We know that AJ was in one of these deprived environments for two years.

However, after adoption, he says, “these children go from the most deprived environments to some of the most enriched ones. In one day, these children become part of well-educated, affluent, stable and loving families.” They now live in what Pollak calls an “optimal environment” for children.

Yet, as the children adjust to their new surroundings, they continue to experience a number of physical and behavioral problems, such as ear and gastrointestinal infections, malnutrition and delayed growth. These problems, says Pollak, generally vanish within a year of the children’s arrival in the United States.

For some children, physical and behavioral problems persist. These include difficulties learning and forming social bonds, says Pollak. As a result, he adds, the children are often diagnosed with intellectual delays, attachment disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The behaviors that relate to attention are actually linked to the pre-frontal cortex and controlled by the cerebellum, as are motor skills. These are the last parts of the brain to develop and can continue to develop for years after birth.

The NY Times recently had an article on this (with fabulous graphics) and it gives me great hope for AJ’s brain development.

Post from: Blisstree

The Growing Brain

Many children from Eastern European orphanages have issues with constipation, encopresis, and holding their bowels. In fact, our son has problems with all three because of medical reasons, learned behaviors, and a drastic change in diet.

According to the Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, constipation is defined as:
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a decrease in frequency of bowel movements, compared to a child’s usual pattern (Some physicians define constipation as fewer than three bowel movements per week.)

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the passage of hard, dry bowel movements

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bowel movements that are difficult or painful to push out

The causes are many: diet, lack of exercise, emotional issues, busy lives, and even physical problems.

For AJ (and many institutionalized children) the causes are compounded because they most likely suffer from all of them. AJ had a poor diet (mainly bananas, oatmeal, cookies, and stews), he had little, if any, exercise, he was under high stress in the orphanage, and he was on a timed potty schedule.

In the orphanage the timed potty schedule is maintained by one of the caregivers in the room. She would instruct the children that every 2 hours they were to leave their play area, go to the potty area, site on their designated pot and go to the bathroom. They would sit until they went. If they did not go they would hold it until the next two hour interval. If they had an accident they would, most likely, sit in the mess until someone could clean them.

What happens in this situation is that many of the children learn to hold their stools so they become hard and dry. They become painful to push out and the children avoid going to avoid the discomfort. Eventually, the intestine stretches and does not feel the stool. In order to “heal” the intestine medications like MiraLAX Laxative Powder for Solution – 30 Daily Doses or Phillips’ Concentrated Milk of Magnesia, a stool softener that are used for a period of months or years (as directed by a doctor).

For tips while traveling with infants, toddlers, and older children visit adoptmed.org. Our full proof method while traveling was straight Russian Apple Juice. It has a punch!

Post from: Blisstree

Constipation in Eastern European Adoptees

Encopresis is actually a long standing problem developed from constipation. A child who has chronic constipation will often not completely empty themselves and the large intestine will start to stretch, allowing stool to “leak” around the hard, formed, stool in the colon. The first sign of encopresis is usually stained underwear but most parents assume the child is not wiping well.

How do you treat encopresis?

Well, you first need to have it diagnosed by a doctor…then you need to treat it by emptying the intestines. Like constipation, laxatives are the best bet when it comes to developing good habits in children who have chronic problems.

We use MiraLax on a daily basis, supplement Phillips’ Concentrated Milk of Magnesia when things get slow, and if we really need it we add in a Fleet Enema Pediatric For Children. And trust me, we have had to succumb to the enema several times (and we use high fiber foods as much as we can on his limited diet). AJ is a terrible “holder”. He has even held an enema for more than an hour before…

Post from: Blisstree

What is Encopresis and How Does it Affect Children?

Post from: Blisstree

Overstimulation and Adopted Children