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General chat thread for cloth nappy users part 18-For fluffy bums and happy mums :)

1000 replies

4andnotout · 25/01/2010 10:05

Hope this is ok

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BosomsByTheSea · 25/01/2010 16:42

Daisy, that is really kind of you! I have a lollipop fleece nappy already- can they wear clothes on top of the wool soaker? They sleep in sleepsuits and grobags.

The wool makes it waterproof!?

Sounds like witchcraft to me

JennyPennyNAPPYWEB · 25/01/2010 16:44

AM copying and pasting this from my local site, about Talia, if anybody can help? Been fobbed off by the GP again this morning:

"Does anybody know if there is anywhere I can go for health advice for a baby, other than the GP? My 9 month old daughter has been constipated for weeks now and it has got worse not better. Have tried the usual stuff like increasing fluids, fruits, tummy massage, changed milk etc but nothing has worked. Have been told by the GP that she is too young for any medication and to just leave it and hope it clears up. But I am not happy leaving her. She has been in pain 3 times so far today, each time being in agony for 30 mins ish, absolutly screaming and sweating like mad. Its really horrible to watch and the doctor isn't helping at all. Have also seen 2 pharmacists who all said they cant give anything.

Will phone NHS direct when the kids have gone to bed but I don't think there is much they can do over the phone. I am also going to the baby clinic tomorrow morning. I understand about her not being able to have medication but this isn't normal and there must be something causing it??

Oh and its also waking her up at night and from her naps so making everybody tired!"

NappyShedSal · 25/01/2010 17:38

OK, I have lots of experience with constipation in babies. My first piece of advice is get it sorted sooner rather than later, otherwise she will end up with-holding her poos because she knows it is going to hurt.

Glycerine soap around her anus as a first thing to try.

DD1 got horribly constipated and a glycerine suppository was amazing. When I told my mum about it she said her granny always recommended Pears soap, and I guess it;s the same principal. I have no idea whether ordinary soap would do the same trick, but I would give it a go. It relaxes the muscles, so the big hard poo can then get out - it's very instant, rather than waiting for the right food to do its trick.

Also clockwise massage on her lower stomach (must be clockwise). Also lie her on her back and do bicycle legs and also bend her knees and push her legs back onto her chest. While in this position you can rotate her hips. Does that make sense?

These are tips for relievng the immediate problem.

Next you need to massively increase her fluid intake. Orange juice is supposed to be very effective - or even brown sugar dissolved in water. Then of course lots of fruit, but especially prunes and prune juice.

You can buy infant glycerine suppositories over teh counter The problem is that if there is a big hard poo right at the entrance then it is really difficult to gte them in. If you can't then you could try snipping the suppository to at least get some of the glycerine around her bottom, or take her to the GP or a walk-in clinic to get them to put it in. It's fairly quick acting.

Good Luck!

Interested in this thread?

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Scotia · 25/01/2010 17:38

Sounds awful Jenny. No advice as I don't have any experience. I can ask my pharmacist dd, but it sounds like you've already tried that. Can you c&p this in the 'health' forum? Might get some advice there.

Scotia · 25/01/2010 17:39

Ah, cross-posts. Glad you came Sal

JennyPennyNAPPYWEB · 25/01/2010 17:53

Thanks Sal! The only thing in your list I haven't done is the Glycerine soap and the glycerine suppositories. Where do I get the soap from? Guess all chemists shut now till tomorrow to get the suppository things. I can go to a supermarket or something though if there wil be anything there? Getting very desperate for her . Its really horrible. DH has taken her for some fresh air and then hoping to give them both a warm bath to help ease the pain/soften things up.

NappyShedSal · 25/01/2010 17:58

Ah yes, forgot to say about the bath. And tell her that it's OK to poo in the bath as the warm water may relax her muscles enough to let her go.

Tummy massage in warm water.

JennyPennyNAPPYWEB · 25/01/2010 18:27

She is only 9 months so doesn't understand . Do you know where I get the glycerine stuff from?

LackaDAISYcal · 25/01/2010 18:27

lol bosoms, it is witchcraft! I was a wool sceptic for ages but am now a convert! and of course I have realised that my woolly soakers will be waaaaaaay too big for your teeny twins; bumble is 15 months and has a bum the size of a small planet!

Ah, you have lots of advice from Sal on constipation jenny, I hope that something works. Just a thought though; did her sphincter muscle get checked out when she
was born and again at her 6 week check? My friend's DS had huuuuge constipation issues and she was constantly fobbed off (BF babies don't get constipation etc etc). It was finally discovered at 18 months that his sphincter muscle was too tight so the poo literally couldn't get out and was compacting in his bowels. A wee op sorted him out though.

