OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 3

OUR BABIES

CONSTIPATION (Continued.) SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR TREATMENT When commencing to train baby in the way he should go, it will probably be necessary to suggest the purpose for which he is suspended over empty space. This one may do by just touching or tickling the anus with the little finger whilst holding baby out. Do this as a temporary measure only. In a surprisingly short time, as a rule, the mere position is enough. It is as well to just let baby feel the edge of the little chamber, as this comes to suggest the business of the hour. Local stimulation of the anus is also useful where the motions tend to be infrequent but otherwise normal, and when holding baby out after the abdominal massage as described in our previous article. If mere tickling is not enough massage all round the anus with a vaselined finger, first gently, then more firmly with a circular movement. This is often all that is required, unless baby is really constipated—that is, unless the motions are hard and formed. However, if there is no result, do not worry. If it is not more than 24 hours since the last motion ,and this was soft and normal, put baby down and try again after next feeding time. It 36 to 48 hours have elapsed, and it is necessary to bring about a motion, proceed like this: Further stimulate the anus by inserting the oiled tip of a soft rubber catheter (size 12) or the soft rubber nozzle of a small bulb enema (especially made for babies), taking care not io insert any air. Si-cl; an enema should hold an ounce. Now hold the baby out again. The Enema It a motion is not brought about by the mere presence of the nozzle a little water may be injected—say, from a teaspoonful to an ounce, according to what proves necessary. When filling the bulb expel all the air first by squeezing tightly, place the nozzle under the water and let the bulb fill, so that there is no air retained. (The nozzle should be oiled or vaselined previously.) The water should be made slightly saline by adding common salt in the proportion of a bare level teaspoonful to a pint of boiled water, and it should be injected by a temperature of 98deg. Fahr, (blood heat). Such a fluid tones up the bowel, but (unlike soapy water) is not irritating and does not cause any tendency towards catarrh of the bowel. Soap, whether given by enema or used in the form of “soap stick,” always causes more or less irritation of the mucous membrane, often leading to slime in the. motions and redness of the orifice, and may cause much pain, straining and even prolapse of the bowel. Large enemas are liable to distend the bowel and cause further lack of tone and sluggishness. They should therefore be avoided. From half an ounce to two ounces is sufficient in ordinary circumstances. If the enema should be retained, don’t be alarmed. The fluid may become absorbed. Put baby down: the bowels will probably act later. If not, the enema could be repeated within a few hours.

The Soap Stick.—Strictly as an emergency measure, if no small enema is available, the very occasional use of a soap stick may do no harm, but it must be of a mild superfatted soap. Glycerine la irritating and should not be used either as an enema or a suppository.

Although a very small, cool, saline enema occasionally is preferable to doses of medicine, it is a great mistake to drift into the habit of introducing anything into the bowel if a motion can be brought about otherwise. No pains should be spared to bring about normal tone and vigour of the whole system and proper activity of the bowels by natural means as soon as possible.

Never give a new-born baby castor oil. This is often done under the mistaken idea that the dark tarrylooking material (meconium) is dirty and ought to be cleaned out as soon as possible. In reality, meconium is pure and mildly laxative, and is intended by Nature to keep the bowel sweet and normal for the first few days. If no motion appears by the end of the second day, a small saline enema may be given, but this is rarely necessary.

Purgative medicines and frequent enemas stimulate the muscles of the intestines to violent action, thus bringing about a motion, but there always tends to be reactionary exhaustion after this effort with more sluggishness and lack of normal tone than before. The bowel tends to become incapable of action without this artificial stimulation.

There are occasions when a baby will be benefited by a fairly copious enema—say, from three to six ounces of normal saline, given at a temperature of lOOdeg. Fahr. This affords the best means of relieving a severe attack of colic. A similar injection may be given to clear out the bowels at the outset of diarrhoea or for convulsions.

Next week we will touch on some other measures for the treatment of constipation.