Having a newborn at home is a joyous and exhilarating time, but also can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, especially when dealing with possible medical issues. If your newborn has not passed a stool in several days or stools are hard and difficult to pass, he might be suffering from constipation. If this is the case, you should contact your pediatrician immediately and discuss your options, including whether it is safe to give prune juice.
Constipation in Newborns
Stooling in infants varies from child to child, so it can sometimes be difficult to determine if your child truly is suffering from constipation or just establishing his normal bowel habits. In general, newborns 2 weeks old usually have two bowel movements a day, while infants older than 2 weeks can sometimes go two or more days without a bowel movement without suffering from constipation. If your newborn's stools are hard and dry and he strains to pass them, you might be dealing with constipation.
Causes
The most common cause of infant constipation is during the transition from breast milk to formula. Breastfed babies tend to stool more often than formula fed babies, and this transition can affect their bowel habits; however, there are some medical conditions that can cause constipation in infants, including Hirschsprung's disease, cystic fibrosis, obstruction, spinal cord abnormalities and congenital malformations. If you suspect constipation in your newborn, contact your pediatrician for advice on treatment.
Prune Juice and Constipation
Prune juice is the water extract of prunes or dried plums. The juice, along with the dried fruit, commonly is used as a treatment for constipation. Both prunes and its juice contain a substance called dihydrophenylisatin, which has a mild laxative effect, helping to improve bowel function and alleviating constipation. As a food, prune juice is a safe and natural way to treat constipation in both children and adults.
Prune Juice for Newborns
Your pediatrician can help you determine the best mode of treatment for your newborn's constipation. In some cases, small amounts of prune juice might be recommended, but this usually is in the case of older infants. You should give prune juice to your newborn only if recommended by your pediatrician. It is important to note that if you allowed to give prune juice for the constipation, it should not replace any of the liquid provided by breast milk or formula.
References
- Healthy Children: Constipation
- MayoClinic.com; Infant Constipation: How It is Treated; Jay Hoecker; May 2011
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Constipation, Age 11 and Younger; William Blahd; October 2010
- "American Academy of Family Physicians"; Evaluation and Treatment of Constipation in Infants and Children; Wendy Biggs, et al.; February 2006
- California Dried Plums: FAQ
- GrannyMed.com; Prunes for Constipation; Chip Buddy; July 2009
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