ds having real trouble doing a poo (TMI sorry)

[nuttyaboutchoceggs]

my ds has just turned 2 and for the last week or so has had real trouble doing a number 2
he really really strains and he is only marking his nappy i saw the health visitor yesterday and she said to give him more fibre so he has lots of rasins and apricots and diluted orange juice
the thing is when i got him out the bath tonight i had him laid across my lap and lifted his legs to dry his bum and poo was coming out so it seems as if he is blocked up?
and ideas or advice would be great sorry for the long post and TMI!

We tried the glycerol suppositories in desperation after visiting the emergency doc quite a few months ago. It was absolutely awful. She was very good about us putting them in as we explained to her, she is 5. However, we felt terrible after as it caused her horrendous pain and discomfort. I presume she had damaged her bottom previously and so it stung so badly as it melted. It worked to say the least but I can honestly say I would be petrified to try it again! She doesnt want them anymore now! Has anyone else had this experience? Is that common? Maybe seek docs advice if you think they have fissures, just incase.

We also used to put a teaspoon of olive oil in with each hot meal, this was when dd2 was under one year. I suppose with a 2 year old you could use a tiny bit more. This seemed to help keeping things soft, and meant she didn't have to have any lactulose.

thanks everyone i will make them tomorrow they sound yummy oranges are good too but i stopped giving them to him as they gave him a sore bum! and oj seems to be helping

Bought a really good book on constipation. It's called "Constipation, Withholding and Your Child" by Anthony Cohn. Worth buying as gives lots of good advice and details on all behavioural stuff and the low down on each type of laxative. On the subject of anal fissures, how do you know if your child has them? Has anyone out there got a child who has UTIs as a result of constipation?

sorry whats uti's. All I know is my dd has had lots of discomfort in the past and has had her bottom bleed on lots of occassions. I presume hers were fissures but not had much medical advice on any of this. Dealing with all her allergies has always taken over somewhat.

urinary tract infections

we have days when doing a poo is the main event. i know how it feels.

i find innocent smoothies fantastic at keeping them (more) regular. i even drove 1.5 hours when on holiday at new year to get some. we were getting desperate.

i also freeze prune juice in ice lolly moulds. they munch them down

yes it does really get me down sometimes too. their diet is really good. on holiday at new year there were 12 kids and i did most of the cooking. most of them were pooing 2-3 times a day due to the amount of veg in everything - mine were constipated.

The prune juice lollies and Innocent smoothies sound good. I'll give those a try. So miserable for them and us. It doesn't seem to make a whole load of difference whether they eat loads of fruit and veg or not - must be the bowel itself. Oh the joy of a big poo!! (daughter, not me!). I'm sure you can all relate to that! Any more tips from anyone very welcome. So good to know that we are not the only ones. I know it sounds weird but does anybody know of an official support group for constipation. It really does feel like having a special needs child (or is that just me?).

and a really good way to get them to drink more is a big beaker and a straw.
it's all in the delivery!

Ten years on - I still remember the fun of poo day! As well as all the above, if you feel it is nearly there, try a little vaseline on the bottom. It was known as magic potion in our house, i don't know if it was the coldness or oiliness that helped. (My ds used to fall asleep on his potty when he was five, and go in his sleep!)