Constipation in Newborn

My son had a similar problem. It is normal for babies to start having BMs every 2-3 days as they get older. However, my son was also cranky on that last day. The doctor recommended that I use prune juice (1 oz of water mixed with 1 oz of prune juice). Use it once per day as necessary. I only needed to use it every couple of days and actually weaned him off of it as his BMs improved. Now at 4 months he no longer needs any prune juice. Hope this helps.

Hi J.-
My daughter is now 5 mos old, but when I stopped breastfeeding at 8 weeks, she too was constipated for a while. For almost a month she was only having a bowel movement every other day to every 3 days, as opposed to several times a day when I was breastfeeding. My doctor suggested feeding her 1 oz apple juice mixed with 1 oz water, only when I felt she was constipated. I did this probably 4-5 times in a 2 week span, and EVERY time she went within 15 minutes. After 2-3 weeks, she began what is now her "normal" schedule of about once a day. It's worth a shot...good luck.

try white karo syrup 1 tablesoon in 4 oz it is a very old method but works, my grandson (14 months) had this problem and white karo still works like it did when i was a baby 50+ years ago and it is gentle on them J.

Constipation in little ones, especially newborns, is so frustrating and a little scary. Both my boys had problems with it early on (like 10 days average, 2 weeks max). We've tried everything mentioned here (karo syrup, apple/pear juice, prune juice, thermometer, suppositories, Miralax) and I've spent hours and hours, probably days, researching as my 4.5 yo continues to be chronically constipated. The 2 year old seemed to move out of it once he started solids (he was breastfed). Constipation is often a sign of food sensitivity which is especially common when babies guts are still developing and are "leaky," until around six months on average. Both my boys were sensitive to dairy. My second was sensitive to a host of other foods in my breastmilk until he was about seven months old and I suspect if I'd known to try eliminating with my oldest I'd have found that he was sensitive as well. I know that doesn't help much since you're baby is on formula. You could switch to a non-dairy formula but soy is a very poor alternative (I can give you information on why if you're interested) and the hypo-allergenic is very expensive, although very helpful and necessary for babies who are intolerant of dairy and soy. Using the iron-free formula for most feedings is a wonderful idea.

The thermometer trick is probably the safest for an 5 week old. It just stimulates the bowels to go. Warm baths can do the trick for other babies. The fruit juices are probably the next safest, although I have seen recommendations not to use before 3 months. The sugar draws extra fluid into the bowel and softens the stool. Corn (Karo brand) syrup or just plain table sugar dissolved in water can be used at about 1 tsp. per 4 oz for corn syrup and 1tsp per 1 oz for table sugar. Give one ounce of either solution 2xs a day until stool softens. Too much sugar or juice can cause gas and bloating and then you have a cranky baby for other reasons :) If she goes several days and seems really miserable then you might consider Baby-lax suppositories. Use the kind that is squirted instead of the suppositories that need to held in place. Miralax, formerly by perscription, but now an OTC drug, was suggested but I'd highly advise against it's use for a baby or any other child (or adult for that matter). It has not been tested or approved for use in anyone under 18 and has been used off-label without adequate testing. Lots of parents have found their children develop serious issues after using Miralax, from tics to increases in autistic behavior to oxalate dumping. For those with older children who have chronic constipation like my son, there are numerous alternative treatments with varying results for each individual. My son does well on magnesium citrate powder and prune juice. Since your little girl is only 5 weeks old you probably won't ever have to worry about that issue. Good luck, I hope you're able to find some comfort and relief for your daughter.

Why don't you use babies magic tea to soothe your child from constipation.It's natural and free of preservatives.

Hi J.
I had the same problem with my second daughter over a year ago and 15 years ago with my first born but I knew it was the formula so my Doctor changed her formula to Nutramigen and after that she never had any problem. My first daughter was changed to the same formula and after that the problem of constipation was over.
I hope this helps you, put your foot down when you go to the doctor and them know you want the formula changed you are not going to put your daughter thru misery.
Good luck
from
Lilly

J.,

The same thing happened with my first child. I tried to breastfeed but later switched to formula. When she had trouble going to the bathroom, my pediatrician recommended that we put a teaspoon (it actually might have been a tablespoon - ask you pediatrician) of dark karo syrup in her bottle when she is constipated (do not do this with every bottle). My daughter would be having a bowel movement before she even finished her bottle when we did this. It worked perfectly.

