If you are a first time parent it is expected that you will notice every little thing about the baby, especially when it seems that something is even a tad bit out of sorts. When your baby begins to experience bowel movements in which the stool is harder and firmer your infant may be experiencing baby constipation. If you ignore this little inconvenience, your baby typically begins to feel terribly uncomfortable when trying to have a bowel movement. It is a well known fact that breastfed babies do not seem to experience as much constipation as formula fed babies. This seems to be related to the fact that the mother's breast milk is more easily digested by the infant's digestive system. Breastfed babies are able to more easily digest the proteins in breast milk. This simple fact causes bowel movements to be looser and therefore, much easier for your baby to expel. Formula fed babies seem to have more difficulty digesting the proteins in formula and so suffer more constipation than breast fed babies. When babies have trouble digesting what they are being fed this can lead to constipation, pain and irritability. While it is not unusual for a little one to have a bowel movement two to three times a day, if you notice that your babe is more irritated or appears to be straining while trying to move their bowels or even if you note that your baby's stools have become hard and firm then you should intervene before constipation becomes a real issue for both you and your baby. Look for healthy and physician approved alternatives to help your baby have a comfortable and soft bowel movement. Baby's can experience abdominal pain if they are terribly constipated since the stool can become so hard and lodge in the intestines that it is simply too hard to pass. Even little ones can begin to subconsciously avoid having a bowel movement in hopes of avoiding the pain of constipation. Some healthy alternatives to help your baby with constipation is to massage your child's abdomen. Begin around the belly button area and massage the belly in outwards in circles while going in a clockwise motion. You may use a bit of lotion or massage oil to make this a more enjoyable encounter. You may find that your baby really enjoys this special massage so you can keep it up for a few minutes and enjoy the time together. Pressure can also be relieved from your baby's tummy if you place the babe on their back, hold the legs upward and then gentle move them as if riding a bicycle. A warm bath can also help your baby to relax. Think about how much you, as an adult, enjoy a soak in the warm tub. If you have tried all of these tricks to help your baby to have a bowel movement and find relief from constipation then you must contact your child's healthcare provider for medical advice about what to do next. If your child is experiencing constipation and you are feeding your baby formula, make sure that you are mixing the formula according to the directions. You want to make sure your baby is staying well hydrated to help keep the stools soft. Your pediatrician may also suggest that you provide the baby with extra bottles of water during the day as well to increase their fluid intake. Baby constipation can be a normal part of childhood; however, it is not something that you can ignore. Your baby is depending on your help. So be sure to consult with your child's healthcare provider for the course of treatment that he would prefer you follow for your child. Baby constipation is best avoided in the first place, but if it does occur then you must intervene for your child's comfort.
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