JennyPennyNAPPYWEB · 25/01/2010 18:39

Did a search on sainsburys and tesco sites for glycerine but no luck I don't even know what I am looking for really Just want something that will help!

NappyShedSal · 25/01/2010 18:40

Glycerine suppositories from a chemist. Glycerine soap you might get from anywhere that sells soap. Do you have a large Tescos with a pharmacy that's open til late anywhere near you? Or any other large supermarket with pharmacy?

4andnotout · 25/01/2010 19:09

If you cannot get glycerine tonight a blob of vaseline on a cotton bud and rubbed around her anus should work, we have had to do that before when the dd's have been constipated. Hope she feels better soon.

OP posts:
thebluefoxategreensocks · 25/01/2010 21:54

jenny: surprised your GP won't give her anything! When Clement had problems with constipation a couple of months ago (at around 7.5 months), I had a phone convo/appointment with our GP and he gave a prescription for glycerine suppositories to give immediate relief and a oral laxative to give him twice a day. Obviously the suppositories aren't supposed to be used on a regular basis, but are necessary when it gets to a severe state (like Clement had got to) and then you're supposed to work out how much laxitives to give to keep it all soft & moving. Our HV was also telling me to make sure I give the oral laxative to him every day (even for years perhaps!) because it can't do them any harm, and it's far worse to let constipation build up, making the child fear having a bowel movement, and then getting worse still. So that's awful that your GP isn't worried & helping you! Are there any other GPs in your practise you could see instead who might have some sense?

treedelivery · 25/01/2010 22:01

Just a quickie!

Jenny - glycerine suppository for kids from chemist, and a big bottle of lactulose. Our dietician says 1/2 to 1 litre of fluid in drinks a day, and lactulose daily.
If that doesn't work then movicol from gp.

Also good is dried apricots, simmered very gently for 10 mins in a table spoon if water.

Good luck! The drinking is a constant thing, we follow H about with a sippy cup. We get 4 to 5 full sups into her a day and that has helped in a big way.

Octo - wil be sitting by the postbox. I cannot wait. Am so looking forward to it

Scotia · 25/01/2010 22:35

Jenny, I spoke to my dd, and she said she would advise you to back to your gp. She doesn't like to give laxatives to babies, but it doesn't mean she wouldn't dispense it if the gp prescribed it. I'd try to see a different gp in the practice next time.

Although you've obviously had some good advice here to try first

treedelivery · 25/01/2010 22:39

Lovely new thread by the way.

Agree GP again. Make it clear she is uncomfortable, straining and loosing appetite. That seems to be the way forward.

Bambooty is on it's first test run Has anyone got one? I really really like the fit, although it hasn't had an action baby to contend with as she took it fairly easy this eve. It is so so trim and neat. It doesn't seem as tiny on as it does off, ifswim, and the sewn in itti style boosters are lush lush lush. Let''s see how it goes!

octothechildherder · 25/01/2010 23:22

tree - have sent a note too re changes that will be made- hope it makes sense - this is MK1!

treedelivery · 25/01/2010 23:28

OOOOOOOOH.

Scotia · 25/01/2010 23:30

Octo, did you email me about the holy longies?

Itching to spend some Paypal! Am waiting for a Wee Notions design with a thistle for a nappy - Suzanne said she'd have a go as I'm useless at designing! Wonder if I should invest in some Northern Lights fitteds too. K had a Baby Beehind on today with his longies and no leaks. I've got some nice embroidered wraps too so could do with more fitteds for under those - tried selling on CNT but I think nobody is really using wraps on there.

Bambooty Tree - will have a wee look

treedelivery · 25/01/2010 23:33

Oooh Scotia - how is bubbaK?

Also...I have wool. We need to come to an arrangement

BosomsByTheSea · 26/01/2010 09:34

OK, I'm convinced - where can I get a wool 'soaker' or two?

myjobismum · 26/01/2010 09:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

octothechildherder · 26/01/2010 10:03

bosoms - there are loads - nappygarden do nice woollies and custom ones, nappywardrobe upcycled ones (cheaper lol) - depends how much you want to spend - soaring sheep are nice too. I think Daisy on here is a knitter

octothechildherder · 26/01/2010 10:04

morning myjob Am working from home today again.

treedelivery · 26/01/2010 11:22

Postman came and went. No poncho. I gave him the daggers from the window and he refused to make eye contact so he knew.

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