bowel problems during early weaning

[nervousmum]

To all who are currently weaning - do you get any problems with constipation (babies, that is, not you!)? We had this issue about a few months ago where Joey would not poo for about 3-4 days and get really stressed and uncomfortable, then it all settled down and he was going pretty much daily, until a week ago Saturday, when he did the most enormous poo ever, and he hasn't pooed since!

After last time, the GP blamed me for not making enough fluid in my breastmilk and was pushing for me to go to formula. Needless to say, i didn't do it, as i know he's getting plenty! He did suggest keeping a food diary, which we do, and absolutely nothing's changed, so i can't understand it. All he has is one portion of pureed fruit and one portion of pureed veg per day. Over the last 3 days, out of desperation to make him 'go', he's also had prune juice, neat orange juice (only a tiny bit!), and lactulose which was prescribed after last time.

Other than all this, Joey is a happy, healthy little boy, and he's still having regularly wet nappies. It just breaks my heart to see him struggling - he was practically purple with the effort last night again, to no avail

(NB. The poo, when he does manage it, is never solid 'constipated' looking poo, it's always a thickish puree consistency, with plenty of moisture to it [sorry if TMI!])

Sorry for the long post, NM x

[NotQuiteCockney]

How old is he? How much does he eat? When did you start giving solids?

This sort of problem is normal in the early days of having solids. You're very sensible to not switch to formula, that would just make gut problems worse!

If the poo isn't dry and rabbit-dropping-ish, then he's not really constipated, he's just struggling a bit. Do you give him a lot of high fibre foods? Does he drink water?

[tiktok]

nervous - he needs checking out from what you say.

Babies who are in pain passing what sounds like normal stools need an expert opinion.

OTOH if he is just purple and uncomfortable, and not actually upset or hurting, that can be on the normal spectrum.Some babies make an enormous effort and wriggle and squirm, but they are not actually in pain.

[lazycow]

ds had constipation in the early days of weaning. I did find it quite worrying but he never seemed in any real pain but was struggling to poo. Also the poos were hard and infrequent. We basically gave him prune juice and also 1-2 prunes mashed up to eat (sometimes in his cereal sometimes on it's own) every day. Also I limited bananas as these seemed to make it worse.

ds didn't poo for over a week once and I got really worried. Once we started the prunes (the juice didn't work as well) he got gradually better but if I missed a day or so the constipation would generally come back.

He grew out of this at about 10-11 months I think and is much better now.

[lazycow]

Sorry - just noticed that poos are not dry and hard - ds always had hard dry poos- This sounds like he isn't actually constipated so maybe he needs checking again.

Does he get really upset when straining?

BTW - now DS is 15 months he still doesn't poo every day. He sometimes goes 2-3 days with no poo and then does 3-5 in one day !! They are normal poos though and he isn't constipated. He also sometimes looks like he is really staining but he doesn't get really upset about it.

[peaches27]

Give orange juice (pure) diluted with water at least daily to keep him going. It worked for my lad.

[forevermore]

nervous mum, how is yu LO one. i am interested in any solutions because my lo is doing the same. okay for a few days and eating lots of solids, now for a week really straining and producing lumps but they are soft to touch, so not completely constipated i think?
is this just them getting use dto the change in consistency. the GP says just give more water but still no change. affecting her meals now, because as soon as she starts eating the straining starts...it triggers the urge to go i think and of course she cannot finish her meals becaus of it

anyone with any solutions, is this just a phase? i have gone onto tin dinners now since they contain more water..i think my home made dinners where too thibk?