Help Constipation!!!

sunrosejenn wrote: Just got off the phone with the sitter. Eliana is having a hard time with pooping. When she tries to go it hurts and she screams. She pooped yesterday & the day before but it hurt as well. Prior to that she hadn't gone in 3 days. She normally poops once a day and every 2 weeks she will miss 2 days of pooping. She is on 3 1/2 oz milk and 3 1/2 oz formula. She has been on this mix for about a week.

What can I do to help her? TIA!!!

Jeannette

gr33n3y3z replied: prune juice
I hope it works

aspenblue1 replied: prune or apple juice. rub belly clock wise, warm bath and you can try taking temp that works sometimes also.

sunrosejenn replied: Thanks!!! I'll call and give her the suggestions

amymom replied: Pear juice always worked for my son.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Kellie is having a similiar prob, but while it comes out, it just takes her awhile. I give apple juice almost daily, I gave her prunes (but that day or the next it did not work), I will have to also try the prune juice or pear juice.

sunrosejenn replied: just got off the phone with the sitter again ... she pooped a small hard round ball of poop but she was straining quite a bit ... Eliana's mind is so into trying to poop she doesn't want to drink to help herself ... she also has an eating issue so basically all she gets is 4 bottles 7oz each (50/50 mix formula/milk) and she gets fish crackers and gerber puffs throught the day ... foodwise she is getting 1-2 tablespoons total a day, she probably gets 2-3oz of water per day as she refuses to drink out of a sippy & we have to get her off the bottle per ST& OT & DT

safranin replied: Did she just recently start on cow's milk, like on her bday? Just a thought...if the answer is no then this won't apply, but...DS was constipated nearly his entire 1st year. He would strain and cry at least 10x/day. It got worse as the year went on. We gave him everything from juice, to upping water and veggies. NOTHING worked and we had many, many ped appts to discuss it. Turns out he's got a milk allergy. Well, we're pretty sure anyway. We pulled him off ALL cow's milk products at 18 months, per a NEW ped, and he was 100% better w/in 2 days. It was a miracle. We gave it 2 weeks of no milk products and he was a different kid. We slowly introduced like a slice of cheese back into his diet to see his reaction. Turns out he could handle a slice of cheese, but a slice of pizza constipated him for 2 days. He's been drinking either soy milk or lactaid whole milk for the last 4 months. I've done a ton of research and learned that most kids grow out of this by 2. We're up to giving him 9oz normal whole milk and not worrying about cheese intake. He's doing great! We haven't tried 2 cups of milk yet b/c we're doing it slowly so he still gets one cup of lactaid or soy a day also.

sunrosejenn replied: she is now getting 12oz of whole milk and 16oz of soy formula per day we mix the 2

started with 1oz milk and 6 soy formula - drank this for 2 weeks
then 2 milk and 5 soy formula - drank this for 2 weeks
now 3 milk and 3 soy formula - started this week

she eats alot of other dairy products, she loves cheese and yogurt and pudding and goldfish crackers and never had a problem with any of these.

with her only weigheing 16lbs 12oz currently, she needs to fat in whole milk as I'm sure she isn't going to get it from soy or lactaid milk.

i've tried apple, pear and prune juice of course not straight. none of these have worked.

this german baby tea my mom got and my uncle is sending more seems to somewhat work if she gets enough in her (this tea is not available in the US anymore due to importing laws)

sunrosejenn replied: thanks for all your help ... have an appt with her NEW PEDI tomorrow at 2pm and WIC at 11am

safranin replied: Hope you find a resolution quickly, I know how hard it is to watch them in pain.

Just an FYI...lactaid is normal whole cow's milk just with the enzyme lactase in it to break down the lactose so it is lactose free. It has the same amount of fat and protein and everything else as normal whole milk. So she'll definitely get the right amount of fat.

Maddy'sMom replied: Whole milk can cause this prob when your little one is adjusting to it, even for a month or more....my dd had this happen too. It happens even more when doing a mix of formula and whole milk.

We don't give her juice, but we've have great success with regular fruits- ones that really do the trick are of course prunes, also apricots, pears, plums- and definately veggies like peas and greeen beans...anything with lots of fiber...oatmeal too.

Aside from that, warm baths help to relax the tummy...one day we had this problem, and we stuck her in the tub to play...we no sooner had her all dressed in her pj's and the dirty diaper had arrived. It's worked a few times for us.

Rice cereal, bananas, and applesauce can also be more constipating, if she is getting any of those.

Good Luck

jlkupstas replied: Hi all, I have two children...EJ 5yrs old, and will 2 Yrs old. Both have had chronic constipation since birth or shortly thereafter. EJ has been on Merilax since 3months and Will since 2 months. So EJ has been on it for almost 6yrs. It works beautifully. It mixes in water, juice, milk .. it is colorless, odorless,and tasteless. EJ still has no idea when he is getting it! LOL I tried the prunes. pitted, mashed, juice! nOTHING WORKED. Good thing EJ loved them!! I should mention bothe are lactose intolerant. The intresting this is that once Ej was around 2 and he would have ice cream or a pudding cup. I noticed I didn;t have to give him the Meilax becasue the lactose was making him go!! So when they have milk products they get less meds!

You can do baby/infant'child suppositories, Baby lax enemas by FLEET. They work well. But, don't make a habit of it. you child can loose all control of their bowels. If you seem to get into a chronic condition, Try the Merilax or Glycolax (generic) It works well. you have to play with doseage or the kids will be peeing poop! I know GROSSE! Will takes a quarter dose every two days most times. The normal doseage is 17 grams that is measured on the cap. (Also, mirlax is as harmless as sugar syrup)

I will also warn you to NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE KYRO SYRUP. This comes straight from BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL>Best Dr.s in the world. Can cause SEVERE, DEADLY problems if aspirated. And something else but I am soo brain dead I cannot remember right now!! LOL

You could also use a Q-tip with lots of vasiline and circle around the anus., this will stimulate your child to push. Also if the BM get to the anus, getly push the skin between the anus and the tail bone, you will feel the BM, it will help to push it out. I know this is gross, butt I have been way down this road already!! GEt it BUTT lol.

Good Luck and keep us posted!
Hope I helped a little!
Jackie
EJ 02/04/00
Will 11/13/03 KYPHOSIS
Zoe 02/26/98 VATERS SYNDROME (niece)
www.zoelambert.com

scattytart replied: Also fresh orange juice can help it has with all the kids in my family hpe she feels better soon

Maddy'sMommy replied: My daughter has had constipation problems since she was 4 months old. Prune juice and other jucices didn't help. The doctor had me give her 1-2 tsp of milk of magnesia when ever she get consipated. It worked.