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Original poster

URGENT - Constipation!

43 replies

wobblyknixx · 04/04/2004 20:26

Sorry, a dire query about a gruesome topic!!

DD (9 months) has had a funny weekend of bringing up her milk here and there and as a result she's really constipated. I've tried giving her more fruit etc but she's still really 'bunged up'. Its really causing her discomfort now and she is not a happy bunny. Apart from getting more fluids down (I'm trying but they keep coming back!!), has anyone got any sure fire laxative ideas? PLEASE?????

I've done a quick search but I couldn't find much, have to keep nipping off to see to her.

Thanks!

OP posts:
stace · 04/04/2004 20:31

I used to put some prunes in a sieve and pour boiling water on them mash them a bit and then sieve out the liquid., cool it in the fridge and give as a drink, used to work a treat.

However watch out as you say she is chucking up also, make sure her nappies are still wet or she may have a bug. Is she keeping anything down at all??

Lisa78 · 04/04/2004 20:34

DS2 gets this problem - fresh orange juice, well diluted (about 1 part OJ to 5 parts water) and his bum explodes! Good luck

Original poster
wobblyknixx · 04/04/2004 20:34

Her nappies are still reasonably wet and she's keeping food down fine, but that's just blocking her up more. Think she may have just started with a bit of wind or overexcitement, thrown up, missed a bit of fluid, got a bit stuffed up, then thrown up more because she's felt bunged up. Have been thinking she might have a little bug but either way she's constipated.

OP posts:
Original poster
wobblyknixx · 04/04/2004 20:35

Thanks both of you. I knew about prunes but we don't have any in atm, will have to get some tomorrow.

Thanks lisa, I knew there was something about OJ but I couldn't remember what it was, thats why I came here!!

OP posts:
stace · 04/04/2004 20:36

also you can try orange juice maybe water it down a bit but oranges can be a good laxative, if you cant get hold of or get her to eat prunes.

stace · 04/04/2004 20:37

sorry to repeat crossed messages good luck !!!!

CP3 · 04/04/2004 20:37

Boiled water with brown sugar worked for my ds when she was little

stace · 04/04/2004 20:39

yeah when i was a kid my mum always used to make us drink cooled boiled water, whilst still slightly warm.

Original poster
wobblyknixx · 04/04/2004 20:43

I've just squeezed one small orange and diluted it to 5 parts water so I'm going to give that to her instead of her last milk feed. How long does it take to work because she usually sleeps all night, will she blow up in the middle of the night??? lol

Brown sugar sounds good, should I put a tiny bit in the orange mix?

OP posts:
CP3 · 04/04/2004 20:48

Go for it Wobblyknix and make sure you dilute the orange juice with cooled boiled water(still warm though).

Dunno how long it will take was immediate with my ds

Original poster
wobblyknixx · 04/04/2004 20:51

Ok ta, have well diluted the juice - am just trying to get it down her - she hates anything to drink except milk. She's drunk a few drops and is not impressed!!

OP posts:
CP3 · 04/04/2004 20:55

Bless. Ive started giving ds water in a beaker and he looks at me in disgust and spits it out with the most funny frown

Original poster
wobblyknixx · 04/04/2004 20:57

Usually I give her milk from a bottle then let her play with water in a beaker, most of it goes down her but some goes in and I'm hoping she'll pick up the idea one day.

OP posts:
Original poster
wobblyknixx · 05/04/2004 09:25

Still no 'results', and dd still in a stinky mood. She's definitely coming down with a little something - got the sneezles and runny nose.

Really tried hard giving her the orange but she wouldn't have it at all, got about half an oz down her in the end. She still slept all night so she can't be too dire. Am missing out all savoury solids today and stuffing her with loads of weak milk and a bit of fruit puree, so hoping for an explosion later!!

Probably won't be able to get out for prunes but what are the best fruits out of the following (that I have got!)

orange, pineapple, mango, blackberries, blackcurrants, apple, pear, apricot, peach?

OP posts:
Thomcat · 05/04/2004 17:43

Avoid foods with apple, banana & carrot.

Give her porridge for breakfast, oats are good and gentler on bowel than wheat.

Cook some fruit, like peaches in freshly squeezed oj and puree for her.

prune juice

chocolate pudding

red meat, like spag bol with lots of added veggies like mushrooms and courgettes and onions & garlic.

