Constipation

[<Catherine>]

Should I be giving anything for constipation? DS2 (4 months/18 weeks) tends to go once, maybe twice, in 24 hours but every few days he struggles to go for up to 48 hours and he's in clear pain. I mentioned it to the gp but he didnt seem concerned as he's still going regularly enough, but did suggest I give him 'baby juice'. I don't even know what baby juice is.

I'm not so much 'concerned' but wonder if I should be doing something to make him more comfortable. He hasn't been since early Sunday afternoon (its now Tuesday morning) and he's been in pain overnight, struggling to feed. 

[ZacsMumme]

Hun are you giving probiotics? If not I was surprised to hear that increasing the dose can help with constipation. T had it chronically and nothing helped (all sugars made it worse!)  then when on iron tablets our bio pead said to double his probiotics. It worked! So just an option other than your usual fruit/water/juice/prunes/lactulose etc.

Hugs. Constipation is no fun

[<Catherine>]

No, not giving any probiotics, think I will do then. When he goes its very watery, almost 'foamy', and has been since stopping gaviscon (he's now on ranitidine) about a month a go.

Can I get probiotics from a chemist for him?

[ZacsMumme]

I'd get some to try if you can. They will help populate his gut with good bacteria too which reflux meds can affect.
Here we get them from health shops and chemists

Both my boys have taken something like his http://www.healthpost.co.nz/supplements-and-natural-health/digestive-health/probiotics/NWPRC/Primadophilus-Children.html
http://www.healthpost.co.nz/supplements-and-natural-health/digestive-health/probiotics/ENIHPD/Inner-Health-Plus---Dairy-Free.html
(You may be able to get ones prescribed - we did for T a while back, but I don't think it's std practice to do so YK?)

Do you think his watery ones may be leakage from constipation? Or is he definately 'going' - gross I know but when he is constipated and then goes do you see the constipated plug bit before the rest?

[<Catherine>]

No, its all watery. I don't think I've seen a 'solid' bit for weeks  So much wind, both ends.

[Fiver]

It may not be constipation.  Some BF LOs will go for several days between bowel movements and seem uncomfortable in between times, but still not be blocked up (DS was a prime example - he went up to 3 weeks at times between BMs and squirmed in between, but did 3 weeks worth to compensate when he did go!!)

The watery, foamy consistency doesn't sound quite right to me, though

[<Catherine>]

He still hasn't been. He's in so much pain at times, so uncomfortable this evening that he didnt feed

Dh went to the chemist but they wouldnt give him anything because of his age.

[ZacsMumme]

Yeah I agree with Amanda, with constipation we always had a plug or dark hard dry bits eventually or in front of a backlog. Sometimes the runny bits at the back can leak, but you would see some hard bits at some point.

How is his tummy? - hard or soft?

Are his poops green at all? - do you think you may have an oversupply and he is getting too much fore milk to lactose?

((Hugs)) why do we care so much about poop!

Just saw your post...maybe try a health shop? Probiotics are pretty harmless really, and for babies on reflux meds that reduce acid in the stomach they really do help.

[<Catherine>]

His tummy doesn't feel hard to me at all. No green poos, he has had the odd one that's been a bit green but not since these watery poos.

Read a lot online today about probiotics helping with reflux.

Wondering if he should see the gp?

[*Ali*]

If he is EBF and hasn't started solids yet then I think it is less likely he is actually constipated and will have a hard bit. Do they even do solid poos before they start solids? Mine certainly never did. Or are you combo feeding with some formula?
Could the pain be wind or reflux?

[ZacsMumme]

Yeah I'm wondering if it's gas? - intestinal gas can be very painful

Another bit of probiotic info to add to your reading
http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/alternativetherapies/probiotics/

[cuckoochick]

Hugs hun. G quite often has what seem like foamy poos (almost like mousse) but I think that sometimes is the air and force it's ejected with as they're not watery but funnily enough today she has had watery, mucousy poos just to send me in a spin. 

Is he GSing? G barely poos when she's having a GS.
Xxx

[cuckoochick]

Am also assuming you've been doing bicycle legs, baby massage etc

[cath~]

There was an article on the bbc about probiotics for babies today (albeit in relation to colic , not constipation)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24426623

Anyway, reason I mention it is that according to this article "There is no probiotic treatment parents can buy off the shelf." So you might need to ask your GP??

[ZacsMumme]

Wow, no probiotics OTC is so different to here! Maybe try a health shop? Online though sometimes I don't like online shopping stuff like that! The prescribed ones T had if you need to ask for one in particular is neocare. Or alternative is baby-biotic