Things To Know About Dyschezia In Babies
Dyschezia often occurs in infants during the first few weeks of life. It is not a disease as such, but an often very unpleasant and annoying complaint.
Dyschezia should not be confused with constipation
As dyschezia difficulties are referred to in the stool. The urge to defecate is present, but the infant cannot expel the stool. The baby is trying very hard and may also blush, but the anal sphincters and pelvic floor muscles cannot coordinate properly.
Dyschezia should not be confused with constipation, however, because it is caused by an immature excretory system and has nothing to do with diet or the amount of food you eat, as is the case with constipation.
When a child is constipated, the stool is hard and dry and very difficult to pass . But with Dyschezie, exactly the opposite is the case: the stool is soft and almost fluid, like all infants, but the child is unable to relax and use the anal sphincters properly.
Another difference between these two disorders is that a constipated child seldom or never empties their bowels every day. However, dyschezia can have bowel movements up to 10 times in a day, as is the case with almost all babies fed formula or breast milk.
How do I know if my child has dyschezia?
To know if your child has this disorder, you can observe the following aspects:
- Your child will assume the usual position when they have an urge to defecate and act as if they were emptying their bowels. But it takes longer and cries miserably. If you pull the legs apart, you can see that the anus is completely closed.
- However, once your child has taken care of their needs, you will see that the stool is soft and almost runny.
What can you do at Dyschezie?
Over time, this problem tends to go away on its own as the child’s excretory system matures and learns to use their sphincters properly.
There is no need to shorten or lengthen your breastfeeding period or change your diet. The malfunction usually clears up in a few weeks. However, to relieve your little darling’s pain, we have a few tips:
Comfort your child
You should help your child relax. Try to calm them down and treat them caring and loving so that they gradually learn to use their sphincters.
Bend your legs towards your stomach
Babies are usually born with their legs flexed, and you can also help your child defecate by gently moving their knees towards their tummy. This will make this process easier, because the chair presses directly on the sphincter muscles.
Dyschezia In Babies: What Not To Do!
As mentioned earlier, this is usually a temporary problem that you can alleviate by standing by your child and calming them down.
However, you should avoid teas, laxatives, and abdominal massages if you are unfamiliar with them. You should also not help out with your hand, as this could be harmful to your child in the long term, as they get used to an external stimulus.
Seek advice from your doctor, who can give you more tips to help your little one.
