I don't think it's constipation, from the way his poo looks when I help him along. He was ebf till 5 1/2-6 months with liquid poos, and he doesn't like the sensation of passing the bulky kind. He'd clench his little butt and go rigid with stretched out legs to keep it in. I have been cycling with him and massaging him etc, but I really have to force his legs back to have his knees bent for passing the poo on the changing table, and I fear this is not helping things psychologically (nor is it easy now he is getting quite strong!)
Lately he has stopped making his face as well which used to indicate a poo was on its way, and I have resorted to having to massage some Vaseline in to get things going. I feel like it's a choice between two evils, I hate being invasive and I don't want him getting dependent on it either, but when ge goes a few days without pooing it hurts him and makes him want to avoid it even more.
We got him a potty after I researched elimination communication and decided it would be harmless; but the communication part is obviously lacking now he is not giving me his signals. He managed to go once after I held my finger there a bit, again to stimulate him, and he wasn't fighting it like on the changing table; but now he is proving impervious to that too.
Please reassure me I am not doing damage by having to prompt him to poo. Anything else I could be doing? (I am feeding him bits of prune, lots of water etc..) I got an appointment with a paediatrician but she could not see him for a week and now I have to reschedule so it will take even longer to get medical advice.