HELP! Constipated bubba!
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Topic: HELP! Constipated bubba!
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Subject: HELP! Constipated bubba!
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 8:11pm
Caitlin has been formula fed now for 3 weeks (long story). First week was perfect, pooing every day not a prob. Slowly she has been going less often and we're now at twice a week 
GP says don't worry until it's been a whole week and still no poos, but my girl gets so upset with the poos that she does do (looks like the size of "cat poos"). I've tried adding extra water to her formula, giving her a bottle of water during the day, Coloxyl laxative, prune juice, brown sugar in water and baby massage and nothing seems to be helping her! We're currently on Heinz Nurture Starter - can anyone who has gone through this recommend another brand? we researched into Goat milk formula but that says that it causes it worse than cows milk formula 
HEEEELLLLPPPP  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Replies:
Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 8:28pm
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Dare I suggest lactose free? I don't really know if it would make any difference... ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 8:37pm
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sometimes the change over to formula can be very hard on their tummies.. if she is still passing something that's good, but if it's hard then all i can say is to up the water etc. but as you say, you've done that. Hopefully it will settle down for you. sometimes, if you are massaging her tummer, you can try massaging it in the direction the large bowel runs and can sometimes get things moving a little and soothe her.. Go from her lower R side of her tummy, up along the top and back down the other side.. just gently in circles.. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 8:40pm
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I rang health line a few weeks back and for babies not on solids yet the recommendation is extra cooled boiled water, 5mls fruit juice to 50mls cooled boiled water. Dare I say lactulose!?
What about having a bath with bubbah and feeding her in there (with a little bit of help from someone else of course) it is warm and relaxing and babies tend to go when they are feeding and warm. Cycling the legs, use a cotton ball with warm water to wipe their anus. Gentle tummy massage or tummy time with gentle pressure on the small of the back. Anything short of an enema!! Olivia's bowels go really well on Karicare regular and Karicare gold. Good Luck! ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 9:45pm
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I read that babies that are Lactose intolerant are more prone to diahorrea (sp?). I think we'll have to try the Karicare (seems to be the other most popular). I've tried all of your suggestions except for the feeding in the bath thing - I'm at the stage where we'll try ANYTHING! I hate seeing her get so upset like this ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 9:48pm
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We tried all that too toni. We found though that Weleda Baby Colic Powder seemed to clear her out! I guess because she was burping and farting more so she was letting out all the gas instead of saving it in her tum and bum. You can get it from the pharmacy or Hardys. You just mix 1/4tsp with a tablespoonful of water or straight (so the jar says, but who wants to chew on powder?!)
Be very careful with Coloxyl! We tried that with Ashlee and found it actually gave her a sore tum, rather than cured it!! AND I never thought to look, but the ingredients in it is ethanol. That surely can't be great for a precious wee pure tum! |
Posted By: Alycia
Date Posted: 25 September 2006 at 10:00pm
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Mitchell was the same.
Maybe try making a more concentrated prune juice? He seemed to have grown out of it after a bit over a month. Also we were reccommended to use karicare - something about it being made in NZ so has less additives??? Anyway goodluck - I know it can be very distressing when the lttle one is uncomfortable. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:34am
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Thanks for the tips ladies!
Will definitely be swapping to Karicare (sho long do you think it should take before we see any improvement? I know all babies are different but one tin? two tins?) Kirsten, Do you know if you can use that colic powder with Infacol? We've found that the Infacol (in the mouth, tried in the bottle-did nadda for her!) is the ONLY thing that will help her colic. I remember everyone saying to us that the first 6 weeks are the hardest! I reckon it's the next 6 weeks after! Our first month was a breeze! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:41am
| i havent read all the posts yet, but my cousin started using heinz and had the same problem with constipation in her boy. she tried karicare and he improved, maybe try a different formula, it might not agree with caitlin? |
Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:42am
haha- just read through everyone elses posts- seems like karicare is pretty good 
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Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 10:31am
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I have put Olivia from the Gold to the Regular Karicare and she has gotten quite windy on it but bowels havent changed, we're switching back this week as I hate seeing her little mouth blue and infacol at every feed can't be good! ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 2:31pm
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I guess it is safe to use the powder with Infacol. The powder is all natural and we used to alternate feeds with Infacol and the powder. We've stopped using it now because Ashlee is all cleared up.
