Changes in the intestinal system experienced by infants
The evolution of a baby is impressive. The changes that children go through are many and can sometimes be misunderstood by parents, especially those who face the challenge of fatherhood for the first time. A good example of this is the operation of the intestinal apparatus of the smallest, whose operation experiences some very visible variations.
After several weeks in that world, babies go from making several daily bowel movements to one, or two, in this same space of time. Are there reasons to worry? Does the child have any problems that must be solved? From the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, AEP, is called to calm in this regard and explains to parents that this process is natural within the changes that crosses the intestinal system of the smallest during the lactation.
The changes to experience
At the beginning of the lactation Newborn babies make several stools in a single day. Usually this situation is related to milk intake. The main reason is that the child's digestive system has been at rest during his life in the mother's womb and begins to be exposed to food after birth.
Both in children and adults, after eating, there are movements of the intestine that try to favor the depositions of excrement. This process is known as'gastrocolic reflex' This automatism is experienced more intensely in the first weeks of the baby's life. This situation is associated with the absence of force in the anus, so that smaller infants usually do deposition right after or even during the shots.
Weeks after birth, small babies go from making several stools a day to a single daily deposition or even one every several days. Although the characteristics of the excrements are the same as those of the beginning of lactation, this change is usually to surprise to the parents, who wonder if it could be due to some illness or problem of the child.
But from AEP it is explained that there are no reasons for to worry. This is because the intestine 'learns' to perform its function much more effectively and absorbs a greater amount of nutrients, so that the amount of feces generated by the baby is reduced. The translation is that the infant makes a deposition every several days, without this being related to any health problem.
Cries and complaints
From AEP it is also explained that in some cases among the 2 and 8 weeks of life, some children begin to have several daily episodes of crying and shrinking of legs, typically after the milk intake. These symptoms usually last a short time and disappear on their own. Sometimes the child can find relief with the performance of a deposition of normal characteristics, which may take days to appear. This fact is due to the fact that the anus has matured and has gone from being constantly open, to closing tightly to avoid leaks.
These ages, the child is able to open it voluntarily, but still does not know how to do it when the bowel moves. So when it has cramps, the anus does not open, causing discomfort because no stool. At other times of the day, they relax this area of their body and eliminate gas, but not excrement, because there is no intestinal movement that pushes them out. It takes a different time for each child to learn how to coordinate these processes.
From AEP it is remembered that constipation in children Under 6 months It is rare. In the cases where it appears it is characterized by hard stools that generate discomfort or pain when eliminated. These cases usually appear with the step of breastfeeding to artificial lactation. Another typical moment coincides with the introduction of solid foods, such as purées and porridges.
Damián Montero
