How to give an enema to a child: 10 easy steps, doctor's advice

The word "enema" often makes people laugh and many parents, when they are going to carry out this procedure to their child, do not take it seriously. Enema is a seemingly simple procedure, but with the wrong technique it can lead to serious complications.

Before performing an enema for children, parents need to carefully read the manipulation technique and follow all the rules, from start to finish. Especially often, parents are afraid to give an enema to an infant and do not know how to give it to a newborn.

Before carrying out the procedure at home, it is better to check with your healthcare professional how to properly give an enema to a baby.

What is an enema and what can it be?

What is an enema anyway? An enema is a medical procedure that involves injecting a liquid (water or drug) into the rectum.

There are several types of enemas, depending on their purpose:

Cleansing. It is indicated for constipation, bloating, food poisoning, for bowel movement from stools and gases. It is performed using chilled boiled water.
It is very important that the water is exactly 24 - 26 ° C (room temperature). Hot water can burn the intestinal mucosa. Also, hot water dilates blood vessels and is well absorbed into the bloodstream, and the rectum is very well supplied with blood. Entering the bloodstream, the water will pull with it all the toxins accumulated in the stool. "Fecal intoxication" may occur. The most terrible condition that can develop with this complication is cerebral edema.
Therefore, before setting an enema, always consult with your doctor, or even better - entrust the procedure to specialists.
Laxative. Vaseline oil or glycerin is injected into the rectum with an enema. You can dilute them with a little saline. This enema for an infant is indicated for constipation, especially when the baby has a dense consistency of feces. The oil solution softens the stool and helps the bowels to empty.
Hypertensive. An enema pear is filled with a hypertonic solution (2.5%, 5% or 10%) of sodium chloride. This type of enema is very good at cleansing the intestines with prolonged constipation and is most often performed in a hospital by medical professionals. The saline solution draws out the contents of the intestines well.
If you decide at home to independently prepare a hypertonic solution using water and salt, you must thoroughly stir the solution! Undissolved salt crystals can damage your baby's intestinal mucosa. It is also necessary to observe the temperature regime of the solution.
Siphon. Such an enema is performed only in a hospital setting and is a purely medical manipulation. A large volume of solution occurs high intestinal lavage. It is indicated in case of poisoning or fecal "blockages".
Medicinal enema. This is a way of administering a drug substance. Performed as directed by a doctor.

How much cleansing enema does a child need?

In addition to the temperature regime, you need to know how much solution you can enter the baby. When setting a cleansing enema, the amount of fluid injected directly depends on the age of the child. The younger the baby, the less solution will be required to empty the intestines. There are norms of volumes permissible for a child to perform an enema.

Up to two months	30 ml
2 - 4 months	60 ml
6-9 months	70 - 100 ml
9 - 12 months	120 - 170 ml
1 - 2 years	200 - 250 ml
25 years	300 ml
6 - 10 years old	400 - 500 ml

Contraindications

it is not recommended to use a cleansing enema on your own, without indications. It is better to consult a doctor once again;
it is absolutely contraindicated to perform cleansing enemas in the presence of acute inflammatory bowel diseases, rectal prolapse, intestinal bleeding.

What is needed to perform a cleansing enema?

First of all, you need to prepare a place for the procedure.
On a flat surface (changing table or bed) it is necessary to lay an oilcloth and put a clean diaper or sheet on top of it.
For an enema, a syringe is used for a child under 4 to 5 years old. A syringe is a pear-shaped rubber can with a rubber or plastic tip. There are various sizes of "pears" - from 30 ml, for the smallest children, up to 360 ml. You can buy a syringe at any pharmacy, its cost is on average 100 rubles. For children over 4 years old, an Esmarch mug is needed for an enema. This is a 2 liter rubber balloon from which a silicone tube with a removable plastic tip extends. The cost of such a system in pharmacies is 200–500 rubles.
Before performing an enema, you should prepare an enema solution, liquid paraffin or baby cream. For children over a year old, you need to stock a pot in advance.

Enema technique

Most often, parents need to give a cleansing enema to their baby. Against the background of digestive disorders in children, stool retention, gas, bloating, colic are noted.

Before making a cleansing enema, it is best to consult your doctor. If you decide to perform the procedure yourself, make sure that you have prepared everything you need in advance, that you have correctly selected the volume and temperature of the solution.

How to perform a cleansing enema for a baby?

First of all, before giving an enema to a baby, you need to prepare everything you need so as not to be distracted during the procedure.
Wash your hands before performing an enema.
The syringe is boiled for about 30 minutes. Then we wait until it cools down.
We squeeze the can in order to release the air, then slowly unclench it and collect the required amount of solution.
The tip of the pear is lubricated with vaseline, vegetable oil or baby cream to reduce the risk of intestinal trauma.
The baby lies on the back, the legs are pressed against each other and rise slightly upward. Children over one year old can be placed on their left side with their knees pressed against their stomach.
With our fingers we spread the buttocks and carefully insert the tip into the rectum to a depth of 2 - 4 cm.
Slowly squeezing the pear, we introduce the liquid into the intestine.
Carefully remove the tip and clamp the buttocks for a few minutes.
After defecation, we wash the baby, and thoroughly wash and dry the syringe.

Performing a cleansing enema for children over 4 years old

To perform the procedure, we use Esmarch's mug.
The solution is poured into a rubber container. The volume depends on the age of the child. We also definitely observe the temperature regime.
We release a small amount of the contents of the pear to displace air from the tube.
The balloon must be fixed 1 meter above the level of the recumbent child to ensure a downward flow of fluid.
We connect the tip to the system, lubricate with vaseline or vegetable oil. Plastic tips can be disposable. Then we take it from a sterile package and throw it away after the procedure. If the tip is reusable, it must be boiled before use.
The child lies on his left side with his knees tucked into his stomach.
The tip is gently inserted into the rectum 2 cm towards the stomach, and then 2 - 4 cm backwards towards the tailbone.
The clamp on the tube opens and the solution enters the intestines.
The tip is removed, and the child must lie down for another 10 minutes until the intolerable desire for an act of defecation.
Then the child sits on a potty or on a toilet for bowel movement.

With frequent constipation, do not abuse enema. See your doctor to determine the cause of the disease and solve the problem. Frequent use of cleansing enemas can lead to habituation and disruption of natural bowel movements.

In addition to the liquid cleansing itself, the enema has an irritating effect that stimulates intestinal motility, which helps emptying. But not always, after the enema, feces come out. It is necessary to make sure that all the fluid introduced into the intestine is released. Sometimes emptying does not happen immediately, but after 30 - 50 minutes.

Correctly performed procedure is harmless and relieves the baby's condition. If you are not confident in yourself, do not take on manipulation. See a pediatrician who will examine your child and help with an enema.

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