Chronic Constipation breastfed baby

[Bobojangles]

DD is 10 months and has had horrendous constipation since weaning. Suppositories are the only thing that guarantee a result - and they are not a long term solution and it's still very painful when she goes.

She's on laculous twice a day (worked well initially) but it isn't doing a lot now.

We've tried movicol, ducosate (didn't even try tbh because she wouldn't take that much liquid in 30mins) and the latest thing is fybrogel. All these bloody concoctions that need to be mixed with water, but her main liquid is still breastmilk she just doesn't take enough water in a beaker for them to have much effect and it's a bloody pain

Anyone have any experience with this is a breastfed baby? Anything else I can ask the GP for? I assume I'll be speaking to them next week again as the the respite we've had was from the antibiotic induced diahoerhea she had for an unrelated thing!

We've obviously tried all the usual prunes etc

Anyone?

Have you spoken to the HV about it ?

Look on the ERIC website.

You can mix movicol in hot chocolate. It’s not ideal but we do it because they need their medication.

Constipation can be linked to allergies but the biggest issue tends to be lack of liquid.

What new foods have you introduced lately? Had this with my little one and realised that it was her baby cereal that was causing the constipation.

My son developed chronic constipation which turned out to be a cows milk protein allergy- he was initially exclusively breastfed and it only developed when I introduced formula- the constipation only went away when we completely cut our dairy- now he's 4 he can have it again with no problems. It could be that your baby is not digesting the proteins as well now they are in more concentrated forms such as cheese/yoghurt etc-Are there any other symptoms? I would speak to HV and ask to be referred to a dietician also ERIC is a good resource for managing constipation if it isn't linked to an allergy

We've been under GP care so didn't see the point in involving the HV

@duracellbunnywannabe
She's breastfed - that's her main source of liquid and obviously I can't mix anything with it hence the difficulty we've been having. She has a little water at mean times but it isn't easy

@LadyCluck unfortunately it's been an issue with all solid food

@sunrae28 this has been suggested a few times but honestly she doesn't take much dairy. Both my older boys where CMPA and they had mucus diahoerhea along with eczema, she has has nothing but the constipation and it seems to be with all foodb

I know that feeling. Get her a nice exciting water bottle and offer her water every 15 mins or try a open cup. Both my girls have been through this (they also have allergies) but the constipation was caused by not drinking enough despite a health diet.

I know it's hard, I had two bottle/cup refusing breast loving kids, but really I'd try and up her water intake. Mine both eventually took water from Munchkin Miracle 360 cups, pretty sure I bought them at Tesco. I say this because when mine were EBF (up to 6months-ish) if they hadn't pooed in a while I'd give them a bit if cooled boiled water and it more often than not worked . kiwifruit always made my kids go, not sure if you've tried that. There's frozen stuff you can buy called Kiwi Crush I think.
As others said, Eric website is good too. Sorry she's going through this, it's horrible on kids.

ds was like this, he only pooed once a fortnight at a year old and that was with enemas. He just didn't poo on his own at all so we had an open arrangement with the hospital to take him in when it good bad.

They actually thought he had hirschprungs and he had an op worth biopsy.

When things were bad at a year he was breast milk only, but he would eat yogurt so we were advised to mix his 8 sachets a day into yogurts and just make sure he had plenty of water and breast milk.

He was eventually put on erithromycin which helped and caught a vile stomach bug. That seemed to kick start his system and has been fine since, add long as was drinking enough fluid.

Looking back I think he wasn't ready for weaning, he wasn't sitting up til 10 months but we started weaning at 6. He didn't show much interest ; other than a McDonald's chip which was his first solid his brother have him when I wasn't watching!)

I really feel for you, it's tough. It can really affect their mood and it's clearly v uncomfy for them too

We also had great success with 'poo ' compote. Dried figs/prunes/apples stewed with spices in orange juice which we'd mush but blend and mix with yogurt or porridge

I agree that she needs more fluids. Will she drink water off a bowl or spoon? Can you cut the amount of solids that you give her so that she drinks more milk? As a last resort you could try diluted fruit juice.

Hey @Bobojangles I hope you’re situation has improved? My baby is now 6 months, chronic constipation since starting solids. Didn’t take water. So when prescribed Movicol I used lactulose instead. Within 38 hours he had an explosion only to be constipated once more. Started Movicol, I gave it by syringe. Now he drinks from a Nuby sippy cup so I can give extra fluids.

Movicol is supposed to make them have a bowel movement everyday. In 7 days he’s gone 3 times, including an explosion. Nothing since. Today is day 3 once more with a sachet a day a Movicol.

I wanted to ask whether your situation had improved? Some people on here talk about their children being on Movicol for 3-4-5 + years and something doesn’t sit right with me about this.

@CompressedNerve we tried a lot more things with no luck. I contacted the GP (for the millionth time) and he said, let's try movicol again - but this time a full sachet not half, and give it 2 weeks. If this didn't work he was going to refer us to paediatrics.

I was very sceptical as the movicol did nothing when we first tried it but this time round it's working really well - a few non painful bowel movements everyday.

She missed a few days (I had to pick up a new box) and I could see her poos getting small and hard again .

I assume it's working this time because of the larger dose and shes better at taking her sippy cup now she's a bit older. I make it up in the morning and she drinks most of it over the course of the day.

Unfortunately I think it might end up being a long-term thing but I'd rather she was on movicol than in pain especially as it can cause all sorts of behaviour issues in toddlers

@Bobojangles Thanks for getting back to me. Il
Glad you have seen some improvement. Do you have any idea what the underlying cause could be? It’s not fun at all is it. Glad your daughter is now taking a sippy cup.

I’ll try for 4 weeks and see whether there is any improvement. Is it true on Movicol you should expect at least 1 bowel movement a day?