POOP! As a new mom, or any mom for that matter, poop is probably on your mind. One of the most common concerns Dr. Cait receives from parents is that their newborn baby isn’t pooping for days or even weeks at a time. Of course, there are many reasons why this can happen. We will discuss a few and go over how chiropractic adjustments can help your baby “go” more often!
Constipation in newborns can be obvious or it may seem like you just have a fussy baby. If your newborn baby is fussy, straining or crying when pooping, has a distended or bloated belly, or has hard, pellet-like poop, constipation could be a possibility.
Constipation can happen to any baby, but we see it more common in formula fed babies because formula can be harder to digest. (HIPP, HOLLE, and Kabrita formula are great brands.) Here are a few common reasons your baby may be constipated, but of course there are countless more:
Mother’s diet
Mother’s stress level
Milk or food allergy/sensitivity
Baby is dehydrated
Supplementing with formula along with breastmilk
Introduction of solid foods too soon
Stress as a result from traveling or being away from mom
Subluxation: this is what us chiropractors look for
Although chiropractors don’t claim to “treat” or “fix” anything. We do know that when the brain and body are communicating properly, EVERYTHING works better. When the spine is adjusted, it allows the nerves in the body to better communicate with the organs, including the stomach and intestines. An adjustment affects the vagus nerve (the rest and digest part of our nervous system). When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it often helps relax the bowels and baby will poop! There is a common saying in the chiropractic world of “that post-adjustment poop,” because it's not unusual for a baby to poop 30 minutes after an adjustment. Or in many cases baby poops during the adjustment!
If your baby is struggling to poop or not going ATLEAST every other day. Give us a call😊
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