Constipated baby. Advice please.

[smileymylie25]

I am posting here for traffic, hope that’s ok.

Hi, this might be long so please bear with me.

my DD 7m is suffering severe constipation, she has not been for 6 days now (other then maybe 4 tiny rabbit sized droppings in this time) Yesterday and the day before she started being sick every time she was straining, it was just the contents of what she had eaten and drunk before trying to go but I guess it’s not getting digested properly as she is “full” now I rung gp and health visitor when the vomiting started and on their advice I had attended a+e and meddocc. She has been prescribed movicol to get things moving. She had a sachet yesterday and one today, I know this probably needs more time to work. How ever today she is in absolute agony trying to go. Screaming and getting in a state every time she gets the urge and now refusing food too. I’m managing to get her to take at least 50% of her milk.

Now I’m at a loss as to whether to give these sachets a little bit longer to work or go for a 2nd opinion? It is horrible to see her in so much pain. Has anyone had any experience in this and could please offer me some advice on what next steps you would take. Thank you.

Will LO drink sips of water? Will she eat prune / apple purée?

Warm bubble bath, calpol for the pain if you are happy for her to have that, some prune purée and sips of water as well as a satchet of movicol

I have given her some prune puree, well what she eat until completely refused. She has had a few sips of water but can’t get her to have anymore. We’ve been having daily warm baths and tummy massage. I guess I just need to be patient. It’s just so horrible.

Be careful to prepare the sachets exactly as per instructions with correct quantity of water, otherwise the powder won’t bind with the water. It won’t work otherwise. Keep going with these, it’s the only thing that will work. The laxative will draw water into the stool and make it easier to pass. Baby might need some help when pushing. Try increased tummy time too. My baby has same thing and took 36h or so before first bowel movement and yes seemed very painful

My daughter was like this when she first had dairy when weaning. I ended up giving her prune or pear puree mixed with yogurt or apple puree and having a few days of glycerine suppositories. We also did a massage every night. If you massage her tummy below her belly button going clockwise that can help too and cycling her legs. Hope she feels better soon

Is this recent or has she always struggled with constipation?

As others have suggested, prune puree, prune juice, mango, mango juice, etc. Try and keep her as well hydrated as you can. Avoid things like egg and banana which will make it worse.

Thank you for the advice. I will try it all. This is the first time she has had constipation.

My daughter was the same when she started solids. We ended up having to have glycerine suppositories to clear everything out and then maintained it with regular Cosmocol/movicol. I think it’s was multiple sachets per day but I can’t remember now. Once she started walking it stopped being a problem and she’s 6 now with no issues x

Thank you. Does the doctor have to prescribe the glycerine suppositories?

Yeah. They have special little ones for kids. I’d recommend latex gloves and lubricant. Sometimes just the action of putting it in was enough for my little one (TMI I know)

Yes I would also recommend suppositories as that will stimulate her to go. I would also take a break from weaning (apart from things like prunes) until constipation resolved

Ooh I just remembered another thing - avoid bananas! They’re such an easy weaning food but are terrible for constipation.

Can I just ask, were your babies really sick when constipated as well? Every single time she strains she is being sick

How often is she being sick a day? Is it just spit up? Or actual sick. I’d be inclined to reach out for a second opinion if you are concerned. We went through constipation with my DS when starting to wean but he was never sick.

I’ve just looked at this online on Emma’s diary
Baby constipation may also be a result or cause of other conditions so always look out for other signs that all is not well: refusing feeds, apparent cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever or bloody stools; or if your baby shows signs of dehydration, such as infrequent urination, sunken eyes or doughy skin.

Just adding to @ttcbabyno2ber’s post, if her vomit is bright green or yellow at any point (ie looks like bile) you should go to A&E as a precaution.

Mine wasn’t sick but I can see how that can happen if they’re straining. All depends on if it’s just a bit of milky spit up or if a full feed/meal is coming up. If it’s the latter then I would be concerned I think x

@Rachierach11its always just after she’s eaten/drunk but it’s definitely more then just spit up. It’s so hard to know what to do because I don’t want to keep going meddocc and getting sent away again. Babies are so stressful lol

Have you tried bicycle legs? That relieved my DD at that age

@Hesma Hiya. Yea we have tried that. We have tried absolutely everything now. It’s not so much the constipation I’m worried about it’s the sickness that’s going along side it.

@smileymylie25 I am not a doctor but if the sick isn’t green/ yellow I don’t think there is any urgent worry. Green/ yellow is indicative of a bowel obstruction and is considered an emergency. My son has a bowel condition which means he struggles with constipation at times, when he was smaller I definitely think this caused him to be more sick than usual, but we only ever went to A&E if the colour changed. Still, even regular sickness isn’t nice to deal with and I hope your little one feels better soon!

I feel a bit silly now to be honest, my other child and husband have come down with a sickness bug so I think it might be that. Just a coincidence it was along side the constipation 🤦🏻‍♀️ sorry and thank you all

My DC was like this hated drinking water w
but would drink cordial it worked and I also changed the diet to less milk