Constipation and laxatives’

[Jamielouiseb]

My baby has suffered with constipation since around 2 weeks old and is now 10 weeks. After a long night down the hospital we were given laxatives to try they did eventually make her open her bowells but lately it’s been almost too much so we cut it to half a sachet. She is still going now 3 times each day in last week and they have been real loose and up her back so I had a day or 2 of them but as soon as I do that she bungs back up again and cries in pain takes ages to go and brings her knees up etc. I’m now stuck whether to stay on them or come off and let her body get used to being off them because the amount and the looseness when on them is too much.

aside from this in the last few days since going a fair bit she has been funny with her feeds, flinging head back when feeding spitting and coughing milk drizzling down and the sizes are the same as they have been. She seems to be really unsettled after feeds and I can’t put her down. She has reflux but it’s never been this bad she is on lanzoprazol now as the gaviscon was what initially affected her constipation,

PLEASE HELP ME:(!!….

Hi. Constipation and reflux are symptoms of a dairy allergy. If you are breastfeeding try cutting all dairy out for a few weeks. And if you are using formula, then I'd have a chat with your GP about a new formula. Join Facebook page called real cmpa group. Amazing support on there. Good luck x

Just realised that reads like a robot has written it, sorry. Running on not much sleep at mo 😫

Thank you. I’m formula feeding we did mention a milk allergy but they said she would be throwing up and having rashes but but she doesn’t her reflux is silent she is very rarely sick she just has the pain. I’m at a loss

Constipation was one of the more painful symptoms (but less messy) for my little boy. He had severe reflux, vomited 10+ times a day down to the bile. No rashes ever. Vast improvement with amino acid formula and omeprazole at 6 months. He is almost 4 and has worked his way up the mill ladder, but still can't have cow milk itself.

For formula it can take up to 6 weeks to get the dairy out of their system. The first line prescription formulas are hydrolyzed (part processed protein) rather than fully dairy free. More severe cases need amino acid formula. In case you go down this route, don't stick with the hypoallergenic stuff if it doesn't work, there are other options that can be prescribed.

You're talking about sachets, is that movicol? 1 full sachet is pretty steep for a 10 week old isn't it?! My baby is on 0.5-1 sachet a day, plus suppositories. She is 10 months though - probably dairy sensitive, but no other issues. She didn't have problems before weaning onto food and is fully breastfed.

Could it be a food allergy, i.e. CMPA?

It could very well be but we have had so many hospital visits surely they would have mentioned a food allergy if it was possible. They never even mentioned it. As they would assume she’d be vomiting etc. I’m not sure but to be constipated still now with the head flings when feeding and awful trapped wind I just wonder what it could be. It’s so hard as a first time mum I’ve been through the lot I just wish someone had all the answers but I understand it’s trial and error: trouble is we have changed her milk so many times I don’t wanna change it again

NOBODY mentioned it to me, or almost nobody. In fact, I was really angry as my baby had been put on powerful medicines to treat the reflux and most of it was due to cow's milk allergy. What I've found on this journey is that they don't know half as much as they think they do. You, as a mum, need to research and push for diagnosis.

My children both have sever dairy allergy abs have never had rashes or been sick with it. Agree that knowledge in the medical profession is patchy at best. I’d be very tempted to try an amino acid formula and do it fairly soon. The hydrolysed one didn’t work for us but by the time I got to the AA one it was too late as it tastes revolting and my baby wasn’t interested. I was breastfeeding but hoping to combine but couldn’t as they wouldn’t take the AA. Anyway, I’d say very definitely worth a go.