Some pediatricians suggest adding a teaspoon of brown sugar per ounce of water to help with constipation. Others recommend mixing an ounce of water with an ounce of prune juice to ease more severe constipation.
Mint or Ginger Tea
The hot water in tea further stimulates digestion and provides constipation relief. Ginger tea also has mild laxative effects that promote bowel activity. How much is enough: Have either of the tea twice in a day to ease the bowel activity.
If your baby is under 2 months of age, try 1 teaspoon of brown sugar in one ounce of water twice a day. If over 2 months old, give 1 ounce of diluted fruit juices (such as apple or prune) twice a day.
Eating a lot of high-fat meats, dairy products and eggs, sweets, or processed foods may cause constipation.
You should drink water and other liquids, such as naturally sweetened fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups, to help the fiber work better. This change should make your stools softer and easier to pass. Drinking enough water and other liquids is also a good way to avoid dehydration.
Try a combination of oatmeal and flax meal. Flax meal is ground flax seeds, which are extremely rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. You can further increase the fiber factor by stirring in some raisins. Dried fruit is very high in fiber too.
The following can cause loose stools or make them worse. Sugar. Sugars stimulate the gut to put out water and electrolytes, which loosen bowel movements. If you ingest a lot of sugar, you may develop diarrhea.
Some sugars and artificial sweeteners can have a laxative effect. Fructose is a component of table sugar and occurs naturally in fruits. The body can only digest a certain amount of fructose at one time. Consuming more fructose than the body may cause diarrhea.
Some pediatricians suggest adding a teaspoon of brown sugar per ounce of water to help with constipation. Others recommend mixing an ounce of water with an ounce of prune juice to ease more severe constipation. Children older than six months and eating solids can try prunes to help them avoid constipation.
Diluted fruit juice as a treatment for constipation is not recommended for babies less than 3 months old.
Premature babies have to endure to a lot of painful medical procedures, from blood draws to throat suctioning. Something as simple as a few drops of sugar water can ease that pain, but many preemies don't get that help. And adding the comfort of touch helps, too.
IT IS A BETTER SPORTS DRINK: Most sports drinks pack glucose sources to energise you. Only drinking sugar and water serves the purpose of replenishing your body better. This is also healthier because sometimes unknown substances are used to enhance your post activity high.
Drinking hot water helps to break down food faster than drinking cold or warm water. It reduces the risk of constipation by supporting regular bowel movements.
Drinking salt and warm water has a laxative effect. It usually causes urgent bowel movements within 30 minutes to an hour, although it may take longer.
Perform stimulation with your finger every day until you start to have a regular pattern of bowel movements. You can also stimulate bowel movements by using a suppository (glycerin or bisacodyl) or a small enema. Some people find it helpful to drink warm prune juice or fruit nectar.
For most people constipation rarely causes complications, but people with long-term constipation can develop: haemorrhoids (piles) faecal impaction (where dry, hard stools collect in the rectum) bowel incontinence (the leakage of liquid stools)
Honey is believed to be a beneficial home remedy to alleviate constipation. You can be either taken raw or added to milk, tea or water. The results are more beneficial when you add honey, with warm water along with a few drops of lemon juice. The enzymes in honey treat constipation and stabilize digestion.
Sucrose (aka table sugar) has the potential to speed up gut motility in larger quantities, leading to similar symptoms as fructose, but won't be as common of a trigger.
Sugar stimulates a relaxing effect in the stomach, which reduces the sensation of being full, explaining why you can consume dessert even after eating to your stomach's content.
Constipation occurs when bowel movements become less frequent and stools become difficult to pass. It happens most often due to changes in diet or routine, or due to inadequate intake of fiber. You should call your doctor if you have severe pain, blood in your stools, or constipation that lasts longer than three weeks.
“It would be an emergency if you hadn't had a bowel movement for a prolonged time, and you're also experiencing major bloating or severe abdominal pain,” notes Dr. Zutshi. Slight symptoms will not take you to the emergency room. You should go to the emergency room if your symptoms are severe.