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OUR BABIES

CONSTIPATION (By (“Hygeia”) Now let us speak of cures. Always investigate the cause. Constipation in the breast-fed baby may be due to irregular habits or faulty diet of the nursing mother. It may also be caused by underfeeding or by overfeeding, or from the lack of extra fluid in the form of warm boiled water, which should be given between feeds. Treat the cause, but at the same time do -not fly to medicinal .treatments. These at their best are only temporary measures. If the mother is constipated, she must see that all her habits are regular, and that her bowels move once a day. Constipation in the mother is bad in any case, and may cause constipation in the baby. If the baby is bottle fed, consult your Plunket nurse and thus make sure that the food is correct in proportion and amount Indigestion, arising from the use of patent foods, often causes constipation, alternating with diarrhoea. Too much curd., and too little fat in the food, as in the case of mere diluted cow’s milk, tends to cause obstinate constipations. Too much fat may have the same effect. Too little food and too little fluid both tend to cause constipation. Babies artificially fed are usually constipated in the first mont.h, simply because it is absolutely necessary to give a diluted food at the ■beginning. The trouble tends to right itself naturally as the food is made stronger. Give the baby extra fluid in the form of warm boiled water, from a few teaspoonsful to an ounce or more between meals according to the age. This is good whether the baby is naturally or artificially fed. Massage of the Abdomen Massage of' the abdomen, skilfully done and persevered with regularly over a good period, affords a very successful means of toning and bracing up the muscles of the bowel and the abdominal wall. Often a perfectly normal motion will occur almost immediately the baby is held out after five minutes or so of real deep massage of the abdomen. Unfortunately the movements are rarely done efficiently, the mother or the nurse being afraid to apply sufficient pressure or being unable to avoid exciting the resistance of the muscles. The first essential is to realise just what one is doing. The large intestine starts just above the outer part of the right groin, and runs upward to the margin of the ribs, and then curves sharply and turns across the abdomen just above the navel t>o the margin of the ribs on the opposite side. There again it makes a sharp curve and descends to the left groin, where it passes downwards and backwards, and ends in the rectum, from which the motions are passed. The object of the massage is to reach and brace up the muscles which form the wall of the abdomen. Therefore, the manipulations must be done, not only on the surface, but deeply and firmly, following the course of the bowel in the direction of the onward ip'oving contents. If the pressure is exerted suddenly or jerkily or continuously without allowing for breathing, the child struggles and resists at once, and the abdomen becomes as “hard as a board,” and no good can be done at all. So a right beginning is in this, as in other things. Lay the baby comfortably on the table, attract his attention if necessary, then stroke the abdomen very genly in the right direction that is with the circular movemcht over the course of the large intestine—using a warm oiled or powdered hand. As the baby becomes accustomed to the movement press deeper and deeper, mainly with each intake of the breath (when the abdomen naturally tends to relax). In this way one can finally accomplish, say, five minutes of deep, firm pressure in successive waves, as it were, without arousing the opposition of the muscles or the objection of the baby. The massage may be followed by a few movements exercising the baby’s legs, alternately stretching them out and flexing them on the abdomen. However, the deep massage is the really important thing. Baby should be held out afterwards. If no motion results at first do not be discouraged. Continue the .treatment every day regularly at Che same time. The best time is just before a feed time. Natural Laxatives Prune juice is a mild infant laxative, and it may be used safely after baby reaches the ,age of six weeks. Commence with half a teaspoonful, increasing to two or three teaspoonsful as required. After three months of age prune pulp or spinach puree may be given. Begin with half a teaspoonful, increasing to .three or four teaspoonsful if necessary. Natural laxatives such as these are most effective if given one and a-half to two hours before the 10 a.m. feed. Recipes for the making of prune juice, spinach puree, etc., may be obtained from the Plunket nurse.

(Do not confuse orange juice and its properties with that of these laxative juices. Orange juice is given for its vitamin property, and has very little laxative effect, but by the general toning up of the muscular functions promotes intestinal activity. Enemas and Injections These simple methods, if consistently carried out, should not fail. However, if our patient still refuses to respond, a plain water enema would be indicated —one to two ounces, larger amounts being inadvisable, as overdistension of the bowel means loss of elasticity, when our object would be defeaed. If it is a case of persistent constipation an olive oil injection (one ounce for three nights in succession, followed~ljy a cool water enema,in the morning) would probably prove satisfactory. Except in this latter instance, the water or olive oil would be given at blood heat. The water must always be boiled and cooled. The cool enema is given somewhat less than blood heat to commence, and may be cooled down each day if repeated, but not to less than 70 degrees, which is tepid water. This has a more stimulating effect than the enema given a> blood heat. In regard to the olive oil injection the object is io have it retained overnight, so that it ma/ have a softening effect upon the bowel contents. Older Child and Adult For the older child and adult, in addition to those points already mentioned in regard to personal and general hygiene, more fluid shduld be taken daily, especially water; also more roughage should be added to the diet in the form of unrefined cereals, such as wholemeal bread, bran biscuits, more uncooked vegetables and fruit. Laxative Mixture Whilst endeavouring to correct the condition by natural means, some

simple laxative mixture may be prepared in the home, as that of prune pulp to which has been added treacle, senna powder, and ginger. The recipe is as follows: —Prunes, lib., soaked overnight; treacle (black), |lb. added to the above, and simmered for half an hour. The fruit is then stoned and chopped up; then mix in one teaspoonful of senna and a small teaspoonful of ginger into some of the syrup, and add to .the fruit and remainder of the syrup. Place in a screw-top jar. The dose for the child would be half to two teaspoonsful according to age and requirements; for the adult according to what is required; the dose being given at bedtime. With these essentials practised good health will result, and with good health we will never be troubled with constipation.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19351231.2.113

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 31 December 1935, Page 11

Word Count
1,246

OUR BABIES Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 31 December 1935, Page 11

OUR BABIES Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 31 December 1935, Page 11

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