Digestive Problems in Newborn Babies
As your baby grows in your tummy, it starts to use many of its body features; it moves around in your tummy, kicks sweetly and says "here I am". During this time, your baby's respiratory, digestive, nervous and immune systems are ready for use. The digestive system in babies is one of the systems that continues to develop after birth, partly because it cannot be used in the womb. Newborn babies also learn how to use this system in the first months. The majority of babies have problems with their digestive system in the first months.
Digestive problems in newborn babies can occur in some cases. The biggest risk here is babies who are not breastfed. In other words, it is important to feed only breast milk for the first 6 months.
Don't worry, you can overcome these problems too.
Since your sweet baby is nourished by the umbilical cord and receives already digested food, its own digestive system does not work, it is only slowly prepared for the outside world with movements such as swallowing. However, over the course of nine months, your baby's body systems such as respiratory, digestive and immune systems develop and are ready to be used after birth. The baby's eating habits change as soon as it is born, and it starts to learn how to use its intestines, which are now 4 times as long as it is tall.
It decomposes the food it takes in through the mouth by sending it to the stomach and from there to the intestines, and learns to excrete the solid wastes left over from the food through its stool. Of course, during this learning process, not all systems may work fully. The digestive system is one of them. Because many digestive enzymes need to be secreted during this time. Newborn babies learn to digest in about 3 months. And that's why most babies have digestive problems in these first months. This is normal, although moms may worry.
What happens as the digestive system develops?
- Since the digestive system in newborn babies starts to be used after birth, it takes three months for babies to learn how to use their digestive system.
- In the first 6 months, some babies' stomachs are still very sensitive. This can cause frequent vomiting. Problems such as reflux and indigestion may also occur. As long as vomiting and reflux are not severe, they can be considered normal in babies in the first 6 months.
- Gas formation in the intestines can be seen in almost every baby. As long as gas does not cause excessive and prolonged pain, it is considered natural and the digestive system expels the gas on its own after a while.
- Diarrhea is a common intestinal problem.
Babies may also suffer from constipation as they expel the waste from digestion. Constipation, which is less common in breastfed babies, can become a problem in babies fed with additional food. Also, giving cow's milk to babies before the age of 1 year can cause constipation and gas problems.
Suggestions for your baby's digestive problems
"To facilitate digestive problems in newborn babies, babies should be breastfed for the first 6 months."
If diarrhea lasts for more than a day and causes excessive dehydration, accompanied by weakness and fever in the baby, a doctor's check-up is absolutely necessary. You may need to supplement your baby with water during this period.
You should follow the stool pattern of babies with constipation well and consult your doctor if your baby has not pooped for a long time. Among the measures you can take for constipation, massaging the baby's intestines with light touches, and if you are giving additional food, choosing foods with pulp suitable for the month are among the first places.
