constipation

~Roo'sMama~ wrote: Allie hasn't had a poopy diaper since tuesday. I know sometimes it's normal for breastfed babies to go that long, but normally Allie poops at least once a day and she has been really fussy these past two days, and has a lot of stinky gas. I tried giving her a bottle of water, but she wont take it. I haven't given her a bottle for a couple months and she didn't like it then... so much for me ever getting out I guess. Anyways. What else can I do? My MIL said I should try giving her some Karo syrup, but I thought that stuff was off limits now too like honey? How can I make my baby poop?

Boo&BugsMom replied: Try prune juice, or good ole suppositories. They make pediatric ones. We had to do that with Tanner...worked like a charm though.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
so prune juice would be ok even though she's only had breast milk so far? I have never given her any juice or solids yet... I've given her water one other time than today. Oh and can I get a suppository at walmart or do I have to get one from a doctor? Sheesh you would think this was my first kid I have no clue about this.

Boo&BugsMom replied: The boys ped. told me they can start having juice at 4 months. Just water it down a little so it's not so strong.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Oh, and the suppositories I have gotten at Walgreens. You shouldn't have to get a script for them or anything. I've never looked for them at Walmart but I wouldn't be surprised if they had them too.

Kaitlin'smom replied: have you tried laying her on her back and moving her legs around, bicyle, and back and forth twards her tummy? sometimes that works to help get things moving. My niece was having problems she went for nearly 1 week I told her to try that and it worked, in fact she pooed 3 times that day. Now she is going about once every 3-4 days.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Ok thanks Jennie!! I don't have any prune juice but I'll try some apple juice when she wakes up from her nap. I'll see if Dh can pick up a suppository on his way home from work too. Thanks for your help!

Di ~ I have been bicycling her legs and pushing them up towards her tummy. That's a good suggestion... I've tried that before with her and it's worked but it's not working this time.

Kaitlin'smom replied: hope the juice works, maybe even a gentil massage both the tummy and lower back

Calimama replied: I do the bicycle movements while she's in a warm bath. Then I massage below her belly button with lotion and add a little juice to her formula. Works wonders.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
That's a good idea ~ I was going to try a warm bath tonight but I forgot and put her in bed. I'll try it tomorrow with the massage. I tried to give her some juice but I can't get her to take a bottle.

jcc64 replied: With a baby that age, I think I'd hold off on the suppositories until checking with the ped first.
Fwiw, they never worked with my kid- but then again, she was alot older- closer to 2.
I was told by my ped to use the Karo syrup when she was an infant, but I don't remember that working too well either.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I used some Karo syrup with Logan a couple times. It always worked and pretty fast. I just put about a teaspoon into some warm water (2-3 ounces) and he liked the taste better than plain water and drank it right up. Hope things get moving fast, Sara.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: This morning she pooped a little right away after she woke up. Not a lot like I'd expect after not going for 3 days. And she's still acting uncomfortable. I gave her some apple juice in a medicine dropper tonight - I still can't get her to drink out of a bottle. I massaged her tummy and back with lotion too. If she doesn't go more tomorrow I might try the karo syrup with some water in the medicine dropper... I just thought that you weren't supposed to give it to babies under 1 - that's what the WIC people tell me anyways but they're pretty picky. Dh picked up some child suppositories this morning but it said to call a dr for babies under two, and my ped is in between clinics right now and I wouldn't be able to reach her unless I called her cell phone. I almost gave her half of one, but I just couldn't make myself stick it up there.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I thought of this thread this weekend. Aiden was SUPER constipated this weekend (from the soy formula he is on). He tried for two days to get poop out. He was screaming he was in such pain. So, I gave him 1 ounce of prune juice and 1 ounce of water. He's only about 3 months, but most doctors say it's ok to use just for constipation...that's what the boys doctor has told me anyways. When that didn't help (I think I gave it to him too late) hubby went out and got some suppositories. I or hubby usually ask the phamacist at Walgreens when we get them. They know way more about medicines that doctors do, IMO, since they study medicine a lot more in depth than doctors. He gave us these liquid ones...reminds me of an enima (gross), but...within 2 minutes he pushed so much poop out it was unreal!!! The label said 2 and up, but the pharmacist said it's ok on babies. So, we used it and they worked like a miracle. He also said that the liquid will work much faster and is much safer than the solid glycerin ones.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Oooh thanks for telling me this Jennie. I never did use one of the glycerin ones on Allie. I'll have to go ask our pharmacist for the kind that you've got if we keep having trouble. Allie did poop again yesterday morning, but she hasn't yet today. She is a little less uncomfortable though, in fact she seems fine most of the time, but she's not as content as she normally is and when I feed her she starts grunting and pushing like crazy while she's eating.

darycksmom replied: My 4 wk old is in the same situation.. his ped said just to give him 1oz of prune juice in the morning and one at night. He is breastfed but also supplemented w/ formula.. i just mix it w/ about an oz of formula and it works great! She told me that if he starts to poop too much:) then to lessen the juice.. but it has worked great for him!