J.,

I had that problem with my daughter too. I used a dollop of corn syrup in her formula. She loved it and I only had a problem one time after that when I used the thermometer method. I started using the corn syrup at 2 weeks, it is ok for babies and it does work.

E.

I had a similar problem, but also was told it was nothing to worry about. He would have a BM about every third day. We recently went down south for a vacation, and I used the tap water there and all of a sudden he began to have more regular BMs. Since returning home I have started to use bottled water and it seems to have helped. I really think that in my case it has something to do with hard water. Don't know if anyone else has ever heard of this, but something to try if you are using tap water for bottles

With my first son, I had to supplement and breastfeed when he was a newborn. (Eventually I was able to solely breastfeed). I called then ped after being home 2 days from the hospital because my baby hadn't pooped and Breastfed babies were suppose to pooped several times a day. By day 3 he had finally. This just continues to be he's pooping schedule. He only went every 2-3 days, even once he was off the formula. At 4.5 yrs he still only goes every 3-4 days and they are so massive they usually clog the toilet. When he was an infant his poopy diapers always "exploded". I just had to except that this is how his system works. Son #2 pooped with every feeding at first and now at 11 mths goes a couple of times a day.
We've started the oldest on daily fiber as the doctor recommended but it doesn't seem to make a difference in the frequency, just seems to be less painful. He was waiting so long and getting so constipated that he would scream in pain when he had to go, which led to him not wanting to go, which led to messy underpants. You may have to give her fiber when she's older but I don't know that they have anything for babies as young as yours.

Oh, and look at the stool in the dirty diaper. If it's moist and soft and a nice brownish color, then she's not really constipated. If its hard and dry and very dark then she is constipated and something should be done. Call your doctor again and insist if its the latter.

Hello!
The same thing happened to my little girl. (when i switched from breastfeeding to forumula) It was awful. I called our nurse and she said to give the baby 2ounces of pear juice. Boy did it do the trick! My baby was 3months old at the time..
I would just double check since your baby is still so young.
I do pear juice regularly now
Good luck
C.

I had same problem while switching from Breast to the same formula. Nurse told me DARK Karo 1/4 TSP per 2 oz of formula. I also stimulated her rectum when I saw that she was straining to go. WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!!!

My pediatrician told me you can add one teaspoon of dark Karo syrup to every 2oz of formula. It may take a couple of bottles before kicking in, but I did this with both of my sons and it worked great. (It may sound strange, but my mom said they used to have to make the formula when we were little and Karo syrup was one of the ingredients.) The formula has so much iron in it that they get constipated and with both of mine, around 5 or 6 weeks, they got to a point like you are describing. I added the corn syrup for a few days and eventually they got passed it. Don't try changing the formula yet, just let her get through this and she'll be fine. My sister-in-law has a 7 week old and is going through the same thing right now. Every now and then during their first year, I would have to add some corn syrup to their bottles, but not often. After they start eating baby food, you can give them prunes and that works like a charm! Hope your daughter feels better soon.

My son had the same problem right around the same age as your daughter. My pediatrician told us to give him a teaspoon of prune juice with every bottle or every other bottle. We did every other bottle and it worked great. We used this method for about a month or so and he was fine. Plus, he loved the prune juice!

Good luck!
-K.

Hello-
My son was a premmie (now 5) and has had numerous GI problems including frequent constipation. We have him on Miralax now, a "non-drug" that really helps! My good friend also uses it for her daughter, but I'm not sure if it's OK for babies. I would ask about it though at your Dr.'s office.
My other suggestion would be to maybe change your formula to a more healthy one - they do make natural and organic formulas that I'm sure would be better on your baby's system. Then get a second opinion from another Pediatrician b/c anyone who thinks it's OK for waste and toxins to stay in your body for up to four days, doesn't seem like they're too concerned about your baby. Feel free to write me back if you'd like.
____@____.com.

I have heard that soaking in a warm bath where her bottom half is submerged in the water for about 10 minutes would help. I never tried it with my kids, but maybe it could help your little girl.
Good luck!

