Help with Constipation - Saint Clair Shores,MI

Constipation is NOT defined by the lack of stools, BUT their consistency. If they are dry, hard and difficult to pass, that is constipation. If the baby does not seem uncomfortable and the stomach is not hard, then it is probably nothing to worry about.

Is your baby breastfed? My son went through this around 11-12 weeks. He once went 12 days without a bm! I freaked out and went to a La Leche League meeting. When I told them what was going on, I had about five mothers tell me that they went through the same thing at that age and that it does pass. The leader said that he was probably just going through a growth spurt and using everything in the milk.

As a general rule, breastfed babies do NOT suffer from constipation.

If the prune juice and Karo Syrup (which I can't believe a doctor would suggest, isn't that corn syrup? Corn syrup is nasty stuff, healthwise and corn is one of the most common allergens and should be avoided by babies) aren't doing anything and your baby doesn't seem uncomfortable, then chances are great that he is just growing.

1 mom found this helpful

Try not to worry - your little one is not in any danger yet and he'll poop when he's ready. My son went nine days once when he was about that age. Just be ready for when he does poop though - it'll be a big one! :)

This is going to sound and be very gross and disgusting, but it worked on my youngest son when he was a newborn (he went on a pooping strike - for 6 weeks unless i did this to him every other day he would not poop on his own). Take a little bit of vaseline and dab it on his butt as well as the tip of a thermometer or q-tip, and stick it in like you would be taking a rectal temp, only gently twirl it around a bit. Make sure his legs are pulled up and back like when you change his diaper and that there is a diaper under him. Soon enough it will come oozing on out. It is not pleasant at all but it does work, and i was told to do this from my pediatrician. I actually took him in for the constipation and the doctor did the exact same thing herself then told me to go ahead if nothing else works. Good luck and hopefully your little ones insides will be back to normal soon enough!

I had the same problem with my daughter when she was an infant. The problem ended up being the formula. We switched her from a regular formula to one more gentle on her stomach (we used Enfamil Gentlease). The doctor gave us samples so that we did not have to spend money buying formula until we were able to find one that worked. Gentlease worked after 2-3 days, and we didn't have the problem with constipation again. (If Gentleease had not worked, the next thing the doctor would have tried is soy, and if that didn't work then the last shot would have been Nutramagen)

After a bath massage his belly in large circles in a clockwise fashion. This is the direction in which waste moves through the intestines. It worked really well for me. Good luck!

When I had that issue with young infants my peditrician also told me to take a rectal temp. I would just do a normal rectal temp and move it a tad bit more than usual. I was told that would stimulate the muscles and help get things moving. If they didn't poop right then and there it was usually with in the hour. I never had to give any kind of juice or meds as this always worked on all 3 boys.

Hi!

Don't give your son any bananas at all and go easy on the dairy 1st off. Then try to get him to drink a full sippy cup of prune juice mixed with water a drop of mineral oil and maybe a shot of fav juice 2 give it a flavor he'll like. This works every time for our son. It may take a few days, but it works. A warm bath will help get the stool out also. My son has been battling with constipation since I stopped nursing him at 9 months. He has a stool once or twice a week and its usally big. Some times he'll go more than others, but on average its 1-2 stools a week. We give him the mixed juice drink when he is having trouble or has not gone for more than 3 days and it works every time. I also have him sit in a warm bath and that makes him feel like he has to go. Good Luck and feel free to ask me any questions! M.

Is he uncomfortable? If not, I wouldn't worry. My son is 7 months and he went through the same thing, I think even around 11 weeks. It freaked ME out because I was so used to so many bowel movements in a day. He may be going through a growth spurt and just using all the nutrients. We went through about 2 weeks where he only had 1 movement a week, and then he was back to normal. Unless he is super uncomfortable, I wouldn't worry too much.

Hi K. my name is
jen, I live in Howell and I have a 17 month old daughter who had the same problem. I gave her babylax which was recommended by her doctor. it's a laxative that is given in the rectom so it's more gentle on the baby's stomach. give that to him and it works within a couple of hours. Also a good thing to give is yogurt. Good luck! and take care.
Jen

Dear K.

We used glyserin suppositor for my 9 week baby as she was constopated for 5 days according to doctors advice. Talk to your doctor. It worked and now she is regular(7 month). We had to give prune juice regularly for a while.

C.

They told me to try the karo syrup and prune juice also and it did nothing. I used the suppository every now and then. They don't like you to use it a lot. Even if you get the pediatric ones you will need to shave it down and make it smaller. I don't know if you are nursing or using formula.........when I switched him to nestle good start formula that also helped. Constipation is a big issue in babies and they don't really have a cure all! :) :)

I have the same problem with my daughter. I have found that giving the Libby's Juicy Juice for a couple of days that it works as a natural laxative. If I don't do this then I have to give her a prescription laxative. Hope this helps.

I had twins that where in the NICU for over 6 weeks. My son had constipation often. They would give him a small sliver of a supository and insert it w/ a q-tip and vaseline.
Once we got home my daughter had issues and I did not feel comfortable giving her supository so I just put a ton of vaseline on a q-tip and gently put some in her bum and around to help it come out easier. (this was a tip from a NICU nurse who told me to never let the doctors know she told me to do this)So obviously you must be very very gentle as to not hurt him.
They do say that it can be normal for a formula baby to not go for up to 7-10 days. Seems like a long time to me!
Take care...and good luck:)