I'm totally confused -plus question about uncomfy potty

[Jane7]

My 2.5 dd started pooing less frequently about the same time I gently introduced idea of potty (about 3 months ago). AFter a few weeks with only one poo a week (which worried me enormously but didn't seem to upset her much), I decided to completely abandon potty training. But the infrequent bowel movements carried on. I've taken her to GP twice, but both times been told it's not real constipation because the poos are soft (just very large!) and there's no blood or obvious pain (although she strains quite a bit, but always has I think). She generally does only two poos a week at the moment. The latest GP told me I shld potty train her because giving her regular potty time wld actually encourage her bowels and solve her 'not pooing' problem. I've started potty time but she's yet to produce anything on the potty.
What I'd like to know is shld I carry on trying to get her to sit on the potty several times a day in the hope that this will solve the 'holding it in' problem, or just abandon ship and try to get her pooing more regularly before I start potty training.
As an extra problem, I'd love to know if anyone else's dc seem to find sitting on the potty uncomfortable. DD is quite big for her age and she spends all her time on the potty holding onto the sides to take her weight off it. She has mild red marks on her bum after she's been sitting for a few minutues - but maybe that is normal? I've invested in a potty chair but she still looks very uncomfortable. I can't imagine her sitting there for longer than five mins max.

DS is 2.6 and the size of a 3+ year old and finds a lot of potty's uncomfortable. We've got the Baby bjorn throne stype one and he's fine with that.

DS cracked wee's on the potty quite quickly but like your dd poo's were another matter. He went from going everyday to once every three days, and when he did go he would poo in his pants.

So, when I suspected pre poo'ing behaviour (usually hiding and/or going quiet) I sat him down on the potty and talked to him about pooing, we also talked abut pushing the poo out and doing straining noises and faces (I must have looked like a right madzer!)

It seemed to work though and once we got one poo in the potty, that was it cracked.

Thanks MoveItMovIt. Very grateful for Baby bjorn throne tip. And your other methods. When I do realize my dd is about to do a poo, I'm usually so relieved that she's finally going to get one out that I don't really dare move her onto potty incase that somehow stops things in their tracks.

My ds was uncomfortable on his potty initially. I just sat behind him and gave him a cuddle, thus taking some of his weight for him. He quickly got used to it and now sits there for flipping ages. Even after he has finished.

Jane7 sounds as though your little one may be constipated despite what your GP says - children should poo at least x 3 per week - and if she is doing very large poos and is straining she is constipated. there is an excellent laxative for children called Movicol which is available on prescription - tell your GP to look at the recent NICE guidelines regarding the treatment of children with constipation if he is still not convinced!
I would not start formal potty training until the poo problem is sorted. The charity PromoCon provides free advice and information /booklets etc about constipation and other toileting problems including potty training and bedwetting 0161 834 2001 www.promocon.co.uk if you need any more help

Thanks monsterplatter - glad to hear that sometimes dc just get used to it.
And thanks pottynursery - we're up to about 3 poos a week at the moment (with a little help from Calfig Syrup of Fig) and the latest thing is that she only poos after bedtime. Bloomin annoying for me as I'm not keen on changing pooey nappies at 11pm ;)