Ten-week-old still having infrequent bowel movements despite lactulose

[K1GAL]

Hi all, baby is 10 weeks old formula fed on cow and gate since birth, always had a bowel movment between 7-10 days but got told they would be more regular (1 a day) after after hes 6 weeks old but they are still the same. Been to gp and prescribed lactulose and i have been giving him 1ml once a day for 4 days now and still no movement...he grunts and strains like hes trying to push but nothing happens.

had anyone else had the same issue With their little one?

A long time ago, but same problem, which became worse because the baby started equating feeding with pain so acquired a form of infant anorexia. Worth pursuing medical help to avoid this. Ours eventually came under the care of a specialist consultant, and we were looking at all sorts of nasties. It turned out it was simply that her anus muscle was too tight (anal stenosis), and several months of three different laxatives eventually sorted it.

Anyway short term, based on advice from the specialist pediatric motility nurse at the time:

1. Water. It is hot, so dehydration could be part of the problem. You also need more fluid with lactulose. Either dilute the feed more, or offer freshly boiled and cooled water.
2. Sit the baby in a warm bath, perhaps when obviously straining. This softens the stool at the anus end and makes it easier to pass.
3. gentle massage. two fingers in a square clockwise motion about an inch or two away from the belly button. So down, across, then up on the other side and then across to back where your started. Repeat each movement two or three times. Make it fun and smile at the baby. It should help the intestine do its thing.

Generally movement is good, so anything you can do encourage movement, especially if things are not fully sorted when the baby is crawling or walking, is also good.

Have you considered changing formula? My now 5 year old was exactly how you describe on Cow & Gate. Eventually I made the switch to Hipp Organic and the pooing sorted itself out, he was so much more calm after it.

I have been wondering if he is maybe taking a disliking to the cow and gate, but hes been on it since birth and i thought he would have show signs early days like rashes and crying after feeds etc from his early days

Thank you for the advise! Glad your little one is okay now!

I know it’s so strange trying to figure it out, isn’t it? I’m currently in the same boat as you by the way, started my 8 week old on Kendamil and she tolerated it fine. She gradually became fussier with wind and became almost impossible to burp her after feeds. I changed at 6 weeks because it was so obvious she was in so much discomfort.

Definitely try another formula brand.

What's his poo actually like when he goes?

There soft and thickish, and dark green/yellow at times

This is similar to mine! Been on cow and gate since day 1 but the past 2 weeks he screams when getting burned half way and at the end of a bottle, we usually burp him over the shoulder, but lately he rarely gives us a burp after feeds. I dont know if it is worth changing his formula brand

Definitely worth changing. But unfortunately there is just no one size fits all to know what is best.

We tried Hipp organic after Kendamil for this baby as it worked so well for my first. She started burping again with some improvement to her general gassiness, and she also had very blotchy dry skin from about 3-4 weeks which completely cleared up during this time. I thought it was coincidence.

However, as she ended up being so constipated with stiff clay like poo, HV recommended kendamil comfort (in hindsight I should have stayed on Hipp longer as had only been 7 days). There has been some improvement but not a lot - but also her blotchy dry rough skin has returned and spreading over body! There may to be something in kendamil she doesn’t agree with. But not sure where to go from here so totally understand why you may be sceptical about changing!

If this has always been his pattern then it could be his normal. If the poo is soft it’s not technically constipation, and the grunting and straining is called infant dyschezia and is also normal. It doesn’t actually indicate that he is in pain. Overall does he seem distressed or content? You may be looking for a problem where none exists…

My exclusively breastfed baby would go every 2.5 weeks from about 4 months old. Laxido was the only one that worked, lactulose and movicol didn’t really help. Since starting the laxido she hasn’t needed it regularly at all.

Try Epsom salts in the bath. The magnesium can have a laxative effect. I'd start with a very small amount.

Surely changing formula is the quickest and easiest thing to try 🤔