Unlike adults, babies have a body that is easily attacked by various diseases. Especially digestive disorders such as constipation or diarrhea. This condition can make a baby fussy and parents become worried. Actually, what causes digestive disorders in infants is very vulnerable to occur? Come on, see the explanation below.
Why do digestive disorders in infants often occur?
Maybe you are wondering why your baby often has diarrhea, vomiting, abnormal abdominal sounds, and certainly makes the baby fussy. This condition may occur if the baby has digestive problems. Some of the following factors trigger digestive problems in infants.
1. The digestive system is not fully functioning normally
According to Live Strong, during the womb the baby receives nutrients from his mother through the placenta. After being born, there is a change in the way the baby gets food; no longer from the placenta but directly from the mouth by suckling. This transition makes the baby's body need to adjust the shape of the food that enters the body.
The first food that a baby can consume in the first 6 months is mother's milk. From this milk, babies get fat, protein, and carbohydrates to fulfill their nutritional intake every day. However, as we get older and also grow teeth, babies can consume various types of foods with soft, medium, and hard texture gradually.
At the age of 6 months, babies are allowed to eat foods other than breast milk such as fine porridge, mashed potatoes, ripe bananas dredged with spoons, or fruit juices such as oranges or tomatoes.
If you provide food that is not in accordance with his age, the possibility of indigestion in infants can occur. For example, you give refined biscuits to babies under the age of 6 months.
His body at that time did not produce sufficient enzymes, especially in digesting carbohydrates. In addition, lipases and bile salts that help digest fat are also not fully mature. The intestine in the body is still open, making it easier for the ASI protein to flow from the small intestine into the bloodstream. Whereas if the flow is solid food instead of breast milk, the risk of the baby getting allergic and having digestive problems is getting bigger.
2. His immune system is not strong
You will often see a baby inserting a hand or an object he holds into his mouth. This is actually the way children recognize whether the object is held by food or not. Likewise, babies who like to suck their thumbs. This habit makes bacteria or pathogens (germs) easier to enter the body.
The human digestive system has a mucus layer that protects the digestive tract from bacteria and pathogens. In infants, this mucus layer has not functioned optimally, so is the immune system. The baby's immune system cannot fight a number of pathogens, causing indigestion or infection. The most common are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Various digestive disorders in babies who are in danger
Although digestive disorders are prone to occur in infants, this does not mean that the condition should be underestimated. Some of the following digestive disorders can indicate a serious condition so you should immediately know the cause. For example in vomiting or how normal the child defecates.
Vomiting is still reasonable, usually because the muscles between the baby's stomach and esophagus are not strong enough. Can also be caused by a baby satiety. However, if you continue to vomit, continue belching, vomiting turns green or bleeding, and the body is lethargic, immediately bring the baby to the doctor.
Diarrhea is very easy to make babies dehydrated, and even requires hospitalization. You need to pay attention to how often the child defecates and the color and texture of the stool. If frequent bowel movements are marked by changes in the stool that is very runny, chances are that the child has diarrhea.