constipation????

Question

my 8week old daughter, has not been sleeping well and when she breastfeeds she is REALLY cranky and irritable. We do know that she is trying to go #2. She has a very hard time doing this. She still has the yellow seedy stool. The Dr. says she is fine...grrrrr any ideas, remedies? I am the Dad. Mom's, Grandma's Aunt's please help. Dad's Grandpa's Uncle's feel free to answer too...along with some encouraging thoughts, going nuts. My first one wasn't like this.

Answer 1

My son was constipated when he was only a few months old - the midwife blamed it on me breastfeeding him too much - lol!

I was told to place him in a warm bath and to gently massage his lower region - just below the belly button, Basically, it should feel hard because of the blockage so you know you're massaging the right spot. Then, after the bath, give the baby a bottle of water -this will help too.

It worked a treat for him and I used this method well into his toddler stages. Thankfully, now at age ten, his constipation problems are behind him!

Good Luck

Answer 2

Breastfed babies are rarely constipated. Breast milk is mostly water thus the yellow seedy stools. Perhaps your wife is stressed or possibly eating foods that are upsetting your daughter's stomach. As the dad/husband, you can help out by making sure your wife is eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest, and is able to nurse in relative peace and quiet. If your daughter is not latching on well or properly when she nurses, she may be cranky and irritable because she is not getting enough milk at a time. It is a myth that breastfeeding comes naturally to all babies and moms. I have 4 children. I breastfed them all, but only 2 were what I would call "pros" at breast feeding. My oldest and youngest both took a lot of encouragment and practice before getting the hang of what to do consistently. It may be more that she has gas than having to go #2 that is bothering your daughter. Try laying her on her back and making a gentle bike pedaling motion with her legs and feet when she is crying and irritable. Perhaps being burped more often during nursing. Try a baby swing. Since your daughter is little, make sure her head is supported well with one of those infant neck supporters. Each baby is so different and it is very common for baby #1 to be a complete opposite of baby #2. Your daughter may be more sensitive to stimulation and needs a more quiet atmosphere or is perhaps more comfortable "swaddled" (wrapped in a blanket). Babies have so much to learn and get used to that sometimes they are overwhelmed by it all, just like mom and dad. She's learning about what she likes and dislikes and just doesn't have any way to let you know except for crying. It may take a little trial and error, but you'll find out what she likes soon. My mom always told me when things were going tough to remember that "this, too, shall pass". It has helped me through the last 27 years of motherhood plus 20 years of providing daycare in my home.

Answer 3

Ahhhh something I just went through, I have a 3 1/2 month old. There are a lot of things that can be bothering her. First to see if she is constipated, I also breastfeed they can go 7 days without a bowel movement and be fine, my little guy now goes 2-4 days between bowel movements, if the stool is like little pebbles or hard when coming out then she is constipated if it is still yellow and seedy she is not. As their digestive track matures and the stool gets thicker it is harder for them to go they are not used to how hard they have to push they are "learning" how to do it. If she is constipated try giving some fruit juice talk to your doc. first. Next if she is not constipated try rubbing her tummy clockwise (this is the direction that they digest) with some slight pressure then bicycle her legs and gently bend them into her stomach (if you were there when your wife delivered it is the same you did with her legs)It is okay if they grunt my son grunts like he is doing a marathon when we do this. this will help them push out any extra gas and help to move the stool. This has worked wonders with my son! Also you can try Mylicon drops. Another thought is if the only symtom you are having is she is cranky and irritable at the breast maybe she is already full and just wants to suck I also went through this at the same age, I just started to space feedings further apart, try 10-20 more minutes between feedings and see if that helps. Let her suck on your finger or a pacifier, She could also be starting to get teeth in her gums this makes them sore when the touch the breast they get upset. Also if she is spitting up alot she could have reflux if this is the case talk to your doc. Hope I helped e-mail me if you need anymore help and Good luck it gets easier in about 2-4 more weeks!!

Answer 4

Give her some prune juice in her bottle, this will help her a lot, also caress her belly, take your hand and move it in a circular motion on her tummy, that helps if she has gas, which more than likely is the case. Also when you hold her put her face down on your arm and remember to burp her after each breast, very important, if she doesn't get burped she will get irritated because of the gas, so make sure she gets burped. A lot of people think that breastfeeding eliminates all gas and that's not true, so do that and give her some gas drops. Hang in there it'll get better. If she goes more than a day and half without going to the restroom, take her to the doctor.

