I'm desperately in need of a naturalpath / homeopath etc, in nyc, who is pediatric or will see children! Please send any information on docs you know..... also, if anyone has advise on what my son's gut is going through, kindly read below and send your thoughts, they are all appreciated. Thanks, Mamas!
My son, who just turned 3, is constipated. Thing is, he has never, ever been a once-a-day kid from the day he was born, even on %100 breastmilk for the first 8 months of his life. We have seen a few naturalpaths, homeopaths, etc. All have said that if he could go for 2-4 days without a bowel movement even when he was purely breastfed, it must just be how his body works and its fine, but for the first time in his life he is now showing signs of constipation: its been 5 or 6 days since he passed a b.m. and he is complaining of his belly hurting, of his poop hurting, and he asks to go sit on the toilet frequently (every 20 min or so) for the last 2 days. Clearly something needs healing, but I am wondering if anyone knows anything to do before we give him a laxative or a suppository. Here's what we've tried already:
We have been giving him the following, all of which he takes happily: jarrow's "baby bifidus" pro-biotics, lotsa prunes and prune juice, oatlmeal with flaxseed, flaxseed oil, licorice and peppermint teas, freshly juiced apple/carrot/beet/parsley/spinach juices with a bit of honey, and lots of water and broths. ive massaged his belly, given him a daily bath with epsom salts, and let him sit on the potty as long as he wants (he's been just on the toilet for a few months and without "training", ive never seen him "hold it" while he's playing to avoid going to the toilet to pee or poop. he's been very active (nothing less than normal).... so, I have no idea what to do now. Please help! Thank you!!!
Ahhhhhhh! He did it. I called his dad when i left work this morning (day 7 of no b.m.!) and he said yes, go get all that stuff at the drug store, the humphreys, glicerine, stool softeners, all of it.... and when I get home, I hear applause from the bathroom! So, we have all this stuff if there is a next time. Thank you everyone for your responses they were really helpful!!!
There's an amazing homeopathic drugstore on Park Avenue just below Grand Central on the Southwest corner (at 40th or 41st Streets). Can't remember the name. They are incredibly knowledgeable at the help desk there. Good luck!
There is a natural product called Humphrey's. They have one for teething, constipation, and others. It's an old time remedy. So it's worth a try. I know Wal-Greens has some of them. Hope it works.
go see the pharmacist and ask for the children glycerin gel and insert in and squeeze his butt so that it doesnt come out and in a few minutes he will feel the urge and believe me, he will have a bowel movement.
Our son had severe and recurring constipation a couple of months ago. We had to resort to a glycerin suppository which was traumatic but very effective. After that we finally broke the pattern by regularly feeding him whole grain toast with lots of seeds. He no longer has this problem - whew!
Also I can recommend an excellent Chinese medicine practitioner (acupuncture, herbs, massage etc) who works near Union Square and has many child patients, as well as moms, moms-to-be, and others. Her name is Sharon Yeung and her website is www.fiveseasonshealing.com
good luck!
Hi A.
I have a dear friend who is a Nurse Practitioner and holistic counselor. I will fwd your info to her - she is on Long Island in Suffolk County, is that too far for you?
All my best,
L. A.
###-###-#### bus
###-###-#### cell
###-###-#### fax
Going green while working from home
www.ahealthyworld.com
Dear A.---
Problem solved! I had the exact same problem with my 3 year old son and it was awful. He would cry because he was in so much pain. Finally I saw a Dr. who told me to try "Miralax" in his juice. It worked like a charm! He still takes it and it has no harmful side effects. The Dr. said his would help train is "digestive system" to do what is should do. He said that by age 3, there is a problem if the child is still so constipated on a regular basis. (Obviously)
I was getting desperate as well as my son was 3 1/2 and would not go #2 in the toilet because it was so painful for him. I am so glad I decided to try it. I am slowly starting to wean him off it now, about 6 months later. I added a half capful to his juice in the mornings and he still has no idea I am doing this. It is completely tasteless. Now I add a half capful every other day.
Within a few days he was going #2 in the toilet by himself with no problems at all and has been doing it ever since. I had tried just about everything else as well, but this was the only thing that worked. Our Dr. said he will grow out of it eventually. Good luck!
Perhaps a stool softner will help. I don't know of natural options but as someone who recently gave birth can tell you, eating lots of fiber can make it difficut to have a bm even if you really want to. A stool siftner may make it much less painful and stress provoking for him. Good luck.
A little natural aloe vera juice is great for the stomach and intestines as it contains natural enzymes to help food breach down and extract vitamins from foods (job of small intestines). So, if you've got a plant, put a little aloe vera gel in some juice (try mango or peach which also aids digestion). These are gentle and natural so they can not hurt the child when taken in small quantities with food.
Other foods: Greens (you can also juice greens - which become mostly water and then add an apple to it for sweetness.
Most important: Water - perhaps a half a cup every hour or so...
Hi A.,
My suggestion is a visit to my chiropracter/homeopath "Dr. Bob" Capuano, who is unfortunately out in East Bumf--- aka Patchogue. Having said that, I will tell you that I used to have migraines, hot flashes, and was on anti-depressants, and I am now popping supplements/vitamins and am FREE!!! of all of the above. More importantly and appropriate to your request, I was told my son had asthma when he couldn't get rid of a cough at 4 years old. Dr Bob did his thing and the cough was gone within 2 months, no asthma meds (they wanted to put him on Singulair and an inhalant). It is a pain to get out there, but he has people come in from out of state to see him so I guess he's on to something, eh? His number is ###-###-####; tell them you want a nutrition appt. not chiropractic, and tell them A. sent you. (I like brownie points)
My pediatrician is Dr.Stuart Ditchek, who wrote a book on treating children the natural approach, and he is in Brooklyn which is a little easier to get to. (check him out online--he's also got a great line of vitamins that taste like chocolate). Still, Dr. Bob is worth the trip for unusual issues that seem more systemic and chronic.
Good luck!
Hi, I know a great acupuncturist, she is a doctor in Chinese medicine , who has treated one of my friends 3 year old boy for constipation. He his doing great now.
Her name is Christiane Mauro and her office is on 14th Street, between 5th and 6th Aves. Phone number ###-###-####.
Good luck!
There is a terrific group of doctors at a place called The Continuum Center for Health and Healing at 245 5th Avenue. There are two GP's that I take my 4 year old son to see, he's been going since he was born, Dr. Benjamin Kligler, and Dr. PAmela Hops. There is also a pediatrician/homeopath there that we've never seen, is fairly new there, but I will see the next time my son gets ill. They are all holistically inclined, and share our particular philosophy regarding intervention and drugs. ###-###-####, and www.HealthandhealingNY.org
Good luck.
I also have a 3 year son whose constipated alot, were toilet training him and he would never make a bm on the toilet but he would urinate so one day i asked him why won't he make a bm on the toilet? his reply was that it's stuck, my husband and i took him to the pediatrician and she gave me a list of different things to give him and she also said that i can give him a stool softner and that's just what i did to Walgreens or any drug store and picked up Fleet brand stool softner for toddlers and i gave it to him in his juice and i have not had any more problems with constipation with him. A. W.
