5 month old baby struggles to poo??

[PurpleRayne89]

My son is 5 months. Is always screams and arches his back abs kicks his legs trying to pass poop. He’s been doing this since he turned around a month old. He will try all day, wake every hour or more in the night with discomfort and on occasion he will either do it the following morning or the afternoon. Then it starts again, as if he is backed up there is always poop ready to come out. It’s having a huge impact on both of our quality of sleep, some night I only sleep 2-3 hours.

He’s exclusively breastfed. I barely consume dairy. When the poop does come out it’s normal consistency for a BF baby. This is making me anxious about starting solids.

Any similar experiences or advice?

Excuse the spelling errors. I’m obviously tired 🥱 I don’t know whether I’m overreacting to something that is relatively normal for a baby his age or whether there could be something more happening.

My youngest went through a stage around 3-5 months of refusing to go in a nappy. I basically had to lie him on the change mat with a nappy undone under him or one of those disposable dog mats. And hope for the best.

He actually got better when we weaned him.

If this has been going on for 4 months have you taken him to a GP and had him checked?

For sure check it out but bicycle legs? Lay him on his back and move his legs as if riding a bike but every dozen turns gently push his knees towards tummy and hold.

Lay tummy down over your knees and pat or rub lower back, sing a stoopid song for his comfort as well as your sanity!

Thanks for your responses. No GP yet as I heard this was normal and gets better by 3 months. I’m discussing with HV next week I’m
Sure she’ll be useless as per.

Tried bicycle legs, massage, warm bath so ok. Nothing seems to work. He does it when he’s ready. It’s just awful watching him struggle. I’ve never heard of a baby his age having issues with this.

Is it definitely the poo? Could he have silent reflux?

I think it’s the poop as once he’s finally done it he relaxes then it starts all over again.

What makes you think silent reflux?

He’s done this for 4 months and you haven’t sought medical attention?

How many wet nappies is he doing a day

Is he gaining weight in keeping with the ‘centile’ path he’s on?

Constipation at his age could be due to something wrong with his digestive tract, he’s not getting enough liquids (but if breastfeeding that’s unusual) or something in your diet is upsetting him.

Please speak to someone sooner. NCT, La Lèche League, GP…. Anyone. Like immediately

One DC was like that. It is called Infant Dyschezia. You can try the fever thermometer or cotton bud trick. Maybe just try tickling their bum with it. Taking of the nappy worked for mine as well, but it could be quite messy. One other thing would be to try a baby carrier or wrap. The upright position and pressure on the tummy can help. Pooping while horizontal is actually difficult.

He's telling you he needs better food containing fibre. (Hard hat donned)

@Monty27 but he’s exclusively BF, he’s not ready for solids yet and why would I introduce them before I’ve resolved this issue?

@TheCatterall he’s bf well, wet napped throughout the day. Normal within himself. I’ve brought it up before work HV and Doctor but nobody seemed to entertain it that much.

@PorridgeLove hello, I was thinking Infant Dyschezia but it doesn’t persist beyond 3 months does it? My son is 5 months and a week. How long did your child have this for?

Could it be an intolerance to something passed through bm?

When are babies supposedly ready for "solids" these days?

@Monty27when they show all of the signs or “readiness” which he isn’t.

Minimum of 6 months but I found my son wasn’t ready then.

@WishIwasElsa hello, I don’t think so to be fair but who actually knows. It’s not dairy as I don’t consume much dairy, I drink oat milk, don’t consume much cheese. Not sure what else it could be.

My Ds was exactly the same. He really struggled. The Hv suggested giving him some cooled boiled water in a sippy cup. I also drank more orange juice and ate a lot more fruit and veg.
Its horrible watching them struggle.

PurpleRayne89

Ah maybe not then tbh your description reminded me of ds when he was constipated from gavisgon he took for reflux which didn't stop the reflux.

Sorry to have more useful advice, just keep on at GP hopefully they will listen eventually

@Ilovechocolatetoomuch I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and drink a lot of water. I might start on prune juice to see if that helps. I’ve made an appointment to see the doctor. HV is hopeless.

@WishIwasElsa thanks, it was helpful. I’m aware that silent reflux can have similar behaviour in a baby in which I’m describing. However, it is definitely him struggling to poop.

[quote PurpleRayne89]@PorridgeLove hello, I was thinking Infant Dyschezia but it doesn’t persist beyond 3 months does it? My son is 5 months and a week. How long did your child have this for?[/quote]
The ID definitely lasted past 4 months which does not seem uncommon (pghn.org/DOIx.php?id=10.5223/pghn.2017.20.1.1).

There was a big improvement when DC starting sitting up and crawling. Solids also helped as DC loved baby pears.

Did you try the baby carrier/wrap? DC was always very content in there and would nap well (and poo when waking up).

@PorridgeLove thanks for the article. Funny enough I was reading it and then you linked it in.

I called my GP, no appointments as usual. Called 111 as I was fed up as been getting run around for so long. They sent me to St Thomas with an appointment, not really an appointment tho was it as sat in A&E for 3 hours. I would rather have gone to kings are they put you and baby in a separate room due fo covid. St Thomas they just pile you all in and the announcements are so bloody loud.

Anyway, slightly off topic there. They couldn’t find any obvious issues with him, they called it colic and that was that. I don’t know what I was expecting and I don’t know how I feel about it