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Original poster

constipated baby

15 replies

nk1605 · 26/03/2015 16:53

my 9 day old dd usually had bowel movements every 2nd feed. The past 2 days there has been nothing. when she cries it's as I'd she's trying to push something out but nothings coming, only passing wind a few times. I've tried cooled boiled water, rubbing her back, rubbing her tummy but to no avail! she hasn't kept milk down since 11 am this morning and has thrown up an entire bottle when I tried to feed her this afternoon. what can I do to help her? I hate seeing her distressed

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Stayworkathomemum · 26/03/2015 18:54

Aww poor baby. I hope she's ok soon. I had exactly the same when my son was this age. He would even go for two or three days without a poop and it worried me. It happened about 3 times in his first month of life. I used a tip from the MIL. I cleaned my hands thoroughly and took off a fingernail so it wasn't sharp and I coated a finger in Vaseline and just gently massaged about a centimetre inside his bottom for a minute or two...disgusting I know but the things we do for love!!!

It worked a treat and just about 5 mins later DS passed the smelliest poop ever! But he was in a much better mood after that!

Hope that helps if you are brave enough to get your hands dirty

LittleBearPad · 26/03/2015 18:57

How are you feeding her?

Flingingmelon · 26/03/2015 18:58

Have you tried putting her in the bath for a while. The warmth sometimes helps get things going if you cycle her legs whilst she's in there.

A tiny bit of orange juice (I'm talking a couple of drops in a syringe of water) can work but I know some people don't like giving babies juice.

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SoMuchForSubtlety · 26/03/2015 18:58

It's quite normal for tiny babies to go for days between poos. The discomfort is more likely to be wind.

How often are you burping and for how long? She may need to be burped mid-feed and it may take a while of patting for her to bring up the burp.

Also try adjusting the angle she is at when feeding, some babies are better off a bit more vertical when they eat at that age. And check that she isn't gulping air when feeding (good latch if bf, good anti-colic teat if ff).

Stayworkathomemum · 26/03/2015 19:01

Just to add as well, my DS also used to take less from his bottle or sick up when he was constipated or straining, I think when they are so young and having so many feeds they get built up and backed up easy. It tends to ease up when a growth spurt comes along and catches up with the milk input, unfortunately for OH and I that meant fussiness and more night feeding, my DS was and still is at 10
Months an eating machine!!

Original poster

nk1605 · 26/03/2015 19:11

She's bottle fed using aptamil. I will try the finger up the bottom, I will do anything at this point to help her! she's really straining a lot and her crying is awful because of it. wish me luck!

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dementedpixie · 26/03/2015 19:18

I wouldn't be sticking anything up his bottom! I would also see if you could contact a midwife/hv quickly as it isn't really normal for a 9 day old to go longer between poos (more normal at a few weeks old). It also doesn't sound good for him to be taking little milk and throwing up.

dementedpixie · 26/03/2015 19:19

Her, not his sorry

VivaLeBeaver · 26/03/2015 19:22

I had similar with dd years ago and when I rang the out of hours Dr they got the hospital paed to ring me back. He said about the Vaseline slightly up the bottom trick or to try sitting her in the bath. The vaseline worked.

But if you're worried get her seen. You're still under midwife care aren't you? Can you ring the postnatal ward for advice.

Original poster

nk1605 · 26/03/2015 20:20

I rang the midwife. she said to try a teaspoon of squeezed orange in water or stimulating her bum when I'm doing a nappy change. If that doesn't help then ill have to get her checked at the out of hours

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dementedpixie · 26/03/2015 20:27

Orange juice shouldn't be given to a tiny baby either (linked to eczema and is very acidic). A small amount of cool boiled water would be better if you are giving extra fluids

Crownjewel · 26/03/2015 20:42

DS suffered this several times during his first month - I put him in a warm bath and gently massaged his tummy in a circular motion with my fingertips for a minute or two, then with a clean cotton bud I gently ran circles around the outside of his bottom (just at the entrance, not inside!) and within 5 minutes he would do a hi ge poo into the bath water - worked every time without fail!

Original poster

nk1605 · 26/03/2015 22:31

at the end of my tether with the screaming so I tried stimulating around her bum and my god it worked a charm! I just used some cotton wool to do it and after about a minute the poo just flowed! it looks a lot more solid than it did before.

just so glad she has some relief now

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Original poster

nk1605 · 26/03/2015 22:32

and just to add it was just around her bum, not inside!

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Patatas · 26/03/2015 22:42

Glad you got a result. Can also try lying her flat and lifting her legs in a cycling motion, that always got things moving for my ds.

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