Constipated baby - Help!

[VeronicaFranklin]

Hi All

My LO is 10 weeks old and since birth has suffered with constipation, she has never gone regularly, initially combination fed and since 6 weeks exclusively on formula.

We tried Aptamil 1 initially then moved her onto a comfort formula specific for colic and constipation which she has been on for a while now.

She only poos maybe every 4/5 days, she is on lactulose 2.5 ml/ 5ml twice daily Also has Colief drops in her milk for colic.

However when she does poo it's still only every 4/5 days and it's usually loads comes out at once, she finds it painful then she doesn't go again for days. Consistency is usually green/brown/yellow thick soft poo.

We can always tell when it's getting to day 4 ish as she becomes irritable, her stomach hard and she strains and strains (even in her sleep)

I've been to GP 4/5 times since she was born about it as can see she is in pain, also spoken to HV. All are unconcerned and tell me formula babies can go a week without pooing and it's of no concern, but surely when she is on special milk, taking daily medication she should be going more regular than this and not getting to this point every week since birth?! She has also recently started with reflux on some of her feeds...so I haven no idea what to do.

I mentioned if it could be Cows milk protein allergy, and was told unlikely.

GP hasn't mentioned trying any other formula, prescribing her a special one to see how she goes or really helped at all.

Feeling really fed up that I can't help her and no medical professional seems to take me seriously. It's stupid but I'm literally getting tearful over baby poo! She's generally a happy baby until she gets to this point and then she is so unsettled as she's so bunged up.

Also to note - when we upped her lactulose from 2.5ml to 5ml twice daily (as per GP) she then ended up with explosive awful diarrhoea for a couple of days then back to being constipated.

Also tried tummy massage, cycling legs, warm baths etc.

Is this really normal for a formula baby as suggested by GP?!

Fucking GPs with babies I swear! They are utterly useless -I've had the same ort of problems. They hate suggesting prescription formula because it is expensive apparently. I honestly had a massive row with my GP because after the 4th time of calling she still wouldn't give my baby a face to face. They don't take me seriously either - its fucking shocking.

My boy has been formula fed since birth and hoes twice sometimes three times a day. I have heard they can go a few days but 4/5 every time seems a lot to me.

We did have a few constipation problems at about 3 weeks - we actually tried SMA lactose free formula and he seemed to go then... but we changed back to aptamil and had no other problems so not sure if it was just coincidence.

It sounds like you have tried everything I would suggest to be honest and I'm so sorry you've had the same experience I have with medical professionals. Only other one that gets my little one going is holding legs up to belly for 10 seconds then letting go.
Hoping this at least bumps things for you xx

Thank you.

Honestly I feel like I've been to the GP so many times about it now, they might start thinking I'm crazy.

I don't think it helps that one of the rare poo's she did (on day 4 of being constipated), happened to be at the GP appointment, so there I was explaining my baby was constipated and voila, in front of the GP she filled her nappy. You could not write it 😩

I think I'm going to have to call them again tomorrow (at risk of looking like an over zealous first time mum) as I'd least like to try maybe a lactose free formula or something to see if it is the milk.

I can understand a formula fed baby going maybe 4/5 days sometimes but surely not every week...she's on day 4 tomorrow so hoping she might go overnight.

We're getting her christened soon and when the vicar asked my hubby what he was praying for in church on Sunday, he said a poo! 😂

Oh bless you. I get the same from my GP and feel like they judge because I'm a FTM but just keep calling them. They will eventually have to take you seriously.

We just tried the lactose free ourselves without even asking medical advice because i was sick and fucking tired of waiting for the GP to suggest it. You can buy it in supermarkets. They all say only use it if directed by medical professionals and you probably should ... but we got so desperate... maybe say to her you're thinking of trying it. It's supposed to be a lot easier for them to digest.

And I totally get wishing for a poo.. I remember literally crying with joy over my babies poo when he was bad with it!!

Hi op, didn’t want to read and run.

I remember reading green poo is a sign of dehydration, more water maybe?

