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  | Maya   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 16 September 2003
 Location: Sydney
 Points: 23297
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: Constipated breast fed baby? Posted: 11 January 2009 at 5:02pm
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   I always thought that breastfed babies can't get constipated? But lil miss definitely is    She has always had quite dry stools, but since starting solids a couple of weeks ago she's been really constipated. Over the past couple of days she's had several episodes where she's been quite happily playing then randomly started straining and crying then passed a small marble. Her poor wee bottom is all red and last night she was bleeding, obviously from straining. Her sleep last night was shocking too. 
 Anyone got any ideas? I'm reluctant to give her brown sugar but if need be I will. The bulk of her solids so far has been fruit, which I thought would help with the constipation but it doesn't seem to be. And I'm also giving her extra breastfeeds and about 30-40ml of water from a sippy cup each day as well. 
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       Maya Grace (28/02/03)
   (02/01/06)
    The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
   Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
   Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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  | fire_engine   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 03 November 2007
 Points: 6260
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 5:07pm | 
 
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   Was about to reply in the July thread, but thought I'd come here instead ...
 We had the same problem for maybe weeks 2-4 of solids.  Huge straining for rabbit poo outcome, if we were lucky.  We haven't changed anything (except for giving fruit with the baby rice) and he's now much better.  No real straining, poos are softer    | 
 
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     Mum to two wee boys
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  | yummymummy   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 2161
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 5:16pm | 
 
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   Have you started her on baby rice? That can be very constipating - we avoided it mostly but then both girls did not like either.
You can give her baby food with things like pears, kiwifruit, peaches - those help loosen things. There's also a Watties jar with pear and prune juice and that has worked like a charm for us when we've had issues.
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  | Henna79   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 06 January 2008
 Location: Hamilton
 Points: 1557
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 5:17pm | 
 
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   when we asked our doc about this he suggested prune juice or sucking on apple for Alex (about a month ago he said this) Hopefully you get it sorted.  
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  | FreeSpirit   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 23 November 2008
 Points: 1256
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 5:45pm | 
 
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   we suffered for this for like the 1st week of her being on solids, it takes a while for their system to get used to the change, but when it does you'll know all about it!! We have "monster" nappies now - similar to "explosive" nappies in quantity but as it's thicker it doesn't go out the sides or over the top!    | 
 
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  | Bubbaloo   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 3041
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 5:56pm | 
 
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   This Happened to James too Emma when he first started solids Andie and Kellz recomended purred(sp) prunes and they worked really well just be careful not to give to much you just soak them in some boiling water and push through a seive 2 should be plenty to start of with give more if it doesn't work. 
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       Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08
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  | peachy   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 3923
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 6:29pm | 
 
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   Try boiling some prunes and giving her the juice.  Worked a treat on Lauren when she was younger, these days I just give her the whole prune and it gets her going again!!
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  | tropics   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 25 February 2007
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 2555
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 7:32pm | 
 
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   if Jayden is pooing like a rabbit    I give him the watties pears and kiwifruit or pears and prunes and he seems to go    wonder if you couldnt mix some prune juice with some soilds if she wont drink it - there is no way I can get Jayden to drink water!
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  | Andie   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 3614
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:15pm | 
 
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   That 'breastfed babies don't get constipated' thing is such a myth, isn't it!!  Oh my gosh and the number of times people actually said that to me (like - oh, well maybe I'm completely wrong and she's not constipated at all... thanks for pointing me in the right direction!).  Erm... issues.  I have issues there!  
 Well you know the saga of Miss E who didn't poop right for many months.  Prunes and prune juice, there's always lactulose or coloxyl if the remedies from the cupboard don't work.  You're doing all you can with extra fluids already.  Massage can apparently help if you rub her lower tummy in a clockwise direction, as can getting her little legs moving - bicycle them when she's lying on her back.  The other thing is... what fruits is she on?  I'd thought apples get people moving, but a small amount of people get the opposite problem with apples - turns out I'd been loading Ella on apples and so not helping the problem!
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     Andie 
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  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:53pm | 
 
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   Kryssi has always been slightly constipated. In the end I gave her a weetbix a day in the mornings (at C's age) but these days it's okay because it's surely within the realms of normal toddler poo. I'm not sure what fruit you are offering but my GP told me that bananas and apples can react differently for different people so if they aren't working, you might want to cut them out and try something else.
 Of course there's veges like kumara and carrots/parsnip which should offer some more vit C/fibre to help her.
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  | jaycee   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 11 June 2008
 Location: Wellington
 Points: 1413
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 9:17pm | 
 
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   Sophie was really bad for a while so everyday for breakfast I mix 1/3 to 1/2 a jar of the Watties Apple & Prune into her cereal. Keeps her regular    . If I don't add it for a couple of days then she well be straining but if i do add it EVERY day then she has a poo EVERY morning between 7 and 8 am, between getting up and going back down for her nap    .
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  | Troods   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 12 July 2008
 Location: Papakura
 Points: 1101
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 11 January 2009 at 9:31pm | 
 
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   I was giving Emily pureed apple when she started solids and found she got bunged up, so I cut out the apple and gave her pears instead and they worked a treat to get things moving.
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  | pomikiwi   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 07 October 2008
 Points: 1088
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 13 January 2009 at 9:01am | 
 
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   I know they say BF babies don't really need any more fluids, but once DD started solids I always offered her water too, maybe that would help.
 My DD has never had that problem, she could poop for NZ, lol!
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        DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06
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