We started on Karicare and switched to Heinz when her constipation wasn't getting any better!! Karicare is a heavier formula than Heinz. It may help Caitlin though. And I agree! Our first month was a breeze too!!! Then we had a few nightmare-ish weeks in there after that with feeding and pooping so I know just how you feel 
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Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 2:54pm
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I agreee with Baalamb be careful with the clyxol drp's they did the same to Alan. We had lots of problem's with Alan we found the best thing to get him going was lactulose(SP?) I think you can onlt get it on scritp, but it worked a treat for him and me to be honset. As far as formula goes be careful not ot change too much we found this made Alan worse we ended up using soy for awhile then we went to nuture toddler. I found karicare the worst for us so all babies a differnt. Good luck tho and don't worry it does get better we have no troulbe with Alan anymore. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 3:00pm
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Sorry we haven't had too much problem with this but I hope you find somethign that works soon Toni Oh and I wouldnt try soy unless you talk with someone (GP, Plunket...) first as apparently soy is more difficult for little bubs tummies to break down. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 3:21pm
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Mmm we tried the Karikare and S26 before landing on the Heinz, she got a little "blocked" at first but making her drink water before her feeds helped her out and now shes a trooper and goes like 3 - 4 times a day LOL
Mummys little poop factory hehe |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 3:23pm
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I would say be very careful on lactulose.. for some it doesn't work.. My older sister's boy has had huge probs with constipation all his life.. he has been on a laxative since 4 months old and he is now 4 years old. He was admitted to hospital last year and they did a scan to find he was backed up right up his bowel all the way up to his chest. This is despite being on nearly 40 mls of lactulose a day coupled with prune jiuce and all that other stuff, you name it my sister has tried it. He had to go through hell to clear it with a heap of medical help, and he no longer actually has much muscle strength in his bowel to be able to get things moving, so it just happens time and time again.
The thing is, if you up the dosage of lactulose.. after a while it becomes less effective, so the dose is upped again, and again, and after a while the body looses it's own chemical ways of doing the same thing.. so it's all up to the meds. This is the worst case scenario though, so don't freak out, just be aware that using some products early on can lead to having to use stronger things later. I think the latest with him is that they are now thinking he may have to have surgery so that he can have a stoma thing formed for my sister to flush saline through from the outside each day. poor little guy. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 7:10pm
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Ahh the poo fairy and her fickle ways.
Andrew had massive constipation issues while he was on formula (Karicare, Karicare Goat and Karicare Gold). We ended up being referred to a pediatrician after he developed and burst a hemorrhoid (sp). We were told to start him up on 5ml of lactulose a day, moving up to 10 mls and try and supplement him with 50ml of cooled boiled water through the day. (We tried brown sugar, prune juice and massage without any luck). We were told to stay away from coloxyl and other laxatives because they can build a dependence or something or other on the bowel. The good news poo wise was that as soon as he started solids, his poop became less solid and he hasn't needed lactulose since. The bad news is that you still have more than a few months before that is a solution for you... I'd talk to the GP (lactulose was free on prescription) and if still concerned, ask for a referral to a hospital pediatrician. There isn't that much of a wait. Oh - and baby cycle leg exercises in a warm bath seemed to get him moving too. Good luck and may the poo fairy be with you  ------------- |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 7:12pm
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Oh - and lactulose works by sucking water into the bowel - which means you really do have to make sure that there is enough fluid in her system. Instead of watering down the formula, try and get her to drink a little bit of water - even if it is only 5mls at a time regularly throughout the day. The extra water made the biggest difference for us. ------------- |
Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 8:55pm
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We are having this problem at the moment too. Ashleigh seems to be going around once a day and its a little bit hard but its more the tummy cramps I think she is getting that is upsetting her. We have been using SMA formula but I went out today and bought some Karicare so hopefully that will help her. I also bought some of the colic powder Baalamb mentioned so will give that a go in a few days if the different formula doesn't help. ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:37pm
After yet another day of painful pooping for my girl (at least she's going!) we have an appointment with a Homeopath which was recommended by the Karitane nurse at the Plunket Family Rooms. Will let you know how it goes. I've given up all hope with my new GP (changed GPs as my previous lovely GP doesn't do kiddies and I wanted us to have the same GP). So here starts the search for a GP that doesn't make me feel like a paranoid mum! I know when my girl is needing medical help and I don't take the decision lightly to take her to the GP 3 times in one week - this woman thinks all is solved by telling me what a good job I'm doing, patting me on the back and sending me away all in the allocated 10 mins appointment slot  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: HeatherP
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:40pm
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We had exactly the same problem with Heidi from about 1 month onwards. We tried all the things others have discussed - she was only going every 5-6 days and was getting very uncomfortable. Thankfully she got better at around 4 months (went every 2nd day), and since starting solids she is going once or twice a day!