J.-
My daughter had a couple bouts of constipation as an infant, and though what we did seems a little strange, it worked. My mom's a nurse, and she used to work in the neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital. She said that when their babies were constipated, they'd take a tiny sliver of a bar of soap and insert it into the rectum. (Make sure it's not antibacterial soap.)
We did this, and within about 15-20 minutes, my daughter had a BM like you wouldn't believe!
Though this sounds strange, you'll find that at the store, they sell glycerin tablets for the same purpose. Since there's glycerin in bar soap, you're doing the same thing just for a lot less money.
Good luck!

It may sound old fashioned, but 15 years ago my mom told me to give my baby a half a bottle of warm water with a little sugar in it for constipation. Worked like a charm!

I had the same problem with my daughter. I was told by my pediatrician to add Karo syrup (the dark kind) to her bottle. I can't remember how much to add, I remember it looked like a lot, but it did give my little one relief, I guess it just softens things up.

good luck

My daughter is 3 and has been constipated since birth. She took regular formula, soy formula (worst for babies with pooping problems) and then Enfamil Nutramigen. It's expensive, but if you can't breastfeed, it's the best I found for her. Now that I have a second baby that eats like a little piggy, I'm feeding her 2oz breastmilk with 2oz Similac ready to feed sensative. she's shown no change in her bowel movements with the formula addition. With the 3 year old, we use a lower dosage Miralax that I got from the Doctor. It's a cheap prescription that you mix in their milk once or twice per day. Just a word of advice, no matter what you try, you have to get on it fast before her colon becomes enlarged and impacted. Once that happens, it'll be a very long time before it can get back down to size. My 3 year old holds it in still, even after being potty trained, b/c it hurts her to go due to the fact she has been constipated sooo much her whole life. Only if I knew then what I know now. Also you can use infant glycerin sopositories or infant enema. You have to do what you have to do when the time comes. Do not let this slide. Some kids don't go every day, but when you push into 4-5 days they can become toxic and get an extremely high fever (emergency room fever) because their body starts to fight against the backed up stool. Remember what you would feel like after 3-4 days of not going. They are so much smaller and need so much more attention. Good Luck!

Are you using the formula with iron? That can cause constipation.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/constipation-iron-suppleme...

You might try the formula without iron and then just give the one with iron on occasion.

i would try simalic Alimentium that is what i switched my son too when he was about between 4 to 8 weeks old because of that very same reason and it worked like a charm

First off, are you using powder formula? I too was breast-feeding my little one and when I switched to powder formula he became constipated. I then switched to liquid concentrate (they may have ready serve) and he did better. I know my grandmother has always told me to put a little kayro syrup in his bottle when he gets constipated and that'll get him moving. I didn't have to do that at 5 weeks old but I did start doing it around 12 weeks when I stopped breast-feeding. I would try about a 1/2 teaspoon of kayro in her bottle. See if that works. My pediatrician wanted me to use a suppository and I refused. The longer you can go without forcing medication down their throats the better. I say use what God created and give her the syrup. But I would definitely see how the liquid formula works if you are using powder.

Karo syrup is what my nurse told me to do. Worked great. I also liked that it wasn't medicine and i didn't need to mess with her butt.

Good luck

I've heard that formula fed babies do have less BMs than breastfed. if she's not having trouble passing waste, and not uncomfortable, I wouldn't worry.

My nephew had the same problem. Although it sounds really nasty, my sister-in-law's doctor had told her to use a thermometer as if you are checking his temperature (rectal). It worked for them (within minutes the poor baby had a very EXTREME bowel movement!), and I know it's gross, but it's just a suggestion!

I had this same problem with my daughter but not until she was about 5 months old. She had such a hard time trying to go to the bathroom she got a hemmroid!! It was HORRIBLE. I was told to try juices (apple, pear or prune) but she wouldnt drink them. I eventually put 1mm of Kayro DARK (if you use the syrup make SURE it is DARK) syrup in her morning and night bottle. That seemed to help....also gave her liquid suppositories. I tried the hard supp. and those were a nightmare but the liquid worked wonders.....Good luck I know how awful it is to seem your child in so much pain...