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Original poster

Constipation

7 replies

gizmosmama · 30/05/2014 18:35

DS is 4mo and suffers with constipation. We've been using lactulose which is working but if he doesn't have it he doesn't go. I was happy to use the lactulose as I thought it was a quick solution to a short term problem and wanted to make DS comfortable. Now it seems it's not a short term problem so I'd appreciate any ideas on anything I can do to solve the problem or any long term natural remedies to try until he hopefully grows out of it. DS is otherwise healthy, EBF and a good weight.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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ilovepowerhoop · 30/05/2014 21:57

Its unusual for a bf baby to be constipated and they can go a week or more between poos without it counting as constipation as the poo is soft when it arrives. Is the poo hard and dry?

Original poster
gizmosmama · 30/05/2014 22:41

ilovepowerhoop
No, it is soft. I'm confused now! I took him to the GP because he hadn't been for a week and GP said he should be pooing at least every 3 days and prescribed lactulose. All my Mum friends I've asked have said their LOs go every day. I just assumed it was constipation!

OP posts:
Littlefish · 30/05/2014 22:50

Your GP is ill-informed. It is perfectly normal for exclusively breastfed to go for a week or more without pooing.

I would phone La Leche League and discuss it with them, but also consider stopping the lactulose and see what happens.

divingoffthebalcony · 30/05/2014 22:56

Totally agree.

My DD is chronically constipated and, when she was at that age she had to strain very hard and it was like (forgive me for graphicness!) like squeezing particularly firm toothpaste out of a tube.

If the stool is soft then, by definition, it isn't constipation.

ilovepowerhoop · 30/05/2014 23:02

www.mother-2-mother.com/normal.htm#Normal%20Stools

says
At around the age of six weeks, the stooling pattern of a breastfed baby may change. It is not uncommon for the breastfed baby to skip days between bowel movements. Some babies skip every other day, some go every two or three days, some once every 5 - 7 days, and some babies hold out for up to 11 or 12 days at a time - then have quite a FULL diaper when they DO go!

Original poster
gizmosmama · 31/05/2014 02:41

Thanks everyone, I'm going to stop the lactulose and see what happens!

OP posts:
patrickduff20 · 05/06/2014 06:25

Yes even I agree with you Littelefish and ilovepowerhoop.

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