My conclusion is that her bowels just needed a while to strengthen up, but in the mean-time we found that giving 10ml of water at the start of each feed (up to a maximum of 40ml per day)helped - this was the only time she would take water (i.e. when she was really hungry and thirsty). Also she was definatley better on Karicare gold. But here's the real reliever - This may not sound very pleasant, but for the 2 constipated months we gave her an enema when she had not done poose for 5 or 6 days and was getting very miserable. It is called Microlax and you can get it at the chemist (no prespcription required), it is painless for bubs and gets a result within 15 minutes! I would not recommend using it more than about once a week though, because apparently the bowels can become dependent on it. It felt it was best to try and let the bowel muscles try to do their thing naturally until it got so bad that the discomfort was stopping Heidi from sleeping. I assume your bub's poose is mostly squishy (i.e. after the initial hard "plug" part has come out - sorry for the details!) and not hard pebble like? If it is pebbly-like this is serious constipation that needs medical attention. anyway, hang in there - I know it's difficult to see your baby in so much discomfort!
 
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:40pm
Hope you have some luck sorting it out with the homeopath Toni  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:55pm
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Thanks for the tip Heather - This makes me even more angry with my GP! She told me the only things Caitlin could have was Coloxyl and a special formula for babies with constipation ($30 a tin! which did nadda!). Sounds like there is plenty out there that will at least get rid of the nasty hard stuff! I'm not too sure what is going on in there (in Caitlin) as she is taking a whole 200ml of water between her 10am and 2pm feed, peeing HEAPS (she's going through 3 inserts in her Fuzzis!) but still the poo is hard-ish (like cat poo) so I guess she might be peeing out the fluids before it gets a chance to soften the poo?!?!?
Today we tried to let gravity help and I held her in a sitting position over a bucket - she went but I think it was a bit too much pressure and she's got a bit of a graze around the hole
Fingers crossed that the Homeopath sorts her out! I feel so awful and wish I could go back to BFing as I know that would solve everything! But I have to go back to work in 4 weeks and I could never express enough to feed her one bottle before let alone a whole days worth! Not that I have any milk left anyways... I dunno just feeling a bit over whelmed and helpless, it's awful seeing her so upset and obviously in pain
**sob story over** ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 10:11pm
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If you do end up having ot have a special formula, get a referral to a pediatrician at the hospital (free) and they can send an application off to the Ministry of Health to have it subsidised. We did with Andrew, hence we got the goat stuff at the cost of the normal (family history of allergies).
Good luck with the homeopath - and with finding another GP. There are some good ones out there - they can just be hard to find! ------------- |
Posted By: HeatherP
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 10:24pm
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I know how you feel - I also had to start forumula feeding against my own will (had latch on problems for first 6 weeks and by then there wasn't much milk left in the tanker)! And I knew that breastfeeding her would have fixed the poose problem! I tried really hard to get my milk supply back up, but could only get up to about 80ml max. I was getting really stressed out about it, but in the end just had to move on and stop feeling responsible for Heidi's consitpation or else I was going to drive myself crazy!
Other mums I have talked to about similar poose issues have found that their babies gradually became more regular, and all were fine once starting on solids. Good luck - I hope the homeopath can help. If nothing else works you could try cranial osteopathy - I have heard that this can fix all sorts of medical problems in babies! http:// </a>[/IMG]
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 27 September 2006 at 6:04pm
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YAY my old GP took us back and was very happy that we were booked in to see the Homeopath (same one she uses).
We have our appointment tomorrow morning, then a play date with Jax & Erin . Will let you all know how the appointment goes------------- http://lilypie.com">
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