Won't poo but not constipated?!

[ShinySarah]

My almost 2.5 year old has been holding back her poop for 4 (on /off) months now. She is not constipated because there is always soiling/poop in her nappy (small ones and smear) that require up to 4 nappy changes in an hour on some days!
When she was younger she suffered with constipation then v bad nappy rash maybe that's led to this?!?! Health visitor has said its a phase but she won't go anywhere near a potty and tbh I don't blame her at the minute...Just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar?!
She's my 3rd and I've never had this before! ???
Many thanks
Sarah

My third is 2.5 and I’m just coming out of months of hell with this issue. My best guess is that the had a bad nappy rash (she did), held her pop, got constipated and gave herself a tear so held even more, causing continued constipation. She was going once a week, a big hard pop she could no longer hold and was more distressed than you could imagine. We put her on a huge dose of movicol to both soften everything and stop her being able to hold. By day 3 she did 3 huge full runny nappies (this is after weeks of only letting a tiny smear out 4 times a day and crying all day long about wanting to pop). We have lowered the movicol to a more normal dose and her daily full nappies have continued, she seems less scared and as long as they stay soft, hopefully she won’t get that same pain again from the tear.

You must deal with this. It can get worse. I was back to the docs twice and on the phone to my GP family member many times before finding this solution. I think we’re finally over the worst of it.

She may be constipated. She could have a large impacted poo and the smearing/small poops could be overflow.

Exactly what I was going to say - smears of poo in pants do not mean that she isn't constipated - most likely the opposite.

Think you're right. She did a poo today and I think she's holding it in and only letting bits out...doctors tomorrow....Thanks ladies...