I’m so sorry you’re going through this, especially after giving birth it’s not what you need when you should be recovering and enjoying your baby.
GPs are useless with babies as a pp said and the formula for cows milk allergy is so expensive they’re unbelievably reluctant to prescribe it.
I spent the first few months of my baby’s life (after a 3rd degree tear and significant blood loss) going back and to trying to get them to listen to me and it was hell. They definitely thought I was an overly anxious ftm and beginning to think I was crazy and in a way I was because they wouldn’t bloody help me! It took me 5 GPs until one eventually said she thought it might be cpma and guess what? He has cmpa!!
If you suspect cmpa unfortunately a lactose free formula won’t be enough as it’s the protein not the lactose that the baby has the problem with. You can buy a special formula like Nutramigen on online pharmacy sites (although there’s a nationwide shortage atm) and give it a go and if it helps then you’ve got something to back you up at the GPs but a tin doesn’t last long.
Have you spoken to your health visitor? Could they help get the GPs to listen?

What’s her skin like? Is she a windy baby? Is she difficult to burp? What is she like to feed? What does her reflux look like? Is it milk looking or any other colour? Also maybe an odd questions but do you remember when she passed her first poo (meconium)? Was it within 48 hours? I’m sure they’ll have checked when in the hospital but just in case.

Yeah lactose free won't help with CMPA , but I know constipation is also a sign of lactose intolerence as they find it hard to digest when they are little.

Let us know how you get on OP. Fingers crossed they start to listen - and if not, keep calling them!

My 3 week old is struggling with Aptimal it is making her constipated and she’s screaming in pain, I have been advised that HiPP organic is gentler for their tummies anyone had any experience of this? I’m dubious to change formula as I know it can something’s make it worse but she’s in so much pain

My DD was also getting constipated on Aptimal 1 but switching to Kendamil solved the problem for us. Went from a poop ever 4-5 days to every day.

How long did it take for you to notice a difference once changing formula

Realise this is a fairly old thread, looking for some advice. So my now 1year old has been on aptamil lactose free since Aprilish, I noticed soon after he became quite constipated (did remove all dairy, he also eats a very balanced diet) I then reintroduced dairy (as advised) and his poos became like liquid again so I’ve now completely removed dairy again and now he’s struggling to poo again. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this could be or whether it’s the formula or what because I’ve honestly got no idea. I’m thinking of putting him on oat milk soon to see if that helps

Did you GP recommend changing to Lactose free? My LO is now 15 months she still suffers with constipation but is on movicol daily which helps, she has had it the other way with loose stools aswell. My GP actually advised lactose intolerance is over diagnosed massively in the UK and it's not all that common despite it seeming like it is due to the level of over-diagnosis of it. I was convince my baby was lactose in tolerant and it turns out she just has a slow gut. Once she was weaned fully and on cow's milk she did a lot better but still have off days.

Could be worth trying oat milk for a short period to see if it makes any difference. Honestly I know so many babies that have alternate constipation with loose stools I think it's because their guts are so sensitive and they're eating such a variety of foods.

Has your GP spoken to you about the milk ladder? slowly reintroducing dairy?

I'd try oat milk and then if no change go back to GP for advice personally.

Constipation was one of the biggest symptoms of CMPA for us but we had to fight very hard to get them to consider this avenue. Apparently diarrhoea is more common but constipation is a symptom and all of the warm baths and bicycle legs and massaging did nothing - all that worked was switching to CMPA formula.

Lactose intolerance is extremely rare in babies but a lot of GPs and HVs are not very knowledgable about these things and so are not aware.

This is especially because non-ige (delayed reaction) CMPA used to be referred to as "cows milk protein intolerance" and so often they seem to use lactose intolerance interchangeably. It's not the same thing and so most of the time lactose free formula will not work (because it's not the lactose that they're reacting to it's the protein).

If it's lactose free formula that you're on then you haven't removed dairy - only lactose. Lactose intolerance is very rare in babies - it is much much more likely to be CMPA which lactose free formula will not be appropriate for.

Formula wise you would need a CMPA formula but since your baby is over 1 it is unlikely you would get it prescribed unless there were growth issues. Unless there's a specific reason you need to continue with formula I would try removing dairy completely and going onto oat milk to test it:

@outerlope hi, yeah my doctor advised it. We’ve also tried the milk ladder, twice and the minute he was back on dairy he had loose loose stools and was sick quite frequently. Saying that though he seems to be able to eat chocolate and it not make him sick (not that he has it often but I notice when he is given some it doesn’t affect him and butter on his toast) but things like cheese and milk and yoghurt seem to cause issues instantly. He’s one now anyway so I’m just going to try the oat milk for a bit and then maybe try the milk ladder again as we were advised as well that babies can grow out of it so just need to keep trying it apparently? Thank you for your response though!