Constipated baby..

[Jessiewilliamsxx]

So my baby is struggling with constipation and I'm not sure what will help, I've tried water and massage etc but it's not helping. She's on hungry baby formula and takes around 7oz and she's a month old, she is pooping but it's practically solid and she struggles to push it out. Does anyone know what will help? I've heard that trying a spoon full of baby food fruit as she may not be getting enough nutrition and that will help but I'm not sure. I know hungry baby can make them a little constipated but nothing is helping.

I would try feeding her smaller amounts every 3 hours instead of 4 - it will stop her trying to drink too much too fast.

For soothing constipation, either try watering down a couple of feeds (1 or 2 less scoops) or give 2-3oz cooled boiled water twice, 2 hrs after her usual feeds. The second worked a treat for my baby on more than one occasion.
When she is straining, rub her tummy and push her legs back towards her to help her - we don't go to the toilet lying down...!

If nothing helps do try comfort milk instead - it is also thicker (like hungry baby) so will be kept down and less likely to be brought back up again, but is much gentler on her tummy than hungry baby.

4-5 hrs between feeds is a long to time, my baby fed 2 hrs at 4 weeks, my baby was BF but I think the same goes for FF. Have you tried feeding little and often.

Aaaaaaah X-posted ignore me.

I'm sorry that you are feeling attacked op. I'm sure that isn't the intention at all. Like someone mentioned earlier it might just be worth trying to tweak the feeding routine and that might help to remedy things slightly before resorting to the other remedies. With DS he often went 4 hours from quite early on but wouldn't go long at night at all. A friend whose baby was born a few weeks before him suggested I try offering him the milk every 3 hours instead with the though being that if he didnt want it/ wasn't yet hungry, he wouldn't take it anyway. But that if he did then we'd end up fitting one extra feed into the day and might help him to go longer in the nights. We tried it and it worked very well indeed. He would take slightly less each feed but still pretty much the same in a 24 hour period. He seemed to deal with the smaller amounts better too and wasn't glugging to the end of the bottle in the way I might if I'm thirsty and finally get home for some water from the tap!
I think that's all that people are suggesting as it could just be worth a try and won't harm even if its not the remedy to the constipation. At least you'll have happily ruled it out.
I hope that you get it resolved soon. This time is crazy enough without worrying about the lack of bowel movements too. I hope you both feel happier soon.

"1 month old babies dont need home remedies and you wouldnt normally give (or need to give) water/sugar water/orange juice/fruit puree to a newborn baby. We were trying to give ideas that would stop the constipation rather than having to treat it all the time."

Quoted from up thread.

This is very sound advice. I am a midwife and health visitor (as you seem to place much importance on this).

Just to give you a little food for thought. It's perfectly normal for newborns can feed 7 or 8 times in a 24 hour period. This changes often over the first 6 months. My little one had terrible constipation caused by meds from about 6 weeks and little feeds more often really did help. We probably fed every 3 hours at your stage and about 4-6 oz per feed. I know you're feeling a bit "got at", please don't. Your GP has said there is nothing than can be given, so feeding less more often is maybe worth a try? By the way, big babies don't always require more than a little baby, feeding requirements are much more subtle than that. Hungry baby and some anti reflux milks can be the work of the devil for babies digestions, so it really is a balancing act/ trial and error. Good luck, constipation is miserable.

Ps. The sugar water orange juice solutions are used because the high sugar draws more water into the gut to try to make the poo looser and easier to pass. Constant use can increase the width of the gut, it isn't irreversible but once you stop it can make pooing less easy, so it isn't a brilliant idea to rely on it regularly.

You've asked for advice but seem very defensive. I agree with other mums who have expressed that you should be treating the cause in the long run, not just the immediate effect. If a baby is constipated it is because of their diet. If your baby ate so much that she made herself sick, why give her so much? Could she eat less, more often? I agree that 4-5 hours between feeds is quite a long time (considering that 5 hours is regarded as a through the night stretch.) You know your baby best and if you are happy that you are supported by your GP and the HV then why look for home remedies if you consider that nothing is wrong?

Just read my message again...I wrote it at 4am and pressed post without reading it this morning. It sounds really harsh, sorry! I know diet isn't the only thing that could a baby to change their movements. I hope you find something that helps DD.

Hi Jessie,

It's really tricky trying to get the balance right. I completely understand that you don't want your baby being sick. It does sound like you dd was being sick because of took much milk being in her tummy. 7oz is a lot for a 1 month old to be taking in a single feed and I think it's important to prevent the constipation rather than cure.
There are some very helpful points on this thread and I'm certain your HV and GP will be concerned if constipation and dry stools are a regular occurrence at this age. Also the GP recommended only cooled boiled water for it at this age because that is really all her little tummy can process, if it isn't working you need to go back for further advice rather than look for out of date home remedies.
Without a doubt you are doing your best and you will want what is best and safe for your dd.
I would seriously consider giving more frequent smaller feeds of a comfort formula. I suspect if your dd was sick after 4-5 ozs of normal formula she is now having to process 7ozs of hungry baby, I don't imagine it will be doing her tummy a lot of good.
It is great she goes so long between feeds and does 7 hours at night but not if it's going cause her constipation.
The ladies on here are only saying to try different formulas and routine etc because they want what's best for your baby too.