- Lay the infant on his right side and slightly flex his little legs towards your chest;
- lubricate the anus with a water-based lubricating gel to avoid perianal scratching or irritation;
- Gently insert the enema into the rectum;
- press the microclism thoroughly and, after administering the entire enema, keep it pressed until the cannula has been completely extracted, to prevent the liquid from being re-inspired during cannula extraction.
In general, microclism can make an impact a few minutes after its use, but it could take even longer (perhaps 30 minutes or 1 hour).
To conclude the topic 'baby's tube and microclimates' we can say that these are short-term remedies for constipation, air and tummy ache in babies.
They help him evacuate and perhaps temporarily improve his symptoms but do not solve the real cause of the problem, indeed.
My advice is to detoxify the intestine to make your baby well and subsequently restore intestinal regularity thanks to theBelly Osteo-Massage and osteopathic treatments.
Remember that prolonged use of probes, microclimates and enemas is not without risksIndeed.
The risk is not only that of irritate the bottom of the child but also that of disabuse the infant to feel the urge to evacuatecausing a worsening of the issue and making the newborn employee from the tube or enema for pooping.
Dyschezia, constipation and constipation: Baby belly massage
Assuming that dyschezia, constipation and colic in babies are caused by a inflammatory bowel picturevarious tricks are required to solve them. In this paragraph I show you 3 massages (the last is the best) for your baby's belly.
A first exercise to improve dyschezia and constipation is to flexing the legs of the newborn child towards the belly; in this way slightly increase pressure abdominal and promote theexpulsion of air and of faeces from the belly.
I advise you to make these movements and massages when the infant is calmnot when he has a bellyache.
A second movement you can do to help your newborn baby make air out of his or her belly and improve constipation is certainly the child massage Sun and Moon.
This massage consists of a light pressure on the belly of the newborn child, with movements tracing the stylised image of the sun (circle) and the moon (semicircle).
The idea is to massage in a peristaltic direction the intestine to facilitate the intestinal transit and help the infant to eliminating air from the belly.
The third way (as well as the more effective) to massage your baby's belly and improve dyschezia, constipation and colic, is theBelly Osteo-Massage.
Osteo-massage is a osteopathic massage sequence which I designed and teach all the time to the parents of my young patients with dyschezia, constipation and colic.
These massages are to be done when the child is calm, in combination with all the precautions I explain in the course "Treatment of gaseous colic".
How to treat dyschezia, constipation and colic in babies with paediatric osteopathy
For effectively treat gaseous colic, dyschezia, constipation and air In the belly of a newborn baby, one must be aware of all the parameters that irritate and inflame the intestine.
Only then can you be truly effective by performing Osteo-Massage to the belly (see video course) and performing Specific osteopathic treatments.
This is what my team and I do every day in the studio at the Yule Centre.
After having explained to parents all factors causing gaseous colic (e how to solve them in the days following the first visit), we explain in how many treatments we expect to improve it and begin the evaluation of the child himself on the cot.
In addition to the fundamental parameters mentioned above, We evaluate:
- the mobility of the thoracic diaphragm (located just above the stomach) and that pelvic. Diaphragms play an important role in gastric emptying and intestinal peristalsis. Very often there are severe limitations in children suffering from colic and constipation caused by intrauterine malposition or difficult birth;
- the presence of objective tensions of the gastric and intestinal smooth muscle that create pain in the child. This can be noticed by palpating the child's abdomen and assessing the visceral and ligamentous tensions.
- the presence of neck and back contractures that might annoy the child and make him irritable.
- the suction quality of the infant at the breast and its ability to swallow the ingested milk effectively without 'gorging' (at the breast but especially at the bottle),
- many other parameters assessed during the visit...
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