Constipated Again...may be TMI but I'm worried...

[nursemeg01]

My DD is 6 months old and we are doing a mix of BF and solids. She has 4 BF and 3 solids (sometimes 2) a day. she has had issues with constipation since starting solids. I have read the FAQ page on poo here and tried the techniques suggested. She would not have any poo for 15 days. The last time we ended up having to give her 3 laxatives (2 at home, 1 at the GP). she finally pooed at Day 17!

that was about a month ago. Since then she has daily constipated poos (just like the pics posted here). Pretty much every diaper change there is a little 'ball' that is as hard as silly putty. Sorry if that is TMI. She grunts and fusses and I can tell she is trying to go. for her solid breakfast she only has prunes, peaches, or pears. I was mixing it with oatmeal, but I have now stopped. The other 2 meals are vegetables. I have also started giving her warm juice (prune or apple) with warm water. NOTHING is working. Is there anything else I can do? The GP doesn't really seemed to be bothered but I am. should I not worry since she is passing stool daily even though they are hard as a putty?

thanks for the advice.

[Khalam's Mama]

Does she have water with each meal now she is on solids or do you let her BF on demand for a drink? Does she have a warm bath everyday? Things to avoid as I read are bananas and also I  think apples.

[nursemeg01]

I've been giving her water/juice combo in a sippy cup throughout the day. I also give her some of my water throughout the day (but I don't know if it adds up to much). She gets a bath every other night. I probably should increase her water intake but I'm worried she won't BF. She currently BF every 4 hours with solids 3x day.

[~ Vik ~]

It definitely sounds like you're doing what you can to help!

I would keep giving her those "p" fruits - pears, peaches, prunes, apricots - as they will help move things along.  Diluted prune and apple juice can be helpful too, as can just plain water.  I don't think that you have to worry about the water decreasing her interest in bfing - I would just give her some water with or shortly after her meals and you should be ok.

Khalam's mama is definitely right about avoiding bananas.  In fact, everything in the BRAT diet recommended for diarrhea (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) should be avoided if you're having problems with constipation.  All of those things can be really binding and just make constipation worse.

hth

[afeswick]

When my son had bad constipation because of the formula Neocate, our ped. told us to give him a bit of sugar water.  Apparently the sugar inhibits the intestines from reabsorbing water, thus softening the stool.  Instead of that, I actually give my son 1T of prunes, which does the trick! We also add a bit of extra water to each bottle to ensure he's well hydrated.  I agree with the other posts which warn you not to give him constipating foods such as rice and bananas.  Stick with the P fruits...though pears didn't really help that much with Ethan's constipation.  Prunes seem to be the magical fruit that makes him toot

Hope that helps!  Oh, I just got it...I always wondered what HTH at the end of people's posts were, and now I figured it out.  Duh!

[Khalam's Mama]

Prunes were the magic for us too. Sugar is actually the main ingredient in some constipation treatments so I can see how that works.

[nursemeg01]

Ok I'll try sugar water. Pears usually seem to help her go...today she had some VERY diluted pears for breakfast. She is going...but it is just very very hard and she has started crying while she is trying to go. I hate it for her. thanks for the help ladies!

[A pair of Charlies]

Really struggling to think that far back clearly but I remember pears were a winner for us, provided they were really ripe. Since then, ripe (or overripe) pears are still a winner along with dried apricots a rapid success!

I used to give DS a combo: simmered chopped dried apricots, then added chopped apples (might want to exclude those), and for last 3mins chopped ripe pear (not overripe or it's mush!). Then cool, drain well and puree to desired consistency. He wolfed it down.

HTH

Charlotte

[afeswick]

Oh, one more little trick...when your LO is trying to go to the bathroom, try using some KY lubrication to "ease" the passage.  It is heart-wrenching to hear your LO crying while trying to use the bathroom, and you don't want to start an aversion to that very necessary task.  Also, standing while pooping seemed to help our guy

[All4Love]

Does your LO get liquid vitamins everyday? My pediatrician recommended that i change from TriViSol to PolyViSol (without iron). He said the B vitamen in the PolyViSol stimulates GI motility. He also said to give peas.

[nursemeg01]

I am actually 'going rogue' with the vitamin D supplement. It really seemed to constipate her so I stopped. She went 15 days without a poo when I started them. So I figured I wouldn't worry too much since I do take her outside and I really seem skeptical that I really need to add something to 'nature.'

[All4Love]

My bottle of PolyViSol is in the room with my sleeping DS, but I will check how much Vit D is in it. And today, with all the focus on skin cancer and sun protection Americans are more likely to be Vit D deficient. Was the iron in you supplement? I didn't know Vit D was associated with constipation?

[nursemeg01]

Yes mine had iron in it---if yours doesn't it, let me know and I'll ask them to switch me.

[nursemeg01]

Ok, well nothing worked and she was incredibly fussy. I called her GP and demanded that they see her. needless to say, we are off to have an ultrasound tomorrow (to make sure there is nothing else going on) and they gave her a suppository. Let's hope something works!

[All4Love]

Another thing my old school 80 year old pedi. did (I have 2 - one young academic and 1 old dinosaur) , which may seem terrible, but he put the tip of his pinkie into my DS's anus to see if his sphincter was normal tone.

And just reading your reply - of course the bottle is still is the room with sleeping LO. I will look tomorrow.