Constantly constipated

[Hiding]

My LO is 11 weeks and has been FF for about 5 weeks. We cannot find a formula that agrees with him and I am at the end of my tether. He strains throughout the early hours of the morning keeping us awake and I am just shattered. We've tried bicycling his legs, water with apple juice, water with prune juice (which just made him scream all day Saturday), tummy massage.

He takes some of his bottle then needs the rest an hour or so later, so I am constantly feeding him. He can sleep for about 6 hours at the start of the night, but once he wakes for a (small, 60ml) feed, he is then up every 2 hours, or even every hour.

I have spoken to the HV who just suggested the abve (massage, water etc) - my hubby is going to call them again today as LO just seems to be in so much pain.

Does anyone have ANY advice?? I am desperate. I am not enjoying my baby at all at the mo - he rarely smiles, is always crying...I feel sorry for both him and myself!!!

I want to give him lactulose but would prefer to clear this with the GP, but I cant take him down there as the roads are too icy and I'm not confident enough to drive because of it. If I can give it to him, does anyone know if I can give this regularly, say every 2 days just to clear him out?

(for info: we've tried Aptimil, SMA, Hipp and now Cow and Gate. The HV said its OK to swap but to now try with one for a while. Its very hard to do when he is in so much pain).

Please help me (and my son)

 

[AP]

I say get the lactolose. My LO was in pain and it does work quickly. I know babies who are on it daily on instruction from the hospital- dont worry! We called our neonatal dept and the doctor said thatswhat they use - we didnt need a prescription - boots have it!

At his age,i would say try 2.5mls in the morning and another 2.5mls at night, with a syringe

 

[Hiding]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This has been going on for weeks now on and off, and its ruining my time with him, and he's obviously in pain.

I'm definitely going to try it. Thanks for the reply

 

[nikkell77]

hi ..
i know exactally how you feel i my lo is 5 wks and has been having the same problem for the last 3 wks he was on sma but last wk i changed to aptimal and it seems to be making a difference but he was still constipated and i was worried sick i was told the same as you about the water,apple juice but nothing seemed to work and Aaron was getting himself into some state with the straining especially in the early hours he was straining that much he was making himself sick which was coming out his nose and mouth at the same time...

i had had enough and was so worried about him i went to the doctors today and she has gave me lactose he has to get 2.5 ml twice a day and if he is still straining she has gave me a suppositry to give him(which im not so keen on doing but if it is going to help...) but so far today we have had no straining but the straining is usually worse during the night so il just have to wait and see how he goes but she wants to see him back in 48 hours as she said i should see a difference in that time with the lactose ......so i have my fingers crossed i have a happier baby coming my way ... oh and that he dosent strain as i so dont want to insert a suppositry he is just so small for all that ......

so it might be worth going to the docs but il let you know how Aaron gets on but reading your story was as if i could have wrote it myself.....

 

[martha01]

Hi,

My sister had the same problem and the HV advised her to try aptamil easy digest. As you are currently using Cow and Gate, try Cow and Gate comfort. It is easier to digest and is supposed to reduce colic and constipation. Might work? Good luck!

 

[loopdido]

Your baby sounds just like my son at that age - my hv advised to try cow and gate comfort and that seemed to help quite lot........it is really hard going when they are like that I remember well. My mum used to take him for one night a week to give us a break - which sounds awful, but really helped!

Hope you find something to help him soon.