Constipation - Oak Park,IL

Doesn't that sound just wrong to wait a month, my Dr. suggested apricot nectar. I had to buy it in the big can, like hi-C used to come in, but it worked. Yes, it is the corn syrup in there that makes them go, but it's not so thick and gooey then.

I agree with the Karo Syrup. (you can find it in the baking isle) It works great! My daughter was really bad as a baby and I had to use a little more than a teaspoon, but it works! Now that she is older I use Benefiber in her liquids and she has no problems. A month is crazy to not have a BM. Maybe it's time to find a new ped.

is the child breastfed? yes a week is normal in a breast fed child, not a formula fed. NOW if your child is uncomfortable then yes its a problem. If you are nursing avoid constipating foods like rice, bananas, bread, tons of dairy and try eating some prunes yourself! It may be a fluke. you can also add probiotics to a bottle or just right into the mouth as well. Have you or baby ever been on antibiotics? this can cause an imbalance of the flora in the intestines leading to constipation or diarrhea

A month?! I'd get a new doctor. That would be unhealthy for anyone. Honestly, if my doctor said that, I'd have to question everything he said, and wouldn't be able to trust him to give good advice or care. My son's pedi said breastfed babies can go up to five days without pooping, but be concerned and call again if it has been a week. Glad to see your baby finally pooped though! I bet that's a relief!

a month?! change pedi!. Some doctors are too quick to dismiss what they consider minor problems...i bet they wouldnt like it if they went a month. Poor thing, if that ever happened..

anyway, at that age, if your baby's on formula, i remember switching formulas. from the regular to soy. then, when he seemed to have diarhea we would switch to the rice fortified one...i think switching up the formulas also helped strengthen his system and get him accustomed to different tastes and textures.

as your child ages, feed him raisins regularly to keep him regular. they'll do the same as prune juice at a slower rate...

I have heard that if you take a rectal temp, that the baby could have a bowel movement after that. My son never has but it's worth a try.

Good luck!

add a little miralax powder to formula or breast milk

A month without poop is absolutely NOT ok...you need to find a new pedi without a doubt. Your baby is constipated and might be in a bit of pain because of it. Try the prune juice, worked wonders with my daughter at that age. Mix an ounce of prune juice with an ounce of water. Don't give straight prune juice. Also, try feeding your child more water, less milk until bowl movements are back to normal. Shouldn't take too long.

I agree with everyone. Get a new ped ASAP. A month??? That is absurd. That is very very dangerous. I cant believe a dr would say anything like that!!! Dump him. Glad your baby pooped. But never wait more than a few days without calling your (hopefully new) ped about constipation. A month is totally totally ridiculous.

Up to a month? I have never heard that. How could that be ok? I think a week is more than enough time. My pediatrician had us use a teaspoon of Karo syrup mixed in with formula. It was very effective. Friends of mine have used diluted apple juice and had success with that.

C.:

is the baby only getting breast milk?

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

Hi C., I never heard that it was OK for a baby not to poop for a whole month, thats crazy. I heard 7-10 days max. If she doesn't seem to be in pain I wouldn't worry too much but you can give her a little pear juice or prune juice if you get concerned. Pear tastes better of coarse and prune juice might make her gassy and uncomfortable. I just had the same experience with my 2 month old and it was because of the soy formula we switched her to. My Dr. told me to put a little Karo syrup in the formula. Theres a lot of mixed reviews regarding Karo syrup but I finally did it and she went the next day. They do poop less as they get a little older, especially if your breastfeeding. If you think about it, they are only drinking liquid so there isn't going to be as much boo boo as you think. If she is really constipated you could try to stimulate her rectum with a lubed rectal thermometer or q-tip. If she really has to go, that will make her go. When she does finally go, be prepared, it will probably be a lot, it was with my baby girl. It got all over her clothes leaking out of her diaper from all openings. Good luck with your baby!

If your baby is stating baby food, (we started at 4 months, some dr.'s don't start till 6 months) you could give the baby some jar prunes. But I wouldn't let it go too long.

