Grunting Baby Syndrome (Infant Dyschezia)

This term refers to a situation where your infant appears to struggle with bowel movements, yet their stool is normal.

• The stool does not contain any blood.

• The stool may be seedy, yellow, green, or brown, but it stays soft or mushy.

Your infant may seem constipated or in discomfort, but they are not.

Even though it may appear that your baby is in distress, the positive aspect is that they are okay.

This situation will improve over time, although it may take several months.

• Typically, this gets better within two to three months, but it can last up to six months.

This occurs when your infant's abdominal and pelvic muscles are not working together in the early stages.

• An infant needs to learn to relax the muscles at the base of their pelvis while increasing pressure in their abdomen.

• This is common for infants, as the muscles must adapt to function together as your baby learns to have bowel movements.

During the initial weeks, your baby's sucking, swallowing, urination, and stooling occur instinctively.

• As they progress past this phase, they must learn how to perform these actions.

  • Since each child develops at their own pace, some infants may take longer than others to learn how to have a bowel movement, and that is perfectly fine.

While pushing hard like they are trying to poop, your child may also:

• Grunt.

• Turn red in the face or other parts of the body from pushing.

• Cry for 10 to 30 minutes.

  • When your baby cries, this helps them produce the pressure they need to push their stool out.

• Scream for 10 to 30 minutes.

• Appear to be in pain.

• Seem hard to console.

Your child may have these symptoms multiple times per day when they have a bowel movement.

Your baby's primary healthcare provider will do a physical examination.

They will ask questions about your infant, including:

• The appearance of their stool (images can be useful).

• The frequency of their bowel movements.

• The type of milk they are consuming (formula or breastmilk), the quantity, and how often.

• The solid foods they are eating (typically at four months and up).

• The number of wet diapers they produce each day.

They may also ask about your infants’ comfort level between, during, and after feeding.

As it simply requires time for your infant to work on using their muscles together, this cannot be prevented.

Keep providing comfort to your infant, as this aids in soothing and relaxation during the time between bowel movements.

Fortunately, your baby is perfectly fine.

Here are some calming exercises you can do:

• You can perform belly massages, moving in a circular motion clockwise around their belly.

• You can use a bicycle pedaling motion with their legs.

• You can support them in an upright squatting position.

• Maintain your usual routine for naps, baths, and comforting.

It can be tough to see your baby cry or struggle, so remember to take breaks when necessary.

Keep in mind that when your baby cries, it aids them in learning to use their muscles properly for bowel movements.

Do not use suppositories or any over-the-counter remedies without consulting your baby's primary healthcare provider first.

You have questions or concerns.

Your child has blood or hard stools.

You think your child is constipated.

You think your child needs to be seen.