What to give constipated DD?

[hbmummy]

Hello,

Am posting this under the weaning topic as I think it is related to DD 6 months getting onto solids.

Started her with solids two weeks ago. She used to have a poo everyday, sometimes, once in two days.

In the first week of weaning, she had a poo once every 3 days. I was worried but let it be thinking that she is new to solids and her digestive system takes a while to adjust. But she has now not poo since Saturday, and was straining hard just now and crying. I couldnt bear watching her straining hard, face going red with only tiny bits coming out (sorry tmi!). What can I do?

A quick summary of what she eats:
breastfeed
puree of sweet potato, courgette, potato, carrot, pear, apple.
baby rice
aptamil milk formula (only used to mix baby rice)

I make sure that she has pear or apple puree (initally on its own but now mixed with baby rice) everyday as I read somewhere that it helps with constipation.

I bought a bag of dried organic apricots. Is she too young?

Did lots of baby yoga, bicycling movements, rubbing tummy in clockwise direction. Running out of ideas.

Sorry this is a long post, but needs help!

the rice may be working against the fruit, iyswim

soak the apricots and make a puree of them

Try pure apple juice. It works a treat. Be prepared for the results mind you

MrsBadger - should I just skip the baby rice or up the fruit portion? She has baby rice once a day during tea time, maximum of 3 teaspoons mixed with 2 cubes of pear puree or apple puree.

Ronshar -pure apple juice or diluted pure apple juice?

no idea - have never given it to dd, but would be tempted to cut it out and go back to plain fruit and veg till she's over the constipation

I gave a little of pure to start things off. If she has teeth just give them a rub after or carry on with feed/bottle milk.
Do you give her extra fluids? Maybe the combination of formula and solids is enough to bulk her up a bit too much.
I wouldnt worry too much yet as it is early days with the solids.
Good luck.

MrsBadger - will do exactly that this tea time.

Ronshar - I do not give her extra liquid, only from breast milk and solids. She still has full breastfeed in the morning, one side before lunch time then the other side after, full feed after afternoon nap, one side before tea time followed by the other side after and a mimd night feed whatever time she wakes up.

DD had on-and-off constipation at the same stage, and the dried apricot puree was the best cure, although other people also said a couple of spoons of prune juice is even more effective!

Hope it sorts itself out soon - I remember how miserable dd was too.

OK - will try apricot puree too, see which works best.

Prune juice is definetly very effective. Will see if can buy one.

Thanks for all your posts!!!

Hi HB - had same trouble with my DD... found nothing worked - or at least nothing I could get her to eat!

Finally, after a full week of no poo, and refusal of prune, apricot, teaspoons of orange juice etc. I took her to the docs who's prescribed lactulose, which works a treat - she's back to 2 a day now - quite firm ones, but regular.

Apparently it's not absorbed and does no harm, she loves the taste (it's basically sugar, I think) and she's much happier than when all bunged up.

Just a thought - sometimes home remedies just can't cut it, and you may need to investigate this option too.

HTH

db
xx