Causes of constipation in breastfed babies

Posted by Doctor Pediatrician - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

There are many causes of constipation in breastfed babies. However, misperception about this condition can put children at risk of more severe constipation due to inappropriate dietary changes. Therefore, mothers need to understand the causes of constipation in children to have appropriate treatment and nutrition changes.

Breast milk is great for babies' digestion and is even considered a natural "laxative". Therefore, breastfed babies tend to have more bowel movements than formula-fed babies in the first few days after birth. However, after 3 to 6 weeks, breastfed babies tend to have fewer bowel movements (perhaps 1 or 2 per week) than formula-fed babies.
However, mothers need to pay attention, if the baby is breastfed and has fewer bowel movements, it does not mean that the child is constipated, unless the child's stool is as hard as goat's feces, making it difficult for the child to defecate.

Breastfed babies rarely get constipated. However, some of the following conditions can cause a breastfed baby to become constipated:

Constipation can occur with breastfed babies. If a child is given solid foods such as cereals, wheat, or nuts that do not contain fiber, a lack of this nutrient in the diet leads to a lack of fiber in the child's stool, making the child constipated.

When children have health problems such as colds, coughs, nasopharyngitis or teething problems, children have fever, diarrhea, dehydration, and possibly constipation.

Sometimes, babies are formula fed due to lack or absence of breast milk, which can also lead to constipation. Formula is harder to digest than breast milk, which is why formula can cause a baby's stools to be very large and hard. Babies with a milk protein allergy will also become constipated when given formula.

Hot and humid weather can cause babies to sweat a lot, leading to dehydration. Therefore, the lack of water content in the child's body can cause constipation.

Baby's bowel movements sometimes also depend on the mother's eating habits. A mother's diet can determine the health of her baby. If the mother's diet lacks fiber and has an excess of iron, the baby may also become constipated.
In addition to the above causes, some congenital colorectal diseases can cause constipation. Accordingly, spinal cord disease, injury or tumor can also affect the nerves and cause constipation. In general, severe constipation requires medical intervention to get early treatment and limit possible complications.

In order to limit the child's constipation as well as the use of antibiotics, parents should pay attention to the diet to improve the child's resistance. At the same time, supplementing with supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins, etc., helps support the immune system, strengthens resistance so that children are less sick and less likely to have digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
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