Hi ladies, I've put a call in to our ped but in the mean time, we're desperate for some advice!! My 13-month-old has been screaming trying to go to the bathroom for two hours now. The last time he pooped was two days ago but I think that whatever he"s got in there now is too hard and painful to pass. He also received his vaccinations yesterday so I don't know if those are constipating?
Anyhow, I've given him 5 oz of apple juice mixed with water but now he won't drink any more- I think because he's just too uncomfortable. What else should I try? Would an enema just make things worse? Poor guy, I feel so bad for him!! Thanks so much for your help!
Thank you SOOOO much everyone! My pediatrician did call back and told me to do the glycerin suppository like you all suggested. Of course he wasn't too happy about it but felt instantly happier after he was able to poop (an enormous boulder, poor guy!!). The ped also recommended MiraLax so we'll get him started on that, too. But I do think I'll take the suggestions of getting him in to see a pediatric chiropractor. We used to take him to one when he was younger to help with his reflux and I do think it helped - so would assume it would help with this also. Plus, someone suggested a magnesium supplement and I wonder if this could be happening because of a mineral imbalance. He's been on Prevacid since he was two months old. We are currently trying to "wean" him off of it, but Prevacid can interfere with mineral absorption- and we know his iron levels are low now because of it, which could mean other minerals are low as well. So a little extra magnesium might just help! Anyhow, thanks so much - I don't know what I'd do without Mamasource! I think it's the best board around!
My pediatrician recommended Miralax for severe constipation. he said to give my daughter a couple doses and then just try to up her fluid intake. He said to give her about 1/3 of the adult dose.
Hey C.!
I'm sure your ped has called back by now, but I would love to recommend taking your son to a pediatric chiropractor. If you are established with one, an emergency visit can be attained. Otherwise, they can help regulate the digestive system so hopefully their are no more emergencies.
I know a big contributing factor to constipation is dehydration. Is your little guy drinking enough milk or water during the day?
I hope this is a one time only thing for you! Good luck!
Ok, I haven't really had much experience with this myself, but the first thing that comes to mind is prune juice. You can buy it in the baby food section in tiny bottles if you don't want to buy a big bottle. I know he's very young but you could also try something with caffeine in it. It increases the movement in the bowels and may make it easier, but I don't know if you want to try this if he's trying to sleep. Poor little guy! Good luck!
Hi C.,
Baby Prunes &/or prune juice. Works wonders...
On a side note: check out Gary Null's Vacccination Nation. Very interesting. Hope he feels better soon! :)
Hello,
Try putting a little bit of dark Karo syrup in a cup with warm water. I don't remember the exact measurement of the syrup, but it should just take a few tablespoons in a small cup. My pediatrician recommended this to me. I personally have not tried it, but my pediatrician said it should work every time. Good luck!
J. :)
I would give him a suppository. Cut it in half and try that. My daughter (now 4) had the same problems and I would give her the suppository during such times. Your pediatrican may put him on Miralx or Gycolax to help.
I hope he feels better soon. I know what you are going through. It is heartbreaking to see your little one in so much pain.
you can give him a baby spoon flax oil! And Prunes! Works everytime
My ped told me to ease up on rice foods and give our little one prune or pear juice. The prune juice worked within an hour. Don't give them much just a little bit and see if it works. That usually helps him if he seems ti be hurting. Also I rub his belly which seems to get things moving. Hope that helps good luck.
I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter who had the same problem. We tried everything, suppositories, (very tramatic for her) miralax, once a day every day for almost two years, if we missed a day she was bound up again. Now we use fiber one chocolate milk or fiber one granola bars. She gets one once a day and hase a regular, soft B.M. everyday.
For now, a warm bath will help him relax and go better. Just fill the tub up so the water goes just past his lower back. No bubbles. Let him play in there as long as he wants. It should help, and get him started on the miralax powder to help this from happening again. The kyro syrup might help as well but with my daughter she just wouldn't drink it, but try it. You can get suppositories at the drug store, they might help but it is tramatic for little kids to have something forced into an already sore tush. If the stool is too hard you might have to have him disempactied, also very tramatic and requires a trip to the E.R. so try everything else first.
Take him to a chiropractor immediately! I have personally seen the results of this from working in a chiropractic office. Sometimes the nerves are pinched ceasing proper function of the bowels. It's worth a shot and it won't hurt him. There are special techniques for little guys! I get my 5 and 3 year olds adjusted regularly.
I would try a suppository. They are fast working and without pain. Both of my girls have had constipation issues and we have had to do this occasionally. Really warm baths also seem to help! Good luck!
I saw some great notes here but also wanted to add- be sure to keep a close eye on this issue. It can easily escalate without being caught right away and when a child starts the path of chronic constipation it can lead to so many difficult issues. Make sure child is pooping everyday or whatever is normal for that child and take action as soon as possible. What happens is that the nerves in the rectum become desensitized, no longer sensing the full feeling it just balls up in there, I have seen some the size of a SOFTBALL. Then the rectum loses its musculature and can no longer do its job. The child cannot even sense when they need to go, it can just get worse and worse causing problems with potty training etc. Do talk to you dr about it if you can. After the few first suppositories a child gets much more comfortable with the idea of an enema that trying to poop out an APPLE. Best of Luck.
I know it's usually used for infants, but if you put some kyro syrup (1 tsp) in some warm milk, or juice it works fast fast fast and sometimes easier to get them to drink than prune juice.
Hi C.--
Unfortunately I know way too much about this. The best way to help him go right now is to get a pediatric glycerin suppository. That should do the trick. Vaccinations can be constipating if they put too much stress on the liver--depends on the child. If it continues you can try prunes, but if it's the liver a magnesium supplement will work better.
Good luck,
J.
I see you've already gotten great advice from everyone and your doctor. My 2 year old takes Miralax every day and I can tell when he misses it. His problem is withholding - not diet - and I've found that when he is really having trouble going it helps to set him on the toilet (we did this even when he was a baby) and letting him sort of squat without a diaper on. I would sit him up with my hands on his torso and let him kinda hug me or hold on to the sides of the toilet (we now have a potty seat with handles he grabs) then he could bring his knees up if he wanted. For some reason this always seems to help - like when he would be in the tub or on the floor and start grunting like he was pooping.
I hope this will help in addition to everything else! I know how hard it is to listen to them cry in pain like that!
