I started my baby on some solids - rice cereal and then added pears. It went well the first week. Then, the second week she got constipated and I ended up having to give her a baby suppository on day 6 of no b.m., after prunes and the doctor's suggestion of water and corn syrup didn't work. That did the trick. I had stopped giving her solids at about day four of the constipation week. Now, here we are again on what will be day 5 since her last b.m. and I have only been breastfeeding her this week! ???
She's turning six months on Monday. She breastfeeds every hour if she's awake (she does sleep an average of 10 hours at night), so I thought it would be great to get some non-mommy created calories into her. I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has had a kid with these issues and if you have any advice for me.
Day 6 and a big old prune-smelled poo during ECFE. Hurray. I guess prune juice is doing the trick. I'll take all the advice into consideration and try the oat cereal and fruits and veggies route. She's hit the 6 month growth spurt today and is perma-latched so I've got to get a bit of a break by giving her some food. Thanks for all the advice.
My son was constipated in very much the same way. Three comments:
1) It's improved over time.
2) It helps to give him a serving of prunes and oats every day.
3) I avoid starches like bananas and rice.
Take care.
Lynn
It could be the rice cereal, it can be very constipating, at least for my son it is. He also was fine w/ it at first. I starting giving him "p" fruits (pears, peaches, prune juice) when ever he got constipated. Sometimes that happens when they try new foods too. Then I made the switch to oatmeal cereal and we haven't had any problems since. Well good luck too ya!
I had the same issue w/ my son when he turned 6 months. Funny thing is before he went on solids (he was breastfed)he would go EVERY time I fed him. Now he is 4 and still doesn't have a regular bm. My almost 2 year old goes every morning. Anyway, if I recall I gave him apple juice. My pediatrician just recommended pears to help. That hasn't worked for you has it? I would also lay off the rice cereal and go to oat cereal. It isn't uncommon and you don't have to worry about it until it starts going beyond 7 or 8 days.
Hi Jamie,
Our daughter went through the same issue when she started eating solids around 6 months. She would still do some poop, but it was horrible watching her strain and cry and it was pretty solid, which also apparently fits the definition of constipated according to her ped. We used half a baby suppository if it got really bad - about 3 times total, but otherwise we added pears and prunes every morning. She is still having about 1/2 a tub of prunes at the end of her breakfast each day and she seems to do fine. I think it takes a little bit of practice for their bodies to transition from breast milk only to having solids as well. Stick with it! It is really nice when you can have a little bit of time to yourself because someone can give a snack and a sippy cup in between feedings.
A.
I had the same problem with my daughter when she started on solids. She would strain so hard to poop she would sometimes throw up! This went on (on and off) from 6 mo-9mo. I took her off oatmeal and avoided constipating foods like rice cereal, cheese, yogurt. She only ate prunes, pears, peas, peaches, & oatmeal. The dr also gave her a prescription of Enulose. Finally, around 9 mo we found the correct dosage for her and now at 10 mo the problem is gone! Good luck!
It's not uncommon for breastfed babies to go several days without a BM, then take into account that's all you are giving her-not much bulk for the bowel in breastmilk. I'd try the apple suggestion and & stay away from constipating foods.
Good luck!
I haven't had the same experience, but you could try using the oatmeal, instead of rice cereal. I know my day care provider said her kids had internal issues with rice cereal, but did OK with the oatmeal.
Our pediatrician recommended Benefiber, which is available at Costco, Target, drug stores and grocery stores. I'm not sure exactly how it's manufactured, but it's essentially pure natural fiber that dissolves fully.
At her recommendation, we mixed a little bit into her cereal daily, increasing the dosage until we seemed to reach equilibrium. Our daughter is now 2 1/2, and we're still giving her Benefiber daily.
[This has not been a paid endorsement. Really.]
That baby cereal ALWAYS made my babies constipated. I started not giving it to my last babies as much, its really processed anyways and most of the nutrients are readded to it. If I did give it to them it was mixed half and half with prunes and they liked it better that way anyways. As long as your baby is getting formula or breastmilk the cereal really isn't needed too much except for maybe some iron but you could introduce things like spinache if you'd like. Stick with veggies and fruits, they have more natural vitamins and minerals than that boxed cereal anyways.
My son also has constipation issues from solid foods. As others have said, the frequency of BMs isn't the problem; it's only if they're hard and difficult to pass that it becomes a problem. So, if she's not having any problems pooping, I really wouldn't worry. If she is, go to your pediatrician about it & stick with what he/she says. She's probably old enough for some juice/water in a sippy cup. My pediatrician also recommended a couple tablespoons of dark Karo syrup w/ milk. (I nurse, so we put it in with his cereal.) There's been at least one other post on this listserv about constipation, so check out the archives too. Good luck!