I've got a 6 month old and have battled the same off and on since about 4 months. Starting solids helped, as did water. We tried diluted prune juice but it didn't seem to do much for her. what has helped has been the bicycle legs, pushing on her legs as she tries to give her some leverage and what I like to call the "potty posture" holding her with her back against my chest and her legs drawn up so she has gravity to help. She averages a BM about 3x a week at least and has gotten so she prefers it to actually going in her diaper. So much so the (and I know this sounds crazy) but I'm considering starting potty training very early even if it's just sitting/holding her on the potty on top of the changing table. I figure it can't hurt! :) Good Luck!

Hi C.,

We actually had pretty good luck at our local Sears.

Best,
R.

Hi C. When my son was an infant and his movement were not regular his peditrican told me to put dark karo syrup in is milk. And it worked. My son wasn't as young as your baby but ask his peditrican and see what he/she says about it before you try it.

My La Leche League Lactation Consultant always says, up to 21 days is normal for a breastfed baby. I don't know if you nurse or not, but in either way, try giving your baby more tummy time, tummy massage, or do the "bicycle legs"--put him/her on his/her back and push the legs up as if cycling. Also, try a warm compress on the tummy. I would actually give water before prunes, not a lot, just a couple of sips. And once again, if your baby doesn't show any signs of discomfort, then everything is probably fine!

My daughter had the same problem. The pediatric nurse told me to put 1/2 teaspoon of Caro Corn Syrup in each bottle. It worked like a charm. Also, I gave my baby a little bit of plain nursery water in a bottle, and that helped as well. My Doctor told me to expect constipation too, but a week is way too long in my opinion !!!!!!!!!

Hi C., I had this same problem when my son was three months old. I exclusively BF and our doctor said 10 days or so was the limit. He came darn close to that - 9 days before a poop. All the midwives, doctors and nurses told us to do a little bit of brown sugar in water. Google it and you will see lots of people suggest it. I didn't ever end up trying it but it was between prune juice or the brown sugar idea. Apparently brown sugar is a natural laxative. I took our son to the doctor and she stuck her finger up there to see if she could feel anything but he was clear. Poor guy was traumatized form it. I can tell you though, a few days after he started pooping again, he EXPLODED all over his capsule car seat. Maybe pack a few extra diapers and change of clothes when you go out for the next few weeks. Good luck!

My son went through this as well but our pedi said no more than 10 days should pass or they will check him for obstructed bowels, etc. I exclusively breastfed him so it was hard for me to give him prune juice. On day 9 I did by dropping it in his mouth with dropper and he had a bowel movement the next day (prune juice or not??). He didn't seem in pain and I was more worried than anything else! Good luck!

Wow! I have to respond. I am not a dr or nurse, but I have 5 children so I feel that I have some experience. I can't believe your dr said up to a month without a bowel movement is ok! NO WAY! I would get a second opinion. I have 2 nephews and a niece with cystic fibrosis. One of the complications with CF is digestion problems. If they don't poop for a few days it is a sign of a problem. I'm not suggesting that your child has CF, but I would be concerned about no movement in a week. I would try giving your baby more fluids to see if it helps.

I would get a second opinion. Our son had the same problem and we were told by our doctor that he should not go more than 3-4 days otherwise it can be toxic. Our son actually got to the point of vomiting when he tried to go. We had to give him glycerin suppositories (available in the pharmacy area)and now Miralax to help.

Up to a month? Really?? I don't know how old your child is, but my daughter went 6 days without pooping when she was about 3 months old. My ped said that they don't want them going longer than a week. After that, there is concern there could be a blockage or something more severe going on.

We gave her prune juice mixed with water per my ped's direction and it did the trick. The next day she was pooping like crazy. Try 1 oz of water mixed with 1 oz of prune juice. Again, not knowing how old your baby is, I'll tell you that at that age (3 mos), they can handle up to 4 oz a day. Obviously, the older the child, the more they can be allowed to drink.

I'd get a second opinion if I were you. A month just sounds weird. Would you go a month without pooping and think it's normal???

Good luck!