In this article, we explore the reasons that newborns grunt. We also discuss accompanying symptoms, home remedies, and when to see a doctor.
Is newborn grunting normal?
When newborns grunt, it can sound like they are in pain, but this is not usually true. Most often, it means that they are learning how to pass stool.
In other cases, the grunting can point to an underlying problem, and it is important to be aware of any other symptoms. The presence of these can help to determine whether the grunting is a cause for concern.
What causes newborn grunting?
Newborns tend to grunt as they get used to having bowel movements. Doctors sometimes refer to this as grunting baby syndrome.
To pass stool, an adult often relaxes their pelvic floor and uses the stomach muscles to apply pressure which helps to move the stool through the gut.
At first, a newborn’s stomach muscles are not strong enough to do this, so they use the diaphragm muscle to move their bowel. As they exercise the diaphragm, it can put pressure on the voice box, resulting in grunting.
Other causes of newborn grunting include:
- Irregular breathing patterns. Newborns may grunt as they develop control over their breathing patterns.
- Trapped mucus. Mucus can collect in a newborn’s narrow nasal passages.
- Dreaming. Grunting during sleep can indicate dreaming or a bowel movement.
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Also known as acid reflux, this occurs when stomach contents rise into the food pipe. It can cause discomfort, and the baby may grunt.
Grunting baby syndrome is not the same as constipation. A newborn who grunts usually passes soft stools.
Symptoms of constipation in a newborn can include:
- small, dry, pellet-like stools
- fewer than three bowel movements per week
- reduced appetite
- a hard stomach
- crying, discomfort, pain, or irritability before passing stool
- foul-smelling gas and stools
The following strategies can help:
- changing formula
- changing the diet of the adult, if breast-feeding
- feeding more often, to increase hydration
- massaging the baby’s stomach
Home remedies
A number of home remedies can help with newborn grunting. Depending on the cause, they include:
Learning to pass stools
When a newborn is learning to pass stools, grunting is usually normal and does not require treatment.
The grunting often stops when the newborn learns to relax their pelvic floor and the stomach muscles strengthen. This usually happens at a few months of age.
If the baby seems to have trouble passing stool, rubbing petroleum jelly on their anus can help. However, doing so too often can prevent the baby from learning to pass stool on their own.
Irregular breathing
Irregular breathing patterns are not usually a cause for concern, unless the newborn shows signs of breathing difficulties.
A baby monitor can help a caregiver to check for indications of abnormal breathing when the newborn is asleep. Some people also use movement monitors, which sound an alarm if the baby stops moving for longer than usual.
Grunting may indicate a problem if the newborn:
- seems distressed
- regularly grunts at the end of a breath
- has a fever
- has a blue tinge in the lips or tongue
- pauses between breaths
- flares their nostrils
- draws in their chest as they breath
These symptoms can indicate difficulty breathing. If the newborn has any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.
The doctor will most likely use an X-ray when making a diagnosis. In 2016, researchers reported that chest radiography is essential in determining the cause of respiratory distress in newborns.
Below, we describe other severe issues that can cause newborns to grunt. If a newborn has any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention right away. They may require emergency treatment.
Meningitis
In addition to grunting, symptoms of meningitis in a newborn can include:
- fever
- vomiting
- floppiness of the body
- skin blotches or a rash
- an unusual cry
Sepsis
Sepsis is commonly described as blood poisoning. In addition to grunting, symptoms in a newborn can include:
- fever
- irritability
- breathing problems
- confusion
- floppiness of the body
- pauses of more than 10 seconds between breaths
- reduced urination
- jaundice
Heart failure
In addition to grunting, symptoms of heart failure in a newborn can include:
- inability to gain weight
- shortness of breath
- falling asleep during feedings or being too tired to feed
- coughing and lung congestion
- sweating
Takeaway
Newborns tend to grunt when they are developing the muscle strength needed to pass stool.
The grunting is usually not a cause for concern. However, if it accompanies certain symptoms, the grunting can indicate an underlying condition.
If a newborn is grunting and has any of the more severe symptoms listed above, seek urgent medical care.
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