I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in potty training but I think it's going past a simple potty training issue. Can I just say that I am not a poo troll! I really dont know what do do and I think our next stop will be the doctors.
Dd can use the potty or toilet for wees when she needs to. She was holding the wee in rather than wetting herself and weeing when asleep but all of a sudden got it about two months ago. No problems since.
She has had a couple of poos in the toilet without realising what was happening but prefers to poo in her nappy. No problem, we didn't want to pressure her. Then she kept trying to poo on the potty or toilet but not, then we realised she was holding in her poos. She has gone a week between pooing a few times now. We know she needs to but is really stopping herself. Earlier this week she was crying and really upset when she finally pooed, it was horrible and upset me. I have shown her videos of the digestive system, bribed her with treats, explained that the pain is because she is holding it in. We are pleased when she goes and remind her that we just want her to poo to make her feel better. She has a good diet and I have upped her intake or dried fruit (she loves prunes!) and juice to try and keep everything moving. It is sheer willpower from her.
I don't know what to do. She has told me she is scared now and I think that must have come from the huge poo the other day, especially as since then the couple of times I have needed to wipe her she said it hurt. We aren't even bothered about the potty now, we just want her to stop holding it in.
I don't know anyone who has had this and have no idea what to do. How have other people coped with this?