Very intense straining when pooing 14 months

[Crunchybanana]

Have been to gp about this a few times and brushed off but going to go again this week as DS has been like this since birth and is now 14mo. DS really strains when pooing. Like intense loud straining, turning purple and straining to the point he starts coughing and spluttering. His poos however are not hard, and he goes regularly for the most part. I thought infant dyshezia however as he is now 14 months and still has this issue I don’t think it could be as apparently they should outgrow this by 9 months. One doctor told me he was “a dramatic pooer” when I showed him a video. also saw a paediatrician a few months ago who wasn’t worried either but it just seems well out of the realms of normal straining. DH who always very relaxed about these things is also concerned at this point.

Wondering if anyone’s LO does this when they poo or has had this issue and outgrown it or found out what was causing it?

Hi,
Im so glad I found this thread.
Our very nearly 1 year old does the exact same thing and has done for a few months. Stools are generally soft, he eats a variety of foods, i give him prunes and pear pouches pretty often.
I have an appointment to discuss with ANP next week but I will probably get the same response. I do think its the sensation and he doesnt like it perhaps?!

My DD was like this, I also thought she was straining but turns out she was actually withholding. Shes 4 and finally stopped withholding so doesn’t do it now.

Mine was like this around 1.5 years and had a rectal prolapse! He's on Movicol at nearly 4 and so are many of his friends. Don't get fobbed off by the GP. Also check out resources on ERIC, the Children’s bowel and bladder charity.

@Cheets27 hope you manage to get some answers from the ANP! The GP advised us to add more fibre and has given us movicol but I’m not convinced as it’s not that he’s constipated and we do include lots of fibre in his diet currently. However we only get a phone appointment and I had actually filmed some examples to show the doctor but of course couldn’t show them via phone appointment, so I don’t really know how they can properly assess or diagnose when they haven’t seen the symptoms I’m talking about… She did mention if the movicol doesn’t help then we may be able to get a referral for a dietitian. We are thinking of going back to the paediatrician at this point, at least we’ll actually be seen face to face

@ForeverTired89 interesting to know thank you, I hadn’t thought about the possibility of withholding, I’ll look into this also. Glad to hear your DD is not doing it now

@PlumpCatIsBestCat oh wow, how did you find out about the rectal prolapse in the end and dead there anything they could do to treat this? I will take a look at the resources you shared thank you

@Crunchybanana you find out about it because the insides (rectum) literally get pushed out. You can't miss it. It's very dark flesh- do not Google. It's absolutely terrifying as a parents but luckily it wasn't painful for him. It goes back in on its own or you can very very gently press it with a damp cloth.

The reason I mention it is because chronic constipation is the cause in young children- or extreme weightlifting in adults. So if there's a constipation issue, it's best to treat it. The other thing that can happen is if pooing hurts they don't want to go in the potty because they think the potty causes pain.