Constipation in babies can occur at any time of their life as an infant. It is caused by many factors.

Once your baby is introduced to solids, his stools will often be of the same color as the food he ate. The stools may also contain small pieces of undigested food. The appearance and smell of their stools will change dramatically as well. For breastfed babies, their stools will reveal a noticeable change by which their stools were previously of a smooth texture and relatively sweet smelling. The frequency of passing of stools may change too. Sometimes a baby can go a few days without a bowel movement.

Basically, constipation is possibly caused by constipating foods such as rice cereals, cooked carrots, bananas, potato, yogurt, applesauce, cheese and pasta. Other causes can include an underlying illness, food allergies, dehydration and certain types of medication that your baby may have been prescribed.

This condition is too hard for your baby to cope with. Here are some signs to look for if your baby is constipated.

= Stools are hard and dry. This must be an indicative sign of this condition.

= Your baby cries as he “poos” - straining might be normal, but crying indicates a greater discomfort that needs investigating.

= Your baby seems resistant to be fed.

= There is a possibility of presence of blood.

If your baby has any of these symptoms, seek for a medical advice from your doctor to rule any underlying cause.

Baby constipation can be distressing but there are simple infant care steps to relieve baby’s discomfort and prevent its return. These can help you out as you provide child care.

* Feed your baby plenty of fiber rich foods, fruits and vegetables, in addition to breast milk, formula, or whole milk.
* Gradually increase the amount of fluids in your child’s diet. Make sure that he/she drinks plenty of water. Offer him/her diluted juice or plain water several times a day. Increasing the amount of fluids your child consumes can help prevent as well as ease the problem of constipation.
* Giving prune juice to your child, every morning, can help keep stools soft. You can also dilute the prune juice, if you want. In case of any problem, try using apple juice as a substitute. Giving bran cereal is also an option. However, this remedy is suitable for older children and not infants.
* Avoid giving those foods to your baby that produce harder bowel movements, such as bananas, rice, white bread products and processed foods. Give him/her extra servings of other fruits and vegetables instead.
* Massage baby’s tummy gently, in a clockwise direction, starting at his navel and moving outwards.
* Give him a warm bath - this will make him feel relaxed (if he enjoys his baths!) and you can continue the massage technique to “get things moving” and relieve discomfort.
* ‘Cycle’ baby’s legs - this exerts gentle pressure on his intestines by moving the muscles in his tummy. Simply put him on his back, hold his legs and turn them gently, but quickly, in a cycling motion.
* If hard stools have caused tears to baby’s anus, alert his doctor and use Vaseline to protect his delicate skin.

Eating well is an essential need for you to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy newborn. Being physically active may help you have a more comfortable 9 months and an easier delivery. Here are ideas and tips to improve your eating plan and become more physically active before, during, and after your pregnancy. Make changes now, and be a healthy example for your family for a lifetime.

Tips for A Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition

* Talk to your health care provider about how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy.
* Eat foods rich in folate, iron, calcium, and protein, or get these nutrients through a prenatal supplement.
* Talk to your health care provider before taking any supplements.
* Eat breakfast every day.
* Eat high-fiber foods and drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
* Avoid alcohol, raw fish, fish high in mercury, soft cheeses, and anything that is not food.
* Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. Talk to your health care provider before you begin.
* After you deliver your baby, continue eating well. Return to a healthy weight gradually.
* Slowly get back to your routine of regular, moderate physical activity.
* Take pleasure in the miracles of pregnancy and birth.

What is a healthy eating plan for pregnancy?

A healthy eating plan contains a wide variety of foods from the five basic food groups.* Every day, you should try to eat:

* 6 or more servings of bread, cereal, rice, or pasta.
o One serving equals one slice of bread, 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal (about 1 cup of most cereals), or 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta.
o If you are physically active, you can eat more servings (up to 11 servings if you are very active).
* 3 to 5 servings of vegetables.
o One serving equals 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables such as spinach or lettuce, or 1/2 cup of chopped vegetables, cooked or raw.
* 2 to 4 servings of fruit.
o One serving equals one medium piece of fruit like an apple, banana, or orange; 1/2 cup of chopped fresh, cooked, or canned fruit; 1/4 cup dried fruit; or 3/4 cup of 100-percent fruit juice.
* 2 servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese
o One serving equals 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese like cheddar or mozzarella, or 2 ounces of processed cheese like American.
o If you are 18 years or younger and pregnant, you need at least 3 servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese.
o Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products most often.
* 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, or nuts.
o One serving equals 2 to 3 ounces of cooked meat, poultry, or fish-about the size of a deck of cards. Choose lean cuts and eat no more than 5 to 7 ounces of meat, poultry, or fish a day. One cup of cooked beans such as kidney beans or 2 eggs count as a serving.
o Four tablespoons of peanut butter or 2/3 cup of nuts also equals a serving.
* At least 8 glasses of water.
o Drinking milk, 100-percent juice, seltzer or other non-alcoholic beverages counts toward your amount of daily water.

* Adapted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Department of Health and Human Services Food Guide Pyramid.