Constipated Baby : (

[allisonmh]

My son is 9.5 months and the past week and a half or so has only been pooping every other day or so. When he does poop, they're little balls. He finally really pooped yesterday, but it was partially normal/partially really black. It matches all the pictures of iron fortified poop, but he's not on iron supplements. I called the pediatrician, but she said bc of the previous constipation that maybe that was just the "uncorking." So today, we didn't have a poop again so I gave him a suppository(baby one of course) just to help him out, and also make sure that it wasn't still black since I was worried about it possibly being bleeding. It wasn't black, but even with the suppository, it was still a big hard ball and he seemed in such distress trying to get it out! I felt horrible. He hasn't been eating any of the main foods that are known to cause constipation and I've been trying to feed him more veggies and such with fiber. I've tried very diluted apple juice and it seems to help when he'll drink it, but he's not a fan. Has anyone else had this problem or have any advice? I'm going to call the dr again if it keeps up, but if I can help him in the meantime, I would so much love to!!

 

[k4th]

My dd went through this at around 9 months. We gave lots of water before meals (she wouldn't drink after she was full) and a mild laxative. This one...

https://m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?path=/en/Califig-55ml_6675/&unCountry=uk

Anything based on figs or prunes is gentle enough to use occasionally without the need to wean off it.

Hth

 

[_Meep_]

Mine goes through this too occasionally, usually when she is teething. I know people always say that teething causes looser stools, but for mine, it's always constipation. I assume it's because she's losing fluid through dribbling and not drinking/eating as much because it hurts!

Mine also has blackish poop when she gets constipated - gross I know, but it's usually a blacker, harder, cracked up section of poop followed by softer, normal coloured poop.

Other constipators for my little one seem to be bananas and an excess of dairy products. I try to encourage her to drink more water throughout the day, and honestly, for her at least, an extra half a cup consumed makes all the difference.

 

[SurpriseBub]

For constipation, our pediatrician advises to add 1tsp of prune juice to each oz of milk in a bottle. He said to do this several times a day. you could try that and then move up from there if it isn't helping. My niece has a big issue with it and she takes miralax. They were told only to do glycerin suppositories a last resort... I'm not sure why, but I guess it isn't meant to be a regular thing?

Good luck!

 

[allisonmh]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to try the prune juice today. I haven't used a suppository on him in months. Our pedi told us we could use them when he was a newborn when he had gone a couple days without pooping. I really just wanted to make sure it wasn't black anymore since dr google was scaring the crap out of me.
And meep, interesting you say dairy products... I've been giving him yogurt with fruit in the mornings thinking maybe the probiotics in the yogurt would help him! Maybe I'm making it worse for him! Yikes!!

 

[_Meep_]

It's possible! Dairy is certainly an infamous culprit lol. If he's having live yoghurt though, you would have thought that might help get things moving ... hmm ...

I'm still giving mine yoghurt (average yoghurt, no cultures) as she likes it and it's pretty nutritious - especially helpful when she's refusing to eat other things. I just try to make sure she has plenty of fruit and smoothies, along with water, to keep things regular.

Don't worry too much about the dark poop. My LO has been doing it on and off for ages and she's totally healthy. Stupidly so, in fact. It's always at the beginning of the poop and followed by a normal colour, I guess because its been sitting in there dehydrating itself a little longer than it should have, lol. Doctor Google will stab you in the back and sleep with your partner - don't listen to her!

 

[SurpriseBub]

Hope the prune juice gets things moving!

I don't think a glycerin suppository now and again is an issue- I think it is just not a good idea to do as a very regular thing.

Hopefully it was a one off for you and you can stop the poop watch soon! (As much a mom ever does.... Ha!)

 

[StranjeGirl]

Be sure to really check the food you are giving...I didn't realize some are constipating- carrots, apple sauce, bananas that are not over ripe (if they are over ripe they act as a laxative, if they are ripe or under ripe they constipate, and cheese. FOr mine pear juice seemed to help!