Constipation

Andrea - posted on 06/28/2010

I know what they are my daughter had lower GI problems. It's been a while she 11. I know a while back my Dr was telling they were talking about not having them over the counter mainly because of over use I have looked for them as I haven't need them since she was little.I also didnt see what she said till after I posted, that was my bad.



To Paula my daughter was to told by a specialist that she will grow out of she had issue from the time she was born till she was 4.

Sherri - posted on 06/28/2010

Yes the still sell the glycerin suppositories over the counter and her dtr already recommended them. Glycerin is naturally found in food they are not drugs.

Andrea - posted on 06/28/2010

My daughter had major constipation problems when she was little. It start as a baby and lasted till she was 4. We tryed everything of course under the care of a dr. Prune jucie, karo sryup, we did the the thermometer dipped in vaseline like you taking a temp you just wiggle it around or little bit. Glycerin suppository which i would never suggest with out talking to your Dr
I'm not even know if they sale them for baby's over the counter any more I know they was talking about taking them of the self and having the dr prescribe them. I could go on and on.

The best thing you can do is find a dr that will listen to you, if your dr is telling youit normal find a new one. It's not normal there's a reason for it.

Stephanie - posted on 06/28/2010

Hi there, the safest way, what I really prefer, since my babies were born, and did the same with my grandchild, is to take a cottonbud and dip into vaseline. Slide it slowly into the (just the tip of the cottonbud) baby's rectum, with both his/her legs held up with your other hand. Believe me, not long, the baby will give results, with no pain at all!

Abbey - posted on 06/27/2010

I used "onion tea". One whole onion cut into 4's and oil with water. Once its cooled down, give it to her one oz, then 2, and some forth, my daughter LOVED it, she farted and farted then pooped and it also helped her sleep

Courtney - posted on 06/27/2010

Ehhh I had the same problem. I switched my son to Soy formula and it got worse! The only thing that worked was switching him to Similac Sensitive. He was a comp. diff. baby after that.

Allison - posted on 06/26/2010

My daughter had a big problem with constipation and when I took her to the doc about it they told me to use Barley Cereal in her formula..it really helped too. The Barley cereal is sometimes hard to find.I could only find it at one grocery store and at Toys R Us. Maybe you could try that! Hope that helps!!

Brianna - posted on 06/26/2010

Thanks everyone and Sherri yes my doc has recommended that and i was only going to use that in extreme cases I just started using the karo i dont give it to her everyday so far she seems to b doing a little better and she gets the enfamil gentlease i think it does have iron in it um i havent really talked to her doctor directly since its gotten so bad usually its the nurse that answers but monday im asking to speak to or request an appointment with her doctore because we are on wic and if i have to change to soy milk i think i need a doc note. Today I did give her 2oz before her actual milk and i didnt give her the 2 scoups like the directions on the formula says and so far she seems to b doin better she did a little it wasnt her normal my issues is i dont want to keep having to treat her for this with meds amd no i havent heard giving her a laxative. Thanks for all the help this issue has been off and on for like a month now because thats when i was forced to stop breastfeeding her

Amy - posted on 06/26/2010

Try infant acidophilus. I also use earths organics milk derived formula. There are also goats milk formulas that are awesome...

Paula - posted on 06/26/2010

my child has been constipated since he was 6 months old he is now 2 and a half and still very constipated, unfortunately i have been to specialists with him ans all i have been told was that he will have to grow out of it and they gave me movical sachets,the sachets are good but they have to be used long term and i try not to give them too often but my child is suffering terribly and i don't understand why he has to grow out of it and after reading a reply above that one baby's intestine was swollen i am very angry and frightened now but i have been several times to the hospital and sachets are all i get

Kerri - posted on 06/26/2010

Try giving her cooled boiled water every now and then in her bottle to try and ease off the constipation, when she starts eating it will be easier when you can give her food which can help her go easier, it is horrible seeing them like that my daughter was crying each time she needed to go a few weeks ago, I was still giving her water and breastfeeding so it all depends i doubt there is much a dr can do other than advissing what you are already doing with the prune juice just hope it gets better x

Kristy - posted on 06/26/2010

Both of my children had problems with constipation. Try changing the formula, it can make a huge difference. See if you can find one with a bit less iron in it. If not then do try another brand as it can still make a huge difference. Also you can try watering down a few bottles to see if this helps but if it hasn't improved by now then you should try another formula. Hope this helps.

Cheryl - posted on 06/25/2010

Check your formula; does it have iron in it? could be the culprit.. same thing happened to my youngest.. I switched to the non iron formula, it helped. With your doctor's advice you can use a little baby enema bulb with water to get her thru this rough period! Is there any baby laxatives out there?? Make her formula wi a very weak tea made from Smooth Move or other laxative tea.. again ask the doctor about this!!

