Constipation

[Theomom]

Dear mammas.

I need some advice please. I am ftm and worried sick about my son. He is seven months and been having severe constipation, screaming in pain when he passes stools. He also has spams throughout his body, tightening his legs. Stools are big, dry and come out very slowly which causes him even more pain. Been to the GP but she doesn't seem too alarmed by this. Prescribed lactolose and movicol. Went back after two weeks because lactolose is not working and I have to pin him down for movicol which means he doesn't drink much. I tried alot of things, water, plums, prunes, Juices, peaches, castor oil, massage stomach, exercises, warm water, changed formula but nothing is working. I am in tears everytime I watch him suffer in agony just to have a poo and there is nothing I can do to help him. Please advice of any natural home remedies you used before apart from anamel. Highly appreciate it. Thanks.

Have you tried mixing something in with the Movicol. It's good stuff.

Not sure what to advise but my ds1 had similar probs. Lactulose did help him and he was on it for over 2 years!! Dr said o problem to take it long term as it is very gentle and doesn't cause their gut to become lazy like some laxatives can. I haven't had experience of movicol but heard its good. I would say whatever you have been prescribed for him to use it for quite a while and even once this is resolved keep using it till he has been regularly doing more normal poos for a while.

The things you have been trying are all the right things. I have heard you should avoid bananas as they can make constipation worse believe it or not. Is there anything you can identify to cut out of his diet as well as adding things in like the prunes etc? I used to give my ds 50% water and 50% prune juice in his sippy cup which he drank no problem.

Mix the Movicol into his bottle of milk if he is formula fed-if he is being breastfed try expressing and mixing it-it is definitely worth persevering with the movicol it has changed my sons life!.

My DD had the same problem, although now I can get her to take Movicol in apple juice. When she was about 7 months, I would put it in her porridge, and mix it with mango & prunes, it could even be sneaked into yoghurt or other mashed up foods. Just add a bit to each meal, so the taste is not too obvious. I know it is not ideal to mix it in foods, but it was the only way I could get it in her.

Thank you mammas. I sat for two hours spoon feeding him movicol. Lol. Everytime he woke up during the night I gave him movicol first, few sips at least until I replace it with his milk. However, I am convinced it's not his intestine but rather down at the bottom. He is still pushing in pain and cries. It's sad to watch.

What else/how much does he eat?

With him being young I'd cut back on solids as much as possible, especially anything like bread, rice etc and concentrate on getting nice soft fruits like plums down him. Also take him off dairy until you have sorted it out as dairy can be very constipating.

Sorry, since he is ff I mean don't give him lots of yoghurt etc as food, not cut out all his milk!

Oh an what are you doing when he pushes? Try to grab him and get him into a good pushing position as soon as you see any straining so either onto a potty if you have one as a nice squat keeps his bowls nice and straight or on his back but push his legs up and cycle with them, again it gets the bend out of his bowls and also the pressure of his thighs on his tummy will help.