8 Week old seems constipated but....

[scarletforya]

My baby DD seems to be struggling to poo. She strains and grunts and seems in pain at times but when the poo does come out it is wet and runny like diarrhea...

She is thriving and not dehydrated. I give her some (cooled boiled water) which helps....I mentioned it to the nurse when she was there recently for immunisations and she said it was common....but my sister babysitted her last night and is concerned.

She usually poos after each bottle (bottle fed Aptamil) Her stomach is loud and gurgly and she guzzles the bottle. I keep her upright and she has 5 mls gripewater (the non alcoholic one) with each feed and I wind her well.

I'm not sure if it's relevant but she had a little gastric bug nearly two weeks ago with vomiting and diarrhea, I took her to the Doc and she got checked up in hospital, they told me to give her Dioralyte and she recovered well. Docs were happy with her weight etc.

I'm confused with the seeming constipation but then the poo is runny. I dont like the fact that she is suffering and seems in pain/discomfort. She's generally a brave little thing and doesn't cry/scream even when she gets injections so I know she must be in pain.....

Does anyone have any thoughts/advice/experience to share.....Everything is crossing my mind from reflux to hernias to lactose intolerance......but she is thriving so maybe not.....???

[Cosmostocupcakes]

This might help

www.patient.co.uk/health/Constipation-in-Children.htm

I would monitor it and if you are still worried tomorrow speak to your GP!

My son pooed once a week - little pebbles - we now use a stool softener with his milk in the morning which seem to help get things moving!

[thisisyesterday]

it's really very common. if her stools are loose when they do come out then it isn't constipation, if she was constipated you'd expect hard nuggets of poo (nice!)

some babies just really dislike the sensation of going to the toilet, they tense up making it harder to pass the stool- hence all the grunting and going red and seeming to be uncomfortable,

i'd put money on her growing out of it over the next few months

[scarletforya]

Thank you both. thisisyesterday that's what the nurse said on Monday when I was there!

I suppose it's just the length of time she struggles with it. It seems to fill the space between each feed at the moment. Even when she's asleep she seems to be wincing and in pain/discomfort....

She does poo after almost every feed so she is going frequently but the poo makes exploding type noises when it comes out of her and is runny...her trumps are really loud too....

Don't be shy to tell me if I being a ridiculous fusspot.....I'm confused!?

[thisisyesterday]

my first baby was a bit like that, always windy. he would rarely burp though.. i all came out the other end!

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[thisisyesterday]

gah, hadn't finished!

explosive bowel movements can be a symptom of milk intolerance, but I would have expected you to see other symptoms alongside that, especially given that she is on formula.
On its own I would say it's more likely to just be general wind related tummy stuff!!

maybe stop the gripe water and see if that helps? or try infacol or colief instead?

[scarletforya]

That's a good idea re the gripewater actually. Yes, a lot of the wind comes out in the form of loud, explosive trumps. She clutches her head and claws at her face and cries and has to work so hard to get the poo out though.

I will experiment with stopping the gripewater I think, thanks!

[butterfingerz]

Babies rectal muscles take a while to develop and it doesn't help that they have to poo lying down! It might help to raise her up when she is pooing and rub her back or something to reassure her. It'll get better as she gets older and her muscles are stronger.

[scarletforya]

Thanks. I keep her upright as much as possible. Either we hold her upright or have her in her bouncer. We rock her and walk with her. She is having a bad evening now. She has just been fed and done a poo but she is still crying. It's hard to know if it's reflux/colic or what....one thing seems to be running into another...

I think I will bring her to the GP tomorrow....

[Wishwehadgoneabroad]

Hi, sorry I know this is an old thread, but you are describing my 6 month old to a T! (just searched to find some info)

Just wondered OP if you got any answers? Did it get any better? What did the docs say?

Poor DD today has been pushing and straining for England, but is having diarrhoa type nappies.

I will be booking her back in to the docs tomorrow, but I really am concerned that she seems to be in so much constipated pain but then it's totally the opposite when it comes out!