Major poop problems

One of my twins has not pooped on her own since mid-December. When we went to the dr initially about it they gave her a suppository. We have had to do that about every 4 days since. Per the Dr. we give her apple/prune juice & milk of mag. every day, but nothing works. She had a barium enema yesterday (they check the colon/intestines to make sure everything is working properly) and it came back normal. Her sister poops just fine, so this just does not make since. She gets miserable after 2 or 3 days of not pooping. Poor thing pushes and pushes, but nothing comes out. Any suggestions?

 

One of my girls has suffered from constipation since birth. I remember her once going a full two weeks without pooping. We added Karo syrup to their formula, and later prune juice. And eventually she'd poop. I don't think our situation was as bad as yours, but really bad.

It's especially bad when they are only on...uh...are you breastfeeding or formula?

It does help when you can start giving them the right things to eat to help.

At three she's still constipated frequently. Interestingly, maybe coincidentally it's gotten better with using the potty regularly. Until the last week, she did go a whole week so we did a moratorium on cheese and other things that constipate and it's so nice that she understands what she can do to help herself.

In the meantime, I offer :hug99: and hope you find what works.

 

QUOTE(marieber @ Jan 29 2008, 04:20 PM) [snapback]595576[/snapback]
It's especially bad when they are only on...uh...are you breastfeeding or formula?


she is breastfed

 

QUOTE(marieber @ Jan 29 2008, 04:20 PM) [snapback]595576[/snapback]
We added Karo syrup to their formula


We tried Karo syrup one time and it did not work. I wonder if we should try again.

 

Breastfed babies can go up to two weeks with no poopy diapers! My ds would go at least twice a day but DD would go once every 7 days, in a blowout. YOur breastmilk is so well used that there isn't much to come out.. it is digested so well. Does she seem uncomfortable? You can also do a little clockwise circular motion around her navel to help in digestion & getting gas out! (mini massage) That should help! Breastmilk is the perfect laxitive! :hug99:

QUOTE(Jentwinmom @ Jan 29 2008, 03:25 PM) [snapback]595587[/snapback]
she is breastfed

 

QUOTE(Jentwinmom @ Jan 29 2008, 02:25 PM) [snapback]595587[/snapback]
she is breastfed

It's not unusual for breastfed babies to go days without pooping.

Is her poop hard or thicker than peanut butter? Then she could be constipated. Pear juice or apple juice always did the trick for us.

Is it soft? If it's soft it's ok even if she strains. Sometimes it's hard for babies to figure out the whole pooping thing.

 

I ditto that breastmilk is a natural laxative, so if its been a few days just nurse more often. Also ditto that some breastfed babies only go poop every 5-10 days, its the consistency that means constipation not how often. If her poops are like hard pebbles then she is constipated.
Here's a link with some info:
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/normal.htm#NormalStools

How is her wet diaper count?

 

Kylee has had pooping problems since she was born. In the NICU they used glycerin suppositories, when we got home my pedi suggested I take a Q-tip and vaseline and insert it into her rectum making figure 8's...she has always pooped then and there after that procedure, and she is SOOO much happier.

 

When my babes were that age, they would poop only every 5-6 days, in a huge blow-out diaper. They were breastfed. And I was worried about DS especially because he would strain and strain. But it was always soft, and things changed when we started introducing solids. Now it's more like 4-5 times PER DAY. He does still have to work harder than his sister though.

Our doctor said as long as it is soft, they are OK.

 

The first time it happened her poop was almost peanut butter like, but now it is liquidy when we use the suppository. She just pushes and pushes and gets red faced. I understand that some of you are saying that because she is breastfed she might not have to go that often. I am not trying to argue with that, but when we give the suppository, she poops TONS. Like she dirties 4 diapers or so she has so much in her and it smells like it has been setting in there - smells like a dead animal. She cries even when she has gas it hurts her so much. So, I would think the fact that she goes so much with the suppository means that she did need to go, does that sound right?

 

QUOTE(excitedk @ Jan 29 2008, 05:37 PM) [snapback]595732[/snapback]
I ditto that breastmilk is a natural laxative, so if its been a few days just nurse more often. Also ditto that some breastfed babies only go poop every 5-10 days, its the consistency that means constipation not how often. If her poops are like hard pebbles then she is constipated.
Here's a link with some info:
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/normal.htm#NormalStools

How is her wet diaper count?



Thanks for the link. Her tummy is distended according to the Dr. She also cries in pain when she can not go. That is the only way we give a suppository is if she is crying from not being able to go.

 

That poor little baby, how terrible! Hopefully this is just a phase.

 

one of mine went through the same thing and is now growing out of ti slowly... we just have to make sure she eats peaches every other day..... and she is 4....so there is a light at the end but sure a long one sometimes


things we used were
mineral oil in all bottles (lubes the intestines)
miralax
and fruit when they are able to eat it

hugs .....

 

One of my sons went through a month of only pooping every few days. My sister, a nurse, showed me how to use a q-tip or the baby rectal thermometer and vaseline to help stimulate him along. I would use it to massage him into action. basically at each diaper change I would "lube him up" and try. It got to a point I could tell when he was ready and he would go. He now goes without issue and yes, sometimes they smell like a dead animal.