One more thing.....make sure mom cuts down on milk, cheese, any dairy products, she doesn't have to stop eating them just cut down if she's eating too much of them, dairy products constipate and that could also be the issue.

Answer 5

Here are some things that you can try to help with the constipation:

Massage her tummy:

Start at the belly button and then massage outwards in circles in a clockwise direction. Some oil or cream on your fingers can also help. Only continue if she enjoys the massage and is comfortable and relaxed.

Move her legs in a cycling motion:

Place your baby so she is lying on her back. Hold her legs and turn them gently in a quick cycling motion. This will make the stomach muscles move and, in turn, put gentle pressure on the intestines to make them move.

Give her a bath:

A warm bath can make your baby relax so the stools are passed more easily. Once she has relaxed in the bath, you can also massage her stomach. When you wash your baby's bottom, apply some cream or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) around the outside of her bum.

I hope something helps her. Your Doctor should of given you these simple things to do in the first place!

Answer 6

Constipation for a baby is when the stool is hard or formed when coming out. Formed like you could pick almost all of it up with tissue.

your baby is constipated then he or she will pass hard stools (poop), have difficulty passing all of the stool (poop), and sometimes blood may be in the stool (poop). Crying and pulling knees up are also other possible signs that your baby is constipated. And he tummy will be hard to touch (don't check for this when they are crying tummy will be hard.

My ped said with my 3 week old 1/2oz prune juice with 1/2oz water to 1oz water will help " try the less first because anything given for stool loosening can cause tummy problems like diaherria I am speaking of experience"

Also using medicine like suppositories and such can cause dependency on them at least that is what I have been told by many a DR.

Katrina

Answer 7

I've had lots of experience with this problem with my son.

Try the child size glycerin suppositories, only cut them in half (lengthwise) and gently insert. Should work in about 30 minutes. If is works sooner, baby may have "forgotten" how to use those muscles.

Sometimes a warm bath will relax baby and they'll poop. Or a little stimulation from a thermometer with a little Vaseline on the tip.

Answer 8

I have a 10-week-old baby boy, and he has exatcly the same problem. I have talked about this to my ped multiple times because I hate to see my baby in discomfot. So, I found out that it is not constipation as long as the stools appear normal (watery or creamy yellow seedy, or even greenish). This is called dyschezia, which is excessive straining with stools, specifically referring to a very common problem of newborns. Babies sometimes seem to be in pain as they strain and push. This is often labeled "constipation" by parents, but is technically not true constipation (true constipation refers to infrequent, hard stools, and is very rare for breastfed babies).
Here is more on dyschezia:
""Dyschezia" is really a fancy term for uncoordinated pooping. Simply put, babies sometimes seem to have to figure out how to pull their legs up to relax the pelvic floor and let the stool come out. They may kick out with the legs held straight while straining; this is guaranteed to prevent the bowel movement from proceeding normally. Baby pushes with the abdominal muscles and especially the diaphragm (by grunting) and appears to be in great discomfort.

For short term relief it is OK to use a glycerine enema or to stimulate the anus with a lubricated rectal thermometer, but the best and permanent solution is to help your baby learn to relax and release the stool.

You do this by holding her knees up towards her stomach (as if she were squatting) while she pushes. She will get the hang of it soon. It might be a good idea to run your baby by your doctor's office and he can do a quick little rectal exam on her - this rules out any sort of rectal obstruction".

I hope this helps!
By the way, you have probably heard that babies are born with very inmature digestive systems, and this is why many of them have all kinds of problems (my baby has baby reflux, dyschezia, and infant gas). All this should be over soon.

Answer 9

When my daughter was constipated when she was young, the only remedy that I found that worked was putting Karo syrup in her milk, I would pump and put it in a bottle. I started with (1) one tablespoon in each bottle, and eventually ended up putting sometimes two or three tablespoons in each bottle. I asked the pediatrician about it, and Karo syrup is used quite frequently to remedy constipation in children. I know it is a difficult time...and I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully the Karo syrup will work for you...but keep in mind that you have to give it time to work, don't expect it to work immediately. It may be a day or so before your baby has a BM.

Answer 10

Why don't you try abit of juice, watered down slightly once or twice a day, that way things will loosen up abit, but she won't get full strength juice which her little tummy isn't ready for. A washcloth warmed in the microwave, or a heating pad on low would help her little tummy too.