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7 month old constantly constipated

20 replies

Poppybloom55 · 19/05/2023 20:21

My little one is 7 months next week and he’s been suffering from constipation for a while. Up until he was 5 months, he’d go daily, usually twice a day. Then one day he just didn’t go and soon enough a week had gone by.
Nothing had changed. We hadn’t started weaning, no signs that he was unwell and he was on the same formula.
I took him to the GP and they prescribed lactulose but he still wouldn’t go so we went back and then they prescribed Laxido. A few days later he had an explosive poop.
Then another week went by so I gave Laxido again and he’d have an explosive poop again.
The GP advised me to give Laxido daily until he was going more regular and it was normal rather than explosive diarrhoea so that’s what I did but still 8/9 days would go by and then it would be EVERYWHERE.

By 6ish months, it changed again when we started weaning. He’d still go all week without going, but then one day he was screaming and straining so hard and eventually pushed out a rock solid poop.

The GP wasn’t concerned and just told me to give Laxido again. I hate giving him it because he’s absolutely terribly at drinking water (it has to be in water rather than milk) so it’s a real struggle everyday.

He’s still going all week with no poop and then eventually when he goes, it’s rock solid and he’s in a lot of pain, waking in the night crying trying to go.

The GPs (we’ve seen about 4 now!) just keep saying carry on with Laxido but it just doesn’t seem right anymore. Surely they should be doing some tests and checking for a lazy bowel or a problem with his bowel?

Anyone had any advice please?

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 19/05/2023 21:13

I wouldn't be happy about that either. Is he still in first stage formula? Sometimes the added iron in follow on formula can cause a few issues, constipation being one of them.

DragonbornMum · 20/05/2023 08:00

I have a lazy bowel. GP won't do anything for it other than laxatives if it's that.

What solids are you giving him? Some things are very good at softening and moving things along. Pears and live yogurt is a yummy treat. Lentils cause an explosion in my son! The obvious prunes, butternut squash, and kiwis are also great. People say bananas make things firmer, but for me and my son they make us go pretty much immediately. And of course, water is the best thing you can possibly gove him to help soften things up.

Give him tummy massages between meals while you sing to him. It really helps soften things up

Poppybloom55 · 20/05/2023 08:03

Yea he’s still on first stage. We were advised not to bother with follow on milk.

He hates water, I really struggle every day to get him to drink any but the constipation started before he was weaning / having water anyway so I don’t think that’s the cause but would certainly help.

Ive tried foods to make him go, he has prunes regular and still no luck.

Since yesterday he’s actually gone 3 times to poop but they’ve been solid balls each time and a lot of tears :-(

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 20/05/2023 08:10

You don't think it could be CMPA do you?

The symptoms are here.

Itcouldhappenabishop · 20/05/2023 08:14

Poor little love 😔. It won't get at the root cause but have you tried glycerin suppositories? They kind of smooth the passage as it were! And the act of, um, insertion seems to stimulate the bowel to move. My LO was constipated when we started weaning and these worked a treat.
Good luck Flowers

OooohAhhhh · 20/05/2023 08:30

My baby girl suffered from this, but it's since improved dramatically. When he is straining but him in the bath, it really helps to squeeze it out. Your baby needs more fibre. I give mine real fibre from Holland & Barrett (it's like a bag of sawdust consistency) I sprinkle it on her porridge every morning.
I blend her apples, pears, peaches etc - fibre rich fruits
Spinach with pasta, broccoli. Basically I mix in fibre rich foods with normal foods. This did the trick. Also increased her water but not by much as she doesn't drink that much as I'm still breastfeeding.

OooohAhhhh · 20/05/2023 08:33

Forgot to mention they prescribed me lactulose too, but I wasn't comfortable giving her it often. Not once did the doctor ask what she was eating, just prescribed lactulose. I had to figure it out for myself, and after reading up stuff online I realised she wasn't getting much fibre.

cyncope · 20/05/2023 08:45

Are you giving the laxido daily?

Fandabedodgy · 20/05/2023 09:04

Prunes
Apples
Plums
Pears
Kiwi
Chicken broth
Scotch broth
Spinach
Sweet potato
Beans
Peas
Lentils

All natural laxatives and great weaning foods. Try these and that should get things moving.

Poppybloom55 · 20/05/2023 11:46

We’ve been trying all the foods that help but even after whole pounces of prunes through the week he doesn’t go any sooner than the usual 8/9 days or pass anything soft.

Yeah Laxido daily. He has a whole sachet because half wasn’t enough.

When he was a newborn we suspected CMPA because of several symptoms and went to the doctors and they changed him to the special formula but it didn’t make a difference so they ruled it out.

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jacquec · 20/05/2023 12:14

Your baby needs more fibre

Please be very careful with advice such as this. Fibre without the relative amount of hydration causes further constipation. There is a misconception that if you just up fibre in someone's diet it automatically equates to easier bowel movements which is not accurate.

cyncope · 20/05/2023 12:50

If he's on daily laxido and still only going weekly then you need to take him back to the GP and either up the dose or ask for a referral to the bowel team.

Bagofsocks · 20/05/2023 12:58

Have you tried massage of tummy? Baby massage Google it cycle of legs and circle motion on tummy with hands. My lo didn't poop for 5 days I gave him a baby massage and it helped loads.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 20/05/2023 16:10

cyncope · 20/05/2023 12:50

If he's on daily laxido and still only going weekly then you need to take him back to the GP and either up the dose or ask for a referral to the bowel team.

^This

He needs a referral and possibly allergy testing too.

Beseen22 · 20/05/2023 16:16

My friends little boy had Hirschsprung disease that wasn't caught until he was a toddler. I'd want him referred further.

CurlewKate · 20/05/2023 19:14

What about diluted fresh orange juice? That helped for my baby ds...

Fleur405 · 20/05/2023 19:22

So it’s very common for babies to get constipated especially when weaning. I’d perhaps try the lactulose again because it’s very gentle - a bit of trial and error to find the right dose but will definitely help with hard poops.

my son had a bowel condition that needed surgery (diagnosed just after birth). With the greatest of respect gps are no use for this sort of thing. If you are concerned there is something wrong ask to be referred to a paediatric gastroenterologist.

Angeldelight21 · 20/05/2023 23:06

Try baby massage and look into his diet. I hope your little one feels better soon X

Klh89 · 24/01/2024 14:44

Hello. Did you get anywhere you your little ones constipation? Did it improve and if so, how? I’m experiencing the exact same with my 9 month old. Many thanks

Poppybloom55 · 24/01/2024 17:50

Hey - Yes he’s 15 months now and it’s not a problem. He had to have Laxido daily in his cup of water for months, eventually around age 1 we were able to give it less frequently until eventually we were able to stop it completely. I only now give it to him if he’s stuck for a few days but he’s usually regular now

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