Add olive oil to her main meal, good for using on the spag bol, or shepherds pie or something

sweetcorn

linseed seeds, grind them up and add to her porridge

lactulose will soften her stool as what is there now will be compacted by now and quite hard and painful to pass. Lactuloste is just syrupy mix that gently softens stool and takes a couple of days.

Massage her tummy, use a little oil in your hands, and also lay her on her back and cycle her legs round.

if still no good 2g glycerine suppostiries available over counter at phamacy and they REALLY do work.

wobblyfox · 05/04/2004 18:23

Thanks tc!!! Still no sign of explosion yet, she is passing little bits now and again though. I'll try all those suggestions, am assuming you just get lactulose from the chemist?

She hasn't been properly since Thursday night - how long do you think I should give it before getting the suppositiries?

Thomcat · 06/04/2004 10:02

Hiya, yes lactulose you can get from any chemist.

While you're there check about the age of your daughter and the suppositiries. I actually try everything else before going there and they should only be used in emergency, ie, no poo for a week, asa) they aren't pleasent for either of you! and b) if you were to make a habit of using them they would make the bowel lazy.

I'd get them in asap, just incase you decide enough is enough over Easter. Ypou can be using the lactulose oin the meantime, and she can take that at 9 months.

keep on with all the other things like porridge etc.

I ground some linseeds into Lottie's wheatabix this morning. She literally lives with constipation and goes twice a week if I'm lucky.

Did you try the massage thing, that usually works well. You could also then try sitting her in your arms, kind of.... back to your tummy and hook her legs over your arms and make it feel okay by just gently swinging her and talking gently in her ear, but but doing this you are putting her in a good position to pass anything iykwim.
Do this at the end of the day when you've spent the day avoiding certain foods and giving her lots of others that I mentioned and after a warm bath which can also help.

Good luck.

wobblyknicks · 07/04/2004 10:03

Thanks again. Still no sign of anything much, but she is passing little hard stools now and then. I keep giving her watered down milk and porridge with prunes and other fruits in. Haven't been able to get to the chemist yet but will do today, and will get the suppositiries just in case. Have to go and see essbee tomorrow so need everything with me just in case!!!

Her nappies are really wet (am giving her so much fluid I'm not surprised!!) so am not too worried there and she's not been sick since Sunday.

Keep rubbing her tummy etc so hoping that's helping. Phoned NHS Direct (got talked to like a 3-year old as usual!) and they said go to the doctor, got to wait until 2.30 for the doctor to phone me back now!!

I know its gruesome and I'm hoping it won't get that far but if I have to use suppositiries, what is unpleasant about them? Sorry, I have to know just in case!!!

bundle · 07/04/2004 10:09

does anyone still use syrup of figs? we have a bottle which seemed to work overnight for dd1. hope you get some joy for her soon wobblyknixx!

wobblyknicks · 07/04/2004 10:12

bundle - I'll get some of that too - anything that might work!!!

wobblyknicks · 07/04/2004 10:20

By the way, this has reminded me of an interesting point. I think mumsnet should get government funding for helping out the NHS!! NHS Direct never seems to give me better advice than I get on here. Not suggesting for a minute you stick to mumsnet instead of seeing a gp, but when I just phoned NHS Direct all they said was go to the GP, they didn't advise any of the things already mentioned on here, which I would have thought would have been sensible to do in the meantime.

wobblyknicks · 07/04/2004 11:56

Thanks for all the help - dd has just done a big loads of looser poo so it looks like the prunes and stuff are working!!!

Thanks for all the advice!

bundle · 07/04/2004 11:57

fab news. a friend told me that last week her 3 yr old had to be - ahem - manually evacuated, so I'm glad it didn't come to that for you...

CountessDracula · 07/04/2004 12:01

Wobblyknicks, after my thread the other day here bout ringworm I got brilliant advice - dh asked if I was going to take her back to the doctor and I said no, he said OH god just because of what you have heard on FISHWIVESNET I guess!!! ROFL!

wobblyknicks · 07/04/2004 12:58

bundle - urrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!

cd - your dh obviously knows nothing!!! I reckon the combined knowledge of mumsnet easily beats the knowledge of the entire NHS at times!!!