Sherri - posted on 06/25/2010

For everyone's information: Glycerine suppositories are helpful to relieve your child if there is some hard stool that just won't come out easily. The suppository melts in the heat of the rectum and lubricates the stool. Glycerine also has a mild effect of attracting water into the stool, which softens it. The act of insertion also serves to stimulate the rectum and anus to initiate the defecation reflex. (Glycerine is completely safe - it is a food, found in candy, not a drug.).

Here is also another option since everyone here seems to be against the suppository for what ever bizarre reason:

I use a lot of Karo® corn syrup for bottle feeders with constipation. It is my first choice recomendation; it almost always works if used properly. Unfortunately, many doctors and nurses don't use it properly, get poor results, and don't recommend it as often as they should. I start with two measuring teaspoons in every formula bottle, regardless of size, and adjust the dose up or down depending on how things are going. Usually, the baby can be weaned off the Karo pretty soon, but may need to stay on it periodically for the first few months of life. It is very important to put the corn syrup in the formula and not give it in between in water. The excess corn syrup does not get digested very well - the baby is already digesting all the sugar he can from the formula. The excess sugar passes down to the colon and produces a sugar diarrhea similar to sorbitol (as below, prunes, apple juice).

Veronica - posted on 06/25/2010

Try a bottle of water before the formula. You may need to feed in smaller amounts and more frequently, but the water could really help.
As for the struggling to poop situation, tryputting the baby wipe over your finger, and put a little bit of pressure on her rectum- not actually putting a finger in, but push a little, and the nerves will react by contracting more, assisting with the poop.

Those are the only things I feel comfortable with recommending without telling you to ask your doctor. Any formula switches should be a joint decision with your pediatrician.
Good luck!

Angie - posted on 06/25/2010

I have to agree with Jennifer. Don't give your baby suppositories unless your doctor thinks that her case is extreme. It's not healthy except in extreme circumstances.

Sherri - posted on 06/25/2010

Well my pediatrician recommended them and they worked beautifully for my baby and now he is 4 yrs old. It was the switch from breastfeeding to formula that caused the constipation until his body could get used to the change.

Jennifer - posted on 06/25/2010

I have a nephew who had a constipation problem as well...& it was looked into a little late...now he has a swollen intestine...but thankfully it was detected before it got really worse...I know your baby is only 3 months old & controlling diet cannot be the answer...try talking to ur doc again or ask another doc, do not let this continue....trust me....u do not want to see your child try to get the poop out the way you give birth...sorry if i've scared you....my doc says laxatives should be the last option...coz the kids system shouldn't get used to pooping only with an aid...

Sherri - posted on 06/25/2010

I was told to use a baby laxative it is a glycerin suppository. You stick into there bum and squirt in about half a tube and it worked within 5-10mins. Was my life saver. You can find it in any pharmacy in the baby aisle.

Jasleen - posted on 06/25/2010

i am so sorry abt that but have u tried changing the formula maybe?
take 2-3 golden raisins and boil and crush them in abt 2 cups of water. when this happened to my son,i used to mix his 1 intake of formula with that water or simply made him sip 2-3 teaspoons of water.It worked like miracle.

Angie - posted on 06/25/2010

Poor baby :( That's one of the downsides to formula. Check with your doctor and and see if she suggest a different formula.

Becca - posted on 06/25/2010

Have you tried to change formulas or asked your doctor about using one with less iron? Also, it may be a good idea to double check to make sure that you are mixing it correctly and it's not thicker than it should be.

Tara - posted on 06/25/2010

It's not normal and it is usually caused by too much iron in their formula, or by cows milk as the protein source in the formula. Have you considered switching to soy based formula?

I didn't bottle feed, but I've heard it is easier on their stomach and perhaps you find one that doesn't have too much iron.



Your baby is 3 months now, prune juice is NOT recommended by any health care provider as a solution to constipation in infants and should not be given to babies under 6 months and then as strained prunes not juice. It's the fibre you're after not the water.



What all too often happens with babies is they become constipated and the nerve endings in their lower bowel become deadened so that their bodies don't feel the urge to go on a regular basis, not until their bowel is so stretched that they can't help but go but by then the poop has been in their colon so long, the water has been reabsorbed causing it to be hard and dry. This leads to pain and then to with holding because it hurts... which leads to more constipation and potential serious problems including anal fissures and hemorrhoids.



Sorry this was so long, but it's not something to ignore, talk to another doctor. Keep track of when she goes and if it's enough in your opinion. Do this for a week or two while you wait to see someone new, so that you can show them and explain that it has been going on for ____ number of days/months etc.

Good Luck

Tara

Shawna - posted on 06/25/2010

I know thats when i started using formula at about the same age and he was getting constipated almost every other day it seemed at the time i would talk to your pediatrician about it my pediatricia suggested using Miralax about a tsp in 4oz of formula when he was constipated seemed to do wonders for my son and hes now almost two and we use the miralax my once in 6 mos or so now

Brianna - posted on 06/25/2010

O and she's almost 3mths now it seem to only be getting worse