Constipated ebf 5 month old

[Icklepickle101]

I’m aware bf babies can go a while between poos but it’s been 11 days now and she is so uncomfortable, really writihinng and unsettled. Has happened once before and the end result was an incredible explosion of very very loose poo. Is there anything I can give her to help? I’ve got some lactulose here anyway or was thinking of an Ella’s kitchen prune pouch?

[Icklepickle101]

Or is it even constipation if the end result is loose? I just know she hasn’t been and it would probably help her tummy if she did!

[Auntiepatricia]

This is really common and we all assume it’s constipation but I think it’s just babies digestive system regulating. If the poo is loose and soft then it wasn’t constipation. 11 days is just about hitting the edges of normal so I would probably be giving some prunes or sugar water by day 8 (even though it’s not necessarily best practice or required).

[DaanSaaf]

When my ds was a baby he was frequently constipated. His natural rhythm was only once a week anyway which is common with ebf babies. I was advised to treat it like I was the one constipated, so I ate loads of veg and it seemed to help with the milk. A big pan of veg soup with spices did the trick. Also try massaging her tummy quite firmly and cycling her legs.

[Icklepickle101]

I thought it might starting to get a little past ‘normal’ I’ll crack out the prune purée at lunchtime. Does it usually work quite quickly? I’m working 6pm-1am so she will be with my mum and having expressed milk. I don’t want her to get any worse!

[SilverLlama]

The EK prunes will definitely work, or an ounce of fresh orange juice.
We usually get results within a few hours.