Hi everyone

First time mum here and I was hoping someone would have some advice for me. I have been supplement feeding my 5 week old baby daughter for about 3 weeks now - it's crept up and I would estimate that she is probably on 75% formula now and 25% breast.

Since I started the formula, she was a lot more unsettled, very gassy and whingy. After doing some research, I came across a goat milk formula which is supposedly great for digestion etc and changed her to that on Monday this week. Day 1 and 2 were great - she was very settled and much happier. On Day 3, constipation started. She was screaming, I cried and there was a tiny bit of blood in her poo when she finally got it out. It was a long 'dough' like log.

I called the formula care line and they said to give her brown sugar in the formula and to add a bit of extra water each feed which I have been doing. She did a poo yesterday (Day 4) and it was relatively soft but small. Today is Day 5 and she hasn't been to the bathroom yet. I am still doing the brown sugar and the water but she has been crying when she farts and I am so worried that I am doing the wrong thing. She seems relatively happy apart from the straining and grunting which makes me think it's hurting her.

The care line people told me to stick with the formula and to not change back. We are going to the paedatrician on Monday but I thought someone might have some advice for me. I feel like a terrible mum

Hun

You need to speak to a health care professional about this issue. I really wouldn't take the advice of a formula company, they don't know your baby and will have a bias towards their products.

I have also never heard of adding sugar to a bottle and I can't imagine this to be a good idea, whatever formula you use.

if you think your lo is constipated then a little extra water between feeds should help. I wouldn't make up feeds weaker as your lo may not be getting the correct amount of nutrition.
Can you speak to someone today for advice, even if just by phone?

Jx

my LO had constipation around 7 weeks n i was told to give 1/2oz prune juice mixed with 1/2oz water had to stick with it a few days since i was switching from regular to soy once his belly was used to the switch the constpation stopped but the prune juice deff helped n i still give it to him once in a blue moon.

Hi all

Thanks for replying to me. I thought I'd pop back in and give you an update. I went to the paedatrician yesterday and he said brown sugar is fine for infants to relieve constipation. He said you can either add it to the water to dissolve before you make formula or you can give the baby a small amount (20ml) of water with brown sugar in it. It didn't work for us though and he said glycerin suppositories are also totally safe to use.


There is some info here about brown sugar and constipation if anyone is interested - health.vic.gov.au/edfactsheets/constipation-kids.pdf

I have changed the formula though - I hope it works.

Thanks again.

I've never heard of adding sugar but just wanted to add that tummy massage helped my LO when she didn't go for 3 days and was clearly in discomfort (after moving onto formula gradually over 2 weeks). Gently massaging the tummy in a clockwise direction around her belly button. Worked a treat.

That's as well as giving cooled, boiled water. Must dash, my LO is awake