Help for horribly constipated baby?

[itsazoohere]

My breast fed 5 wk old dd hasn't pooed since sunday night.
I know it's my fault-we switched to bottles temporarily on saturday night. Normally every nappy is dirty, but the sma gold seemed to bung her up as the only dirty nappy on sunday was very solid compaired to her normal squits. And there's been nothing since.
Now she seems in so much pain! Not all the time, it seems to come in spasms.
I've tried massaging her belly clockwise, cycling her legs, warm baths, I'm feeding her almost constantly (it calms her down and always used to make her poo). Is there anything else I can do? My mother suggests a few drops of orange juice in boiled water, but she's so small...but it's awful to see her hurting.

Cooled boiled water works a treat for my DS...failing that, Ashton and Parsons teething powders...they are homeopathic and they clear him out good and proper if he's in too much pain. Not sure if could use them in a baby that young, but you could always check.

SMA gold gave my DS soooo much grief. We switched to Aptamil and that was much better.

My midwife said the same about orange juice.

Also keep trying the massage try these moves - I've had babies before who have even had a poo during the massage after being constipated for days!!

1. Stomach Hold

Place your hand flat on baby?s stomach and hold for 20 seconds

1. Stomach Stroking

Stroke the stomach one hand after the other downwards

1. Elevated Stomach Stroking

Stroke the stomach as above but lift baby?s legs upwards.

4. Open Tummy
   Place thumbs either side of the naval and stroke to the sides of the tummy.

5. Full Circle
   Using your left hand make a full circle in a clockwise direction on baby?s tummy.

6. Full circle / Half circle
   Continuing with your full circle movement add in a half circle at the top of your circle with your other hand.

7. Draw a bridge
   Stroke the tummy using one hand making a bridge shape

1. Lines to the left

With relaxed fingers walk from right to left hand side of baby?s tummy.

Poor thing. Maybe just some warm water on it's own rather than with juice added.

Thank you. Will try the massage when she wakes-it's just hard to find a time when she's not either asllep, feeding or screaming. And will try boiled water now!

Try the massage even when she is screaming. IT is the only occaision when i would recommened massage whilst the baby is crying but it does normally bring relief.

That makes it easier then! Thank you, will try when she wakes. Which won't be long, as the pain doesn't seem to let her sleep deeply or settle. Poor babe.

Hope all goes well. Let me know!

Poor little thing... I had to move my DD onto the bottle at 7 weeks because of her jaundice and she was constipated for a week!

The Health Visitor suggested a tsp of pure orange juice, which I tried in desperation and I have to say it worked like a charm.

The massage tips already given are also fantastic - DD continued to have terrible wind and reflux until she was about 11 months, and baby massage helped loads while I was waiting for a proper diagnosis.

If you're in or anywhere near a Surestart area, see if they run classes - ours were something silly like 50p a go (compared with £6 a session privately) and they were so good - still massage her at 2 and it helps no end to calm us both down!

Good luck

I also did SureStart massage classes - ours were free - I highly recommend them.

Another suggestion: I took DS to a cranial osteopath from 4 weeks to 3 months old, because of his dreadful colic. It was a fantastic help, and also the CO taught me one on one how to massage DS properly. He didn't even touch his head until the 4th session, just worked on his tummy, and DS ALWAYS had a huuuge poo afterwards!

Massagemum, you are a star!
You are right up there in my mn shrine alongside Lulumama.
She didn't want any boiled water, so I got out the oil. She loved it! She's been smiling for a
week, but I've never heard her giggle like that before! Then she started crying, but I thought I'd carry on as we were just starting the walking fingers one when, lo and behold, one almighty atomic explosion ensued!
And then she peacefully drifted off to sleep in her huge puddle of poo. Bless.
I've cleaned her up, and she's still sleeping peacefully (although smelling slightly of fry up as we only had vegtable oil in the house).
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Sounds brilliant! Does it also work with constipated 2/3 year olds?

blodwen - My ds2 was constipated when he was about 18 months old. GP said the problem is usually caused by insufficient fluids. Diluted orange juice is good, but if you can get away with slipping in a couple of teaspoons of prune juice the effect is dramatic1 I thought it was just an old wives' tale.

Would think so, but can I suggest you try it from the other end to the one I did?! Wow, what a mess.

Sorry just come back on.

I'm so glad that it worked for you!!! I still use it on my 4 year old if the need arises. She loves it and now asks for an all over massage if she is in the mood.

Hope that you both slept well. Let me know.

Babyzoo is SOOO much happier now! She's a little chuckling bundle of gorgeousness. Been using the massages every evening as she still seems to need some 'help'. And she just LOVES it! Other two dds have been helping too. Saw HV today, she says there are no sure start classes in my area. Lots of private ones, but all fairly expensive. However, she knows of someone who may have a vidoe I can borrow. Can't wait!
Thank you so much!!

Hi Just joining the thread...
Our baby is 6.5 months old and is pooing about every day but is in terrible pain when she does. She will literally scream in pain until it is all out. Today we had to help it come out. She is exclusively on bottles now but has been on formula for at least a month. We have been giving her solids (such as pumpkin) (also about a month) and stewed apple at least once a day. This is a recent development and so we are a bit concerned, plus when she screams it breaks our hearts!
I see a lot of people suggesting juice, is she old enough for it?

Juice is fine at this age I used to use fresh oranje juice diluted with water for dd1 from 5months and this would help soften her stools and help her also used cranberry and apple juice. Also just check what food you are giving her as if it would give you constipation it will give her constipation to. HTH

Sorry meant to ask which formula as started suing sma gold for dd2 but made her oos very hard swapped to aptamil and its been fine since

ooops
suing was meant to be using
oos was meant to be poos!!

We are in New Zealand so we have different brands of formula here. I'll try the juice, and we'll keep giving her a helping of apple everyday and give her water too. poor wee sausage