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Kidshealth
Developed by the Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand.
Constipation
‘Constipation’ is when your bowel motions (‘poos’) are hard. They may be knobbly and difficult to get out.
Normally people should have between one and three soft, easy motions each day.
If you or a family member has constipation, it will most likely be caused by dehydration or not having enough fibre in your diet.
Constipation can also be a symptom of a more serious problem, like bowel cancer.
How your bowel works
Your bowel (large intestine) is the organ for removing solid waste left over from what you eat. Fibre in the food you eat bulks out this waste and helps it move along your bowel more easily.
Causes of constipation
Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables will generally give you enough fibre to have regular, easy bowel motions.
However, if you eat a lot of meat, or processed or refined foods, there might not be enough fibre in your bowel. The waste will move slowly, causing constipation and wind.
Also, if you don’t drink enough and get dehydrated, your bowel will absorb more fluid which will dry out the food waste – making your motions harder and difficult to pass.
As well as diet, constipation can be caused by:
- waiting too long to go to the toilet
- not getting enough exercise
- travel or other change in routine
- taking certain medicines – especially using laxatives for too long
- pregnancy
- depression.
Constipation in young children
Don’t give children laxatives unless your doctor says to do so.
Children with constipation will usually do hard poos, like sheep pellets, and this will often be painful.
They may ‘hold on’, cross legs, run around or refuse to go to the toilet.
They may also have a tummy pain that comes and goes.
Sometimes chronic constipation in children can lead to ‘overflow’ of loose poos which looks like diarrhoea.
What to do
- Gradually add more fresh fruit, vegetables and food with fibre to your child’s diet (but remember that too much fibre can give children a tummy ache).
- Encourage your child to drink more and exercise.
- If your child’s constipation continues or keeps coming back, see your doctor.
If you have questions about your child’s bowel motions, call PlunketLine on 0800 933 922.
Constipation in pregnancy
Constipation is common in pregnancy.
- In early pregnancy it is caused by high levels of the hormone progesterone, which can slow down the bowel.
- In late pregnancy the increasing size of the baby puts pressure on the bowel.
- It can also be a side effect of iron supplements.
See your doctor if:
- you have constipation for a week or more after a normal bowel motion
- there is blood or slime in your motions, or alternating diarrhoea and constipation
- you also have abdominal pain or bloating
- you’re still constipated after changing your diet or trying other remedies
- you’re losing weight without trying.
Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you're unsure what you should do.
Self care
- Drink more fluids, especially water.
- Eat more whole-grain cereals, fruit and vegetables – including the skins, if they’re edible.
- Prunes, broccolini, rhubarb, kiwifruit, corn, dried fruits and liquorice can all help move your bowels.
- Exercise regularly.
- Don’t delay bowel motions – go when you feel the urge.
- A fibre supplement might help.
- Avoid straining or forcing a motion, as this can cause haemorrhoids (piles).
Taking laxatives
You can try laxatives from your chemist – but don’t get into the habit of taking them regularly.
Once your constipation has cleared, stop taking the laxatives and try other remedies, like diet and exercise, to prevent the constipation from returning.
Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is a malignant growth in the bowel. Its first symptoms may be a change in bowel habits – either diarrhoea or constipation, sometimes with blood or mucus (slime).
Sometimes bowel cancer can actually block the bowel, so the person has no bowel motions for a few days, and has a swollen abdomen. (This is not the same as constipation.)
Anyone can get bowel cancer, though it is most common after the age of 40 and in people with a family history of the disease.
Page last updated: 07 May 2012
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