Is the baby's stomach distended, is it normal or needs to be examined by a doctor?

A distended stomach is linked to many serious health problems resulting from a poor diet. However, this is more likely to occur in adults. So as a parent, you will surely be wondering: what does it mean if a baby's belly is distended? Is a distended belly normal for my baby to experience, or a sign of anything else to worry about? Peel the answer thoroughly in this article.

Is the baby's stomach distended, is it normal or not?

A distended baby's stomach is generally normal and is nothing to worry about. In most cases, your little one's stomach is distended meaning that it is full after feeding. But usually it will immediately deflate and return to normal after urinating or defecating.

Another possibility is flatulence. This is also normal, because the baby can swallow a lot of air when the baby cries or while feeding. In addition, a baby's digestive system is not as mature as even older children or adults. The intestines also haven't produced enough good bacteria, which makes the baby's stomach bloated.

To fix this, help your little one to burp after breastfeeding. Standing over your baby and massaging their back can also help treat flatulence.

However, what you need to underline is that babies still have difficulty conveying the complaints they feel. For that you as a parent must always pay attention to the changes that occur in your baby.

When to see a doctor

It is normal for a baby to have a distended stomach if it is not accompanied by other symptoms. If the baby's enlarged stomach occurs for a long time after being treated with the methods above, it is also accompanied by a prolonged roaring cry, fever, abdominal pain, rash, or a hard swollen stomach, you better consult your pediatrician for treatment. right.

This can indicate a food allergy to other more serious problems to watch out for such as intestinal obstruction, malabsorption (problems with absorption of nutrients), or because of an infection in the intestine. Other organs in the body can also experience swelling such as the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys, which then makes the stomach appear distended.

In essence, what you need to do when you know a baby's belly is to identify the symptoms and causes first. If the distended stomach does not last long, it means there is no serious problem with your child.