Nearly 4 week old constipated

[Grimmfebruary]

I posted a few days ago about my ds having reflux. We have been prescribed gaviscon which is helping massively but he now seems constipated, crying and straining resulting in him passing gas like a machine gun.

Am currently unable to speak to the on call doctor for advice so asking here until I can get through.

Sorry, can't spot your previous thread.

Breast or bottle fed?

Both reflux and constipation can be signs of cows milk protein intolerance.

Gaviscon can definitely cause constipation (thicken what goes in, thicken what comes out).

Hope you managed to get through to the doctor.

Bottle fed on cow and gate. Doctor was useless. Was phoned back and told to pick up laxatives he had prescribed. Without seeing the baby.

I know BF and bottle fed are a lot different but my Ds2 is BF and at 4 weeks old didn't poop for nearly 2 weeks, doctor didn't seem concerned at all.

I know what you mean about the trumps though, unbelievable 🙈

Have you tried cycling his legs and bringing his knees up to his tummy?

There are a few videos on you tube of little tricks you can try, they helped us out.

Good luck, and don't leave the house without at least 4 charges of clothes in the changing bag!x

I’ve been rubbing his tummy but will try cycling his legs and look on YouTube. Just frustrating as the gaviscon really sorted the reflux out and now it’s causing havoc at the other end 😂

Has he been checked for a tongue tie?

I had this issue with my daughter. The only thing that worked was glycerine suppositories.

What helped Ds finally go I think was when I could hear him straining and going a little red I would push his knees up to his tummy to help him out.

A warm deepish bath and tummy time helped I think too

Was just going to suggest glycerine suppositories - they’ll soften what’s there making it easier to pass. Can the doctor prescribe a regular osmotic laxative that will draw more water into the bowel to prevent this? I’m not sure at what age lactulose can be given so definitely speak to the doctor but that stuff is very gentle and can be adjusted in small increments being a liquid.

(You can buy both over the counter but again I’d check the age for lactulose)

How disappointing. What laxative has your GP given? Lactulose? You're probably going to have to go with trying what they've given, but if it isn't working, may well need to look at different treatment for the reflux...

When my son was newborn he was always stubborn to poop. My health visitor advised putting 1oz of prune juice to 5oz boiled water and then wait for it to cool. And syringe (like the calpol syringe) 1 oz of it and give to baby and wait, like give in morning and wait til evening if no movement then give another oz in the evening. It worked every time. X

Thanks for the suggestions :)
Tilly, what would a tongue tie have to do with it? I thought that mostly affected bf babies although I realise now it would affect sucking the bottle haha

I second glycerine suppositories insert into bum with Vaseline and then wait when baby starts straining raise his knees to give some leverage it really does help sadly my daughter had a sluggish Bowel because of her cerebral palsy and regularly had suppositories via gp

grimm
It could affect the latch on the bottle causing baby to swallow large amounts of air. It's not really discussed much with bottle fed babies but it can affect them. It's worth just asking for it to be checked by someone who knows what they are looking for. Our local infant feeding coordinator is the one who we are referred to if hcps aren't sure.
My friends son had loads of issues which made me think he might be tt. When I messaged her she had been told he had a tie but it didn't affect him as he was bottle fed. I sent her some research. The child couldn't form any sort of latch on the bottle teat. He wanted to suckle more for comfort because his tummy was sore so he was given another bottle which he would then throw up as he was full. He had been diagnosed with all sorts but once the tie was cut he came off all his meds.
X

Also if it isn't actually reflux the meds he's on could be giving him belly ache and making him constipated. I may be completely wrong but it's worth checking out.

My son was on the anti reflux milk and constipated so the doctor gave us lactulose. Which got him softer. Just trying to get the correct dosage now. My doctor said sometimes it is needed just like if we needed a helping hand.