Constipation and Thrush

Constipation in babies

Constipation is a lack of bowel movements that causes pain and intoxication. Nobody likes to feel constipated, sluggish and stuck. So it is relieving to note that there are many things you can do for your baby to relieve this condition.

Constipation and Thrush

It occurs in babies for both anatomical and dietary reasons. Also, breastfed babies are less likely to experience constipation, but if it does occur then check for allergy to foods consumed in the mother’s diet such as the wheat and dairy. Check that your diet contains adequate vitamin C and magnesium, which support healthy bowel function, and can be shared with baby through the breast milk. Food rich in vitamin C include guava, strawberries, parsley, papaya, watercress and oranges. Foods rich in magnesium include brazil nuts, almonds and leafy green vegetables. For some babies, giving prune juice diluted in water twice daily will help ease constipation.

With formula fed babies experiencing constipation, check for food related allergies again and introduce into the feed some calming herbs to improve digestive function such as aniseed, fenugreek, caraway and fennel. A great way to ease the discomfort of constipation is to drink a nursing tea. These will reduce any indigestion symptoms as well as stimulate breast milk production.

Massage is also helpful in baby constipation as it stimulates the intestinal movements and the bowels. Apply gentle massage in circular strokes around the abdomen, and to enhance the effect use a tablespoon of warm sesame oil. Calendula oil possesses gentle calming qualities that can be imparted through the skin and also through inhalation of the essential oil. This makes calendula oil a good choice for baby massage. Baby probiotics may or may not be useful, ensure that there is no bloating or colic first before trying this and seek professional guidance. Natural yoghurt may be a better choice.

Steps for Mothers to treat Constipation in Babies
- Check for food allergies in formula feed or your own diet
- Take a good multivitamin
- Apply gentle massage to the abdomen using warm sesame oil
- Consume a Nursing tea including fennel, dill, caraway and aniseed
- Ensure the baby has adequate water intake (particularly if you are weaning your baby off breast milk)
- Eat natural yoghurt

Thrush

The uncomfortable condition of Thrush is characterised by an overgrowth of candida albicans in the digestive system, creating more wind for a baby. Over 35% of newborns experience thrush in the second or third month of life. When baby thrush occurs in the first week of life, it is likely to have been contracted during delivery. The signs of baby thrush are a white coating on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth, which is tenacious and difficult to remove by wiping. The baby may not feed well, and with the abdominal symptoms (bloating and poor digestion), thrush may even seem to present as colic.

Treating thrush involves an anti-fungal program that uses nutrition, diet and herbs. Good nutrition will help, as the condition is more common in under-nourished babies. Ensure good nutrition by eating well yourself and taking herbal or nutritional supplements to stay relaxed and healthy. Breast milk itself contains prebiotics that are then passed to baby. Enhance your breast milk quality with a nursing Tea.

Thrush indicates that bowel flora and digestion are poor, and baby probiotics including lactobacilli and bifidobacteria have been shown to be useful. These two healthy bacteria forms are often lacking in infants who go on to develop allergies. Healthy bowel flora has the additional benefit of protecting against upper respiratory infections, eczema and allergenic disorders later in life. One way to improve bowel flora health in mother and infant is to consume natural yoghurt, a low allergenic dairy product.