Newborn Pooping: Straining Normal Or A Concern?

It is normal for a newborn to strain when pooping. This is because pooping is more challenging for them since they are lying flat and don't have gravity to help move things along. This can cause them to grunt, groan, and make faces during a bowel movement. In addition, newborns have to coordinate their belly muscles to squeeze while relaxing their anus, which can be difficult for them. Infant dyschezia, or grunting baby syndrome, is a specific condition for infants less than 9 months of age where they appear to have difficulty pooping but show no signs of constipation.

Infant dyschezia, or grunting baby syndrome, is a common condition where the baby has an uncontrolled stooling reflex

Babies with dyschezia struggle to coordinate the different muscle groups necessary for defecation. They may strain, grunt, cry, or scream while trying to pass stool, and this can last for 10 to 30 minutes. The baby's face may also turn red or purple due to the effort. However, it is important to distinguish dyschezia from constipation, as the latter can be easily addressed by making dietary changes or adding extra water or fruit juice to the baby's diet.

Dyschezia is a learned reflex, and babies will eventually figure out how to coordinate their muscles to pass stool. This usually happens within a few weeks or by the time the baby is 3 to 4 months old. While it can be distressing for parents to watch their infants struggle, it is important to know that they are not in pain and are not sick or suffering. No treatment is necessary, and rectal stimulation or the use of suppositories is not recommended as it may interfere with the baby's natural learning process.

Babies may strain when pooping because they are lying flat and don't have gravity to help

It is normal for a newborn to strain when pooping. This is because, when lying flat, they don't have the help of gravity to move things along. In addition, they have to coordinate their belly muscles to squeeze while relaxing their anus, which can be challenging for a small baby. This is a learned reflex, and they will eventually figure it out.

Infant dyschezia is a condition where a baby appears to have difficulty pooping but shows no signs of constipation. It is a muscle coordination problem, where the baby struggles to coordinate the different muscle groups necessary to pass a stool. They may strain, grunt, or cry for 10 to 30 minutes before passing a normal stool. This can be upsetting for parents to witness, but it is important to know that these infants are not in pain or suffering. Pediatricians believe that crying helps infants produce the abdominal pressure needed to poop.

There is no specific treatment for infant dyschezia, and it usually resolves on its own within a few days to a few weeks. It is not recommended to interfere with the baby's learning process, as this may cause dependence on stimulation and prolong the issue. Breastfed babies may go anywhere from several times a day to once a week without a bowel movement, while formula-fed babies typically go daily. As long as your baby is eating and happy, there is usually no cause for concern.

If you are concerned about your baby's pooping habits, look out for signs of true constipation, such as hard or pebble-like stools, blood in the stool, or a lack of bowel movement for several days. In these cases, consult your doctor, who may recommend extra water or fruit juice to soften the stool.

It's important to distinguish between infant dyschezia and constipation, as they are treated differently

Infant dyschezia is a functional condition characterised by at least 10 minutes of straining and crying before a bowel movement. The stools are soft and free of blood. This occurs because the infant has not yet learned to coordinate the two actions required for a successful bowel movement: the relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles and an increase in abdominal pressure to squeeze out the stool. Crying is how they increase their abdominal pressure. They cry until, by chance, they relax their pelvic floor muscles at the same time and a bowel movement occurs. This is a learned reflex, and some babies struggle more than others to learn it. They usually figure it out within a week or two. No treatment is necessary or recommended.

Constipation, on the other hand, is characterised by hard or pebble-like stools, which may be difficult or painful for the baby to pass. In this case, the baby may be constipated if they cry during a bowel movement. If this is the case, a doctor may recommend giving the baby a little extra water or a small amount of 100% fruit juice to soften the stool. In rare cases, a doctor may recommend laxatives, suppositories, or enemas.

Rectal stimulation may interfere with the baby's ability to learn how to pass stool without help

It is normal for a newborn to strain when pooping. This is because pooping is more challenging for them since they are lying flat and don't have gravity to help move things along. In addition, newborns are still learning how to coordinate the muscle groups necessary for passing stool. This is known as infant dyschezia, or grunting baby syndrome, and it is a common condition where the infant appears to have difficulty pooping but is not constipated.

Rectal stimulation with suppositories, Q-tips, and thermometers may provide temporary relief but it is not recommended as it can interfere with the baby's ability to learn how to pass stool without help. This is because the baby needs to learn how to coordinate the abdominal pressure and the relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles to pass stool. If the baby becomes dependent on rectal stimulation, it may prolong their ability to learn this reflex.

Instead of rectal stimulation, parents can try infant massage to stimulate the baby's nervous system and physical development. A warm water bottle can also be placed on the baby's belly during the process, but the temperature should be checked first to ensure it is not too hot. It is important to remember that infant dyschezia is a self-limiting condition and infants will typically learn to coordinate the reflex on their own within a few weeks.

If parents are concerned about their baby's pooping habits, they should talk to their doctor. The doctor may recommend giving the baby a little extra water or fruit juice to soften hard poop. It is important to never give the baby laxatives, suppositories, or enemas unless specifically instructed to do so by a doctor.

Tips for concerned parents include massaging the baby's belly or legs, or placing a warm water bottle on their belly

It's normal for newborns to strain when pooping. This is because they are lying flat and don't have gravity to help move things along. It can be upsetting for parents to see their baby struggling, but it's important to remember that they are not in pain. Infant dyschezia, or grunting baby syndrome, is a condition where babies have difficulty coordinating the muscle groups necessary for pooping. They may cry, grunt, or scream, and their faces may turn red or purple, but this is due to the effort of trying to pass a stool, not because they are suffering.

If your baby is reacting more intensely to the feeling of pooping, there are some things you can try to help them:

• Massage their belly or legs before or while they are trying to poop. This can help stimulate their nervous system and improve brain-body coordination.
• Place a warm water bottle on their belly during the process. Be sure to check that the temperature is not too hot first.
• If your baby is formula-fed, it's unlikely that changing formula will help them feel better.
• If your baby is constipated, talk to your doctor, who may recommend giving your baby a little extra water or a small amount of 100% fruit juice to soften their stool.

Remember that this is a phase that most babies grow out of as they learn to coordinate the muscle groups necessary for pooping.

Frequently asked questions