Digestive problems in newborns are quite common in the first months of life because the baby's digestive system has not yet fully developed. Many initial manifestations are easily mistaken for normal physiological reactions, making it difficult for parents to recognize early.
According to pediatricians, newborns may experience many digestive problems such as frequent vomiting, bloating, constipation, diarrhea or poor feeding. Some babies crying for a long time after breastfeeding, bloating or slow weight gain may also be related to digestive disorders.
Dr. Amar Bhise, consultant doctor of the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Neonatal and Pediatrics at Motherhood Hospital (Pune, India) said that symptoms such as frequent vomiting, blood in the stool, prolonged bloating or refusal to breastfeed are signs that parents need to pay attention to. In addition to symptoms in the digestive tract, children can also become irritable or abnormally uncomfortable, especially after eating. This may be a sign that the baby's stomach or intestines are having problems.
The causes of digestive disorders in infants are quite diverse. Among them, the most common is the digestive system that is not fully mature. In addition, some children may be allergic to milk protein, intolerance to food or gastroesophageal reflux.
Viral or bacterial intestinal infections can also cause diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration in children. In addition, improper breastfeeding, letting the baby swallow too much air, or feeding too much can also cause discomfort, bloating, and vomiting.
According to Dr. Amar Bhise, treatment needs to be based on a specific cause. In many cases, doctors may prescribe dietary changes, supplementing with probiotics, rehydration, or treating allergies and infections if necessary.
Parents should not arbitrarily use medicine or apply folk remedies without guidance from medical staff, as this may make the child's condition worse.
To support the child's digestive system to function better, parents should prioritize breastfeeding if possible. After each feeding, it is necessary to help the baby erupt properly to limit bloating and vomiting. When starting to feed the baby solids, each type of food should be introduced separately and monitor the baby's reaction.
In addition, maintaining hygiene of eating utensils, avoiding overfeeding children and monitoring water intake is also very important for the digestive health of newborns.
Doctors recommend that parents take their children to the doctor immediately if they have symptoms of continuous vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, dehydration, bloating, refusal to breastfeed, shortness of breath, drowsiness or no weight gain. If symptoms persist or worsen rapidly, children need early medical attention to avoid dangerous complications.
