My Baby Is Constipated.

Just asking...is she really constipated?

If you are breastfeeding or (since I see the word 'bottle' in your request) feeding expressed breastmilk, it could be normal that your child would go several days without a BM. Formula fed babies have their BMs a little more frequently.

When she does go, what is the stool like? If is pasty like peanut butter or is she producing small, hard, dry pellets? If it is pasty, then she's probably not constipated - just do things as you have normally been doing. If she's passing dry pellets - that's a sign of constipation.

Quite honestly, if her BMs are normal-looking then you are potentially only stressing her digestive system if you keep adding different things like karo and suppositories (these could be the things causing the gas pain). A much better alternative might be to give her a bottle with prune juice that has been heavily diluted with water.

I am really surprised that your pediatrician said to use karo syrup. That is a strict NO NO for babies. It can actually cause botulism. My advice is to keep pushing the fluids. It's hard for little ones to digest the cereal. I know she has to have it becuase of the reflux. You can also try to water her bottle down just a little bit. The extra fluid will help to move things along and she'll still get the nutrients she needs. The Mylicon gas drops are a wonder! The cheaper versions work just as well too. They help control the gas.

I agree with Cortney on the GasEx advice. They make them especially for babies. They contain simethicone which breaks up gas bubbles in the intestinal track so that they are less painful and helps them to pass. Simethicone is not absorbed into the blood stream so it's safe to give.

I would think that after giving a suppository and no BM that it would be gas, but I would highly recommend that if you give the gas drops and she is still having trouble to get an appt with your doctor.

I hope this helps and baby feels better.

Bev W

We would give our little boy apple juice watered down and that would usually help a bit. As for the gas part, GasEx tummy drops or the Little Remedies gas drops work great! A few drops and literally minutes later our son would stop fussing and be able to relax a bit. I don't know how they work but they are wonderful!

Give her a little bit of applejuice, maybe 4oz. Also prunes baby food if she can take it.

Applejuice was always reccomended.. and maybe a warm bath

I am using babies magic tea with great success for my windy and constipated girl. I would like to advice the same.

K.,

Another thing that you may want to try. My daughter had the same troubles where she wouldn't poop for days. Karo does work, but try also giving her like 1 oz of water before you feed her. I was switching her back and forth from breast milk to formula because I needed her to get used to the formula because I was heading back to work. The formula has iron in it, which can bind babies up. Do NOT give Karo too many times though. That's what the doctor's office told me.

So, try giving your daughter some water because the water will help the bowels move. Sometimes it takes the babies intestines some time to mature and that's why they get constipated. I did this and it worked great!

Hope this helps. Good Luck!!!!