poop problems

One of my sons is having a devil of a time pooping. He's not constipated because he's getting breast milk and when he does go it's runny but he cries when he tries to get it out. I can hear his bowels working/cramping to get it out and it really hurts him. Has anyone had issues with this? I spoke to the pedi and he said babies bowels work overtime with the digesting and cramping and it hurts them. He gave me some ideas but I'm interested in what works for you guys.

Thanks, it's a great day in the Stuart household when everyone's regular!!

 

Hmmm, maybe some gas drops or some gripe water. The gas drops worked well for us and the gripe water not so much. But others have said they have lots of success with gripe water. GL!

 

i see your guys were born early (as were mine). are you supplementing your breastmilk with something like similac neosure or boosting the calorie load? we do EBM supplemented with fomula and the NICU started us out on a boosted calorie version of neosure. it was just too overwhelming for their guts. we ended up switcihng to similac sensitive and that helped but once we boosted the calories again it became too much.

our doctor said something similar to what your doctor said. their guts are working overtime and sometimes they get overwhelmed and don't work efficiently. they just have to grow and get better at digesting.

we found that stopping the calorie boost helped, and it hasn't seemed to affect their rate of growth. we also have found that when they're particularly cranky about their guts we can calm them down by lying them on their backs, holding their feet, and pushing their knees up to their chests. sometimes pedaling their legs like a bicycle helps. it helps ease the pressure and sometimes helps them pass gas. it's amazing how quickly they'll go from straight-legged crying to calm and happy once we start the leg bending activity.

 

Yes, you are right, if he is 100% breastfed, it is extremely rare that he'd be constipated. You can try a gentle massage clockwise around his belly button. :hug: Gas drops and pedaling their legs might also help! Their systems are still immature, so it might just take time. :hug:

 

try to push his legs up by his belly and also exercise them as if they are on a stationary bike. I do that with my daughter and that always helps get gas out as well as stool.

 

QUOTE(dezmitch @ Dec 4 2008, 11:14 AM) [snapback]1097150[/snapback]
try to push his legs up by his belly and also exercise them as if they are on a stationary bike. I do that with my daughter and that always helps get gas out as well as stool.

Totally agree w/ PP, also
DH always holds them like this when they're gassy:
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9102/dsc03594wt4.jpg
He calls it "the lock-down" and it really works for relieving gassiness!! I think its the pressure on their bellies. It's worth a try!

 

Our pedi showed me how to massage the intestine. Imagine an upside down "C" on the belly with the curve under the belly button, massage from your left to right.

My mom also drapes the babies over both her knees while she is sitting and pats their backs. They love this and go from screaming to calm.

 

Sometimes mine have a difficult time pooping and it makes me sad. If they only have little hard ball poops for two days straight I then give them a couple oz of pear juice [Pedi suggested pear or prune]. 1 oz juice/1 oz water.

That usually helps and within a few hours the problem is over and poor baby isn't struggling anymore

 

My younger twin has pooping problems as well. Although he's just started on baby food, which the cause of the constipation. I would try one of the following...

- gas relief drops... often times I've found that they'll not only help to relieve gas but will get them going too
- gripe water... this either works like a dream, or it doesn't work at all
- or my favorite... two teaspons of light Karo syrup in an ounce of water. My pedi suggested one to two "doses" each day until the problem is eliminated. It's be amazing!!! My little man would cry and cry. Once he's had two doses of the Karo and water he was a much more plesant baby. My only suggestion would be to make sure that it's recently purchased light Karo syrup.

Good luck with the poop!!!

 

Poor guy! Let us know what works. I'm breastfeeding also, and I also look at myself and what I've been consuming too just to make sure it's not causing them problems.