Not a few children who rush to defecate (BAB) while eating or right after the food runs out. now, this raises concern for some parents, because he said, defecation after eating can make it difficult for children to gain weight. Is that true?
CHAPTER after eating in children is actually a normal reaction and nothing to worry about how come, Bun. This can happen because children still have a strong gastrocolic reflex.
The gastrocolic reflex is a natural reflex of the body. This reflex is a contraction of the large intestine that causes the sensation of heartburn and the urge to defecate when the stomach is filled. This reflex causes the child to want to go straight to the toilet after the food is finished.
So, does the food you eat come out right away?
The answer is no. When your little one defecates after eating, the food he just ate doesn't come out right away when he goes to the toilet. how come, Bun. After the food is swallowed and enters the stomach, it takes about 1-2 hours for the food to finish through the digestive process and is transferred to the small intestine.
After that, the food will last longer in the small intestine, at least 2 hours, because this is where most of the digestive enzymes work and absorption of nutrients occurs.
After being digested in the small intestine, the food moves to the large intestine. The time it takes for food to move from the intestine to the anus is approximately 1 hour.
nowAt least it takes 3-4 hours for the food consumed by your little one to be digested and passed out through the feces. So, the food that comes out when your little one has the urge to defecate is food from the previous meal that has been digested and the nutrients taken.
CHAPTER after eating does not cause children's weight to be difficult to increase
The assumption that a child's bowel movements after eating can cause weight gain is a misnomer. Precisely this is a sign that the child's digestive tract is healthy. Now, Healthy digestion is the beginning of optimal growth and development.
Difficult weight gain in children can be caused by many things, such as lack of nutrients and calories in the food they eat, eating disorders, infections, and medical conditions such as celiac disease, constipation, and metabolic disorders.
As long as your baby's bowel movements are regular, the consistency of the stool is not too hard or runny, and there are no complaints, there's nothing for you to worry about.
If your little one's weight is difficult to gain, there are some tips that you can apply, namely:
- Don't skip meals.
- Provide age-appropriate textured food.
- Give small but frequent meals.
- Don't forget to provide healthy snacks 2 times a day.
- Avoid giving your little one non-nutritive foods, such as junk food, candy and chips.
- Limit the provision of drinks at mealtime, including formula milk or breast milk, so that your little one does not get full quickly and is reluctant to finish his food.
After knowing the information above, now you don't need to worry anymore if your child is defecating in the middle or after eating. If the diet is good and the appetite is high, the child's weight will increase by itself, how come, Bun.
If there is no problem with the child's appetite and the food provided is nutritious but the little one's weight does not increase, you should consult a doctor.
