Newborn prescribed movicol for constipation

[laurenn26]

My baby is 6 weeks and randomly started struggling to poo to point she has been in agony and not sleeping, doctor said half a sachet a day for a week then stop it - should constipation resolve on its own? She has also just been started on gaviscon reflux and on a night she looks so uncomfortable pulling her knees up to her chest, she was previously pooing 8 times a day to suddenly one at a push and never any at night which was a massive change as there used to be one in every change throughout night!! Just want to make her better and want to know if we will be able to stop movicol. She was constipated before I started the gaviscon but know it can cause it which I don’t like when she’s already constipated!

Is she breast or bottle fed, as this is very relevant? Breastfed babies can suddenly change their bowel habit, like you describe.

Generally a laxative like movicol is not recommended for a baby of this age. Sometimes GPs are clueless about babies. Have you spoken to your HV?

Have a little Google of infant dyschezia and see if it resonates. My 6 week old breastfed baby was prescribed lactulose but after I saw the symptom list for dyschezia I really doubt she ever had constipation

She is formula fed we’ve tried switching formula etc no better every time we put her down she is so uncomfortable

The usual advice for such a young baby that is formula fed, is tummy massage and giving cooled boiled water between feeds.

Your HV is best placed to give advice on this.

It's likely to be the gaviscon, constipation is a well known side effect. My daughter has lactulose on prescription for gaviscon induced constipation. For us the gaviscon turned her poo into tiny little pellets