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On Sun, 4 May 2008 Robin Roots wrote:
" This is actually pretty common where I work.  The peds won't send them 
home unless they've stooled ....  
I use a gentle massage over the transverse colon and along the desending colon (left side)....
 Then I warm up some wipes and gently wipe (stimulate) the rectum ....  
I also take a rectal temp after lots of massage and babies are nice
and comfy and so relaxed their legs will go in any direction.  Use a litt=
le KY and it does the trick. .... Whatever you do of course be very gentle.
This method has never failed me. "
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Hi,
Robin's method reminds me of what Ashley Montagu wrote years ago in his book, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin.  He described the licking of newborn by livestock and other animals, including licking the anal area, to stimulate a number of bodily systems, including stooling.  Apparently, the longer human labour because of the human infant's larger head provides a similar stimulation, which is why humans don't have a licking behaviour.  If the animal mother for some reason didn't do the licking, rubbing the calf over with something rough, such as a piece of sack or crumpled paper bag, was needed to provide the skin stimulation.

So - with more C-sections, perhaps sufficient stimulation is something that some babies need to have provided for them in other ways.  Gentle body massage with a soft cloth, e.g. over the transverse and descending colons, and wiping the anus, may be the appropriate way to do this.  I knew this years ago and applied it to motherless calves, but I had forgotten.  Thank you, Robin, for reminding us all.

Virginia

Dr Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC
Honorary Research Fellow
School of History, Philosophy, Religion & Classics
The University of Queensland, QLD 4072
Australia
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