5 wk old screaming inconsolably in pain

[marthahm]

dd strains and cries horribly until she manages to poo. happens 1-2 times/day,takes up to 6hrs. she is bf only and poo comes out soft. i know this isn't classed as constipation but seems v wrong to be in so much pain. am also getting really distressed. is it normal for her to be like this?

[dara]

What time of day? If it lasts six hours are you sure it is a/pain and b/connected with the much later poo?
Some babies do cry and cry in the evenings and it seems to get better around12 weeks though is v harrowing in the meantime.
Babies do often cry when they poo but I think it is more alarm and surprise than pain.

[gloriana]

My DS2 had anal stenosis from birth (anal muscle is too tight/small) and had the same sorts of symptoms. His condition was quite bad and he couldn't pass poo or wind right from day 1. I was told repeatedly that BF babies can't get constipated and that it was natural for BF babies to not poo (pooing once a week) but DS2 was so unhappy that I was convinced that something was wrong. GP prescribed a baby glycerin suppository (which did help as it opened the muscle) but then DS2 was still unhappy so he was prescribed lactulose (he was 2 weeks old at this point). This made the problem worse as it created more wind in his tummy that he couldn't pass.

Anyway, to cut a long story short and apologies for the babbling but the paediatrician eventually diagnosed anal stenosis which is treatable by stretching the muscle. If you think something is not right then you should see the doctor and see another one if you still think things have not improved. Good luck with it and hopefully your DD will get better.