baby wants to poo but can't-please help ASAP

[NataliaUK]

Dear all!

My 7 week old baby girl is taking about 3-4 oz of Aptamil formula every 3 hours or so. She has about 1 poo a day? Is it normal? Today I can tell that she is straining herself, desperately wanting to poo but nothing comes out. I am new to bottle feeding, is there anything I can do to help her poo? May be give her some water before feeding or after. How much? Any othe tips would be welcome. She can#t sleep properly because of her tummy, I can see that she wriggles a lot and lifts her tummy.

Many thanks!

Natalia

[jobrown]

I had the same problem all day yesterday, I have recently changed my 5 month old from totally breastfeeding to totally bottle feeding and she was in agony yesterday.  It got to the stage where she was trying to poo and it was stuck strtching her in her anus.  I was distressed but was told to give her some fruit juice.  That hadn't worked by this morning so I was told to get a supposatry which seems to have done the trick.  I am not medically trained in any way so suggest you ask your doctor but it worked for us, she is now sound asleep upstairs!!

[mella]

when our LO was constipated I gave him diluted prune juice and that did the trick.

[woopster]

A couple of ounces of warm boiled water first thing in the morning should help too.

[Sarahlolly]

We used water when Ella was having trouble with her bm.  Seemed to work really well.

Sarah x

[Lolly]

If all else fails taking my LOs temp with a rectal thermometer usually gets results

Laura

[woopster]

How the HECK did you find that out Laura?! 

[Harper's Mommy]

My DD is always super constipated so she has a hard time (she's ff).  When worse comes to worse I stick a Q-tip in petroleum jelly and pretend I'm taking a rectal temp.  This always does the trick.  It's the only thing I've found to work when DD's in agony over trying to poo...  My friend who's a doc said you could also use your little finger (I prefer the q-tip).  Good luck!

[Lolly]

Wendy - being a paranoid FTM I have every type of thermometer going "just to make sure" and everytime I take his temp rectally I now make sure he is lying on a nappy

Laura

[woopster]

 

[NataliaUK]

Great  tips, girls! Thanks for your help. Yesterday went Ok, she managed to poo once. let's see what will happen today!

Natalia

[* Paula *]

Natalia,

Because your lo is so young, I would suggest the warm boiled water first thing in the morning.  I would not suggest any juices at this age.

If you are finiding that your lo is struggling more and more, I would then chat to your HV or GP to see what they suggest.  My DS suffered terribly from constipation, and they ended up putting him on Lactulose, which helps soften their BM, and makes it easier for them to go.

Please keep us posted on how you get on.

Paula

[Johno & Aurelias Mum]

You'll get the same effect as lactulose (as its just a sugar) if you put 1/4 teaspoon of demerara sugar in every other bottle.  It doesn't make it taste any different and should do the trick within about 24 hours.

[* Paula *]

I would discuss adding anything to your lo's bottles with your Health Visitor or GP.

It might be worth chatting to your GP about your lo's constipation and see what their recommendations are.

Please keep us posted on how you get on.