Moms: Re: Constipation in infants

mrs.magoo

Austin hasn't had a good BM in a few days now and has been cranky and irritable and I really think he may be constipated ever since getting his shots. He's had very very small BMs, not that I would even really call it a BM, since he usually goes every day and has nice runny stools since he is BFd...my SIL suggested stimulating his rectal area with a rectal thermometer... any tips? Advice?

I may try eating a boatload of cherries, since I read they have a laxative effect when passed into breastmilk... 

Inlove05

I don't think I'd do the rectal stimulation... I've never heard to do that, so I"m not sure thats something I would do.  I would call your ped first off.  Is his belly hard or distended at all?   Is he drinking enough?   Try pumping his legs- put him on his belly and move his legs as if he were pedaling a bicycle.  You can also try to massage his belly.  Your ped may recommend some prune juice diluted with water.  GL!!

MrsNich

Poor Austin...I have heard that you can massage his belly, put a warm cloth on his belly and his bum!  I have heard about taking his temperature rectally also to help them!  Good Luck!

WideSmileMama

Belly massage (lower abdomen) and bicycle motions with the legs have worked for Caroline too.  If all else fails, prune juice diluted 1:1 with water always works for constipation after anesthesia that my kids get.  Also, pharmacies sell glycerin suppositories, but I'm not a huge fan of those.  Caroline had one this most recent time she was in the hospital and it worked, but she REALLLY didn't like it!

mrs.magoo

I kept up with the tummy circles I had been doing for him (they are in my infant massage book - the corkscrew ones), since he had a little bit of poop in his diaper when he awoke from his nap....so I put him on an incontinence pad undiapered and kept at the tummy circles - yup....poopus giganticus...woo-hoo!

WideSmileMama

Yey for success!  Did you ever think you'd be so happy to see poop?

harvest-wed

glad the massage worked!  FWIW we have been told to try rectal stim, but watch out it can cause some projectile pooping if he happens to push when you try it!  our ped also rec'd pear or prune juice diluted and mixed w/ formula then after a certain age it was ok to just give it to him diluted.  My Owie had lots of issues w/ not pooping when he was itty bitty, he is pretty good now though!