Baby holding in her poo!

[katpotat]

My 14mnth old DD has been constipated in the past, having to have a micro enema. She now seems to be so tramatised about pooing that she holds in poo all the time....she now has bad nappy rash too. Any tips on getting her to let go??

Oh my god!!! She has just managed to go, after being put to bed, she has been holding for the last two days, and obviously she couldn't hold it any longer, she was screaming in agony , i had to help her pass it. Her poor bottom is now scarlet and the skin is broken...I don't know what to do to help her.

oh the poor wee thing. and poor you.
sorry i don't have any tips, at least not ones you won't have already heard a zillion times. i like bepanthen for nappy rash, though. and dd's pooing and nappies did go very funny when she was teething.

Oh poor thing, my dd gets like this too. I've just bought her a potty in the hope that it may get her into a good position but she won't open her legs or sit down when she needs to go its heartbreaking, I sometimes have to help her too then wonder if its worse or better! A warm bath can help as can tummy massage. My dd is on lactulose daily is your dd on anything for it?

yes she is getting lactulose daily too, I also have tried the pooty, she loves having a story on it , but doesn't go. Warm baths and tummy massage don't seem to be working...I am so worried about her

I understand, I'm exactly the same but have been told not to worry just keep getting fruit and veg and plenty of fluid into her. I'd go back to your doctor or health visitor if she's still having problems though. My dd sees lots of doctors and peadiatricians for her genetic condition and they have never seemed bothered even though she often has blood in her poo. Its not air them having to struggle with it though is it? We were given senna after a really bad time when she'd got dehydrated and it made it worse, the senna gave her horrific cramps though. Lactulose doesn't seem to be enough though. Sorry I'm not being much help but I do know how you feel.

Yes , same here "give plenty fruit, veg and water"
That's not really the issue though, she can go, it's just she is choosing not to....it's such a vicious circle. You can't help worrying and to see her in so much pain when she does go, it's heartbreaking
I asked about other meds and apparently there is nothing else licensed for children under 6 years of age.
Will remember about the senna though

Lactulose
Orange juice, and plenty of it.

The senna is harsh though it forces the bowels to spasm or similar so forcing them to go, my dd was in so much pain I had to ring the doctor again. May not be as bad for everyone of course. All my health visitor said about the holding was to offer comfort and reassurance which of course we would do anyway!I'm not sure what the solutuion is but will be watching this thread in case someone else has ideas.

The other problem is she doesn't drink much, only milk and water (not much though, it's almost like she is never thirsty).....have tried OJ but she doesn't like too much, had more success with home made ice lollies.
Going to go back to the doctors have been keeping a diary of her bowel movements....he said he may refer us to the hospital if things haven't improved... not sure what they can do though??

Just a suggestion but could you try giving her water/orange juice in a syringe? It works for my dd if she's not drinking enough or needs dioralyte or something. She has taken meds 8times plus a day from birth though so is used to it. Might be worth a try.

Thanks, i am going to try and get that cream tomorrow...it's looks so sore will try anything

Also have resorted to syringe before, might give it another go

Katpotat, sympathise massively. It's very hard seeing your little one suffer like this. Sounds like hard stools are probably the main issue aside from the psychological one. How about a shopping trip to pick a special big girls cup? Would you consider allowing her weak cordial if it would encourage her to drink fluids? You can buy some very natural ones if you choose carefully. Other alternatives include novelty staws, coloured ice cubes in drinks (made from fruit juice), my dd loves drinking 'wine' (from a wine glass) - I have been known to do all of the above!
Fruit smoothies (banana & mango firm fav in our house, just 1 mango, 1 banana and a splash of OJ or water blended together.

Is she walking about yet? Lots and lots of running about can sometimes help. HTH

Yes she has just started walking in the last few weeks, so hopefully that will make a difference...I could sell you cups though might give the fruit ice cubes a go though . Thanks for all your replies....need to do something for her.

Oh and get some bran from Holland and Barrett.

It helped my dd2's constipation massively. Hide the bran anywhere, but hidden in either mash potatoes or gravy worked wonders.

I wouldn't reccomend this but my gp gave her suppositories. Glycerine ones. They did work but absolutely heartbreaking to put them in.

My DD2 has done this for about a year now (she is 2.8yrs) usually once a month or so.

We have to really encourage her to try and pass it herself, but we do have a stock of suppositries and also a prescription for Movical Infant from the GP.

Not much i can suggest, but sympathy because I know how heartbreaking it is.

SazzlesA - Thanks got that cream today...has worked wonders.
Unfortunaltey she is still holding in poos though She is still too young to reason with, not sure what to do now?

smearing a bit of vaseline round her bum can help the poo slip out, but if it's very hard it'll need softening - your dr is spouting rubbish saying there aren't any other meds licensed for under 6s - my ds was prescribed movicol paediatric at 4 and I know plenty of other kids who've had it younger than that

we were told to try not to give too much milk as that can bind them up and just keep offering sips of fluid during the day to get them into the habit of drinking regularly

And no bananas either. Too many will make them bind up.

Another thing that worked for me was the tinned fruit. Even save the juice and add water to it

TBH the supositories busted the constipation but didnt help the routine of things. Plenty of fruit juice in any form, and lots of bran hidden in food helped me.

My dd is now 10 and she still only poos twice a week. But is healthy. And she only poos late at night or when we have to go out...and with a book or mag on the pan..but she goes.

And I agree with mims. Lots of greasy creams around the bum will help massively.

Try not to show her your anxiety as she will pick up on that too, and hold it in even longer.
Well, my dd2 did.

Blessings x x

Just had a thought. My health visitor offered to refer DD to a clinic in my area specifically for children with constipation if the problem got worse, maybe its worth asking about that? She said it was lead by nurses who worked with you to get a program going for the child and often used movicol to start everything up. I know these things differ from area to area but it may be worth just asking?

I have recently bought humzingers fruit bars www.humzingers.co.uk to put in ds 12months lunchbox for the cm. He wolfs them down and has now pooped 3 days in a row, when normally he would only go every 2nd or 3rd day with some distress. He has also got a new sippy cup, so is able to help himself to fluids when he wants, so that might be helping too.
You can get humzingers from boots, most supermarkets and health food shops and they are about £1.75 for 10.
He loves other dried fruit such as apricots, prunes, mango but these come ready packaged (no removing dried fruit welded to the inside of my bag where the lid has come off the pot) and the bits are small enough so that I don't have to chop them up (no choking or replacing gummed up kitchen scissors)