Why Is My Stool Particularly Thick?

Coarse stool may be caused by improper diet, irregular bowel movements, congenital physiological and anatomical defects, and mental factors. Here are the specific reasons:

Functional constipation is most closely related to diet. If a baby's diet is too fine and lacks sufficient fiber intake, it may not stimulate the intestinal wall enough, leading to constipation. Excessive intake of high-protein foods can reduce the number of intestinal fermentation bacteria, affecting fermentation and making the stool dry and dense. Insufficient dietary intake can also lead to constipation due to reduced intestinal residue, insufficient abdominal and intestinal muscle tension, and weak peristalsis.

Due to irregular bowel movements and lack of relevant training, a baby may not have formed a bowel reflex. Sometimes, even though they may feel the urge to defecate, they may consciously suppress it due to playfulness or other distractions. Over time, the sensitivity of the bowel reflex may decrease, causing stool to accumulate in the intestine and absorb water, making it dry and difficult to expel. This can lead to what is known as habitual constipation.

Some babies may experience constipation due to certain congenital diseases, such as intestinal stenosis, intestinal obstruction, narrow rectum or anus, pyloric spasm, congenital pyloric stenosis, and congenital megacolon.

Certain mental stimuli can also cause constipation in babies. For example, changes in the living environment or pain during defecation due to perianal lesions (such as anal fissures) can make children afraid of defecating, leading to short-term constipation.