Reflux,lactose free milk & constipation...pls help!

[nimbec]

Hi all

well after a lot of trial an error we found that harrison is much better on LF milk with carobel added to it as he has reflux too. However he has been on it about 3 weeks and is severly constipated he spends hours a day pushing and straining, his poo's come out fully formed and rock hard so much that he has paper type cuts around his bottom

Any suggestions?? He manages to pass a bowl movement every other day ut strains all the time. previous to this on normal milk he had very loose stools - help!! I feel like its a catch 22 situation....he's on SMA LF and carobel

I have tried giving one bottle a day with one less powder scoop in that should be and this helps very very slightly.

any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[skeet9924]

my lo was the same..i had him on soy.. i gave him an oz of pear juice mixed with 2 oz of distilled water...i'd warm it up a bit too...it worked well for him but had to do it daily... i just switched my lo off the soy though and tried him on good start, hes super gassey but he handles it better now that hes older. i'm not sure about in the uk but the pear juice here is found in the baby section of our stores

 

[lovelylaura]

I was told to try brown sugar and water tbh I only did it for 3 days it helped slightly but she still bled after having a poo. I had to get some medicine from the doctor in the end. Now she's older she has a cup of squash a day and it's helped loads x

 

[nimbec]

Thanks ladies! It's so frustrating just been to health visitor and doc and they say its not the milk grrr I don't believe them as its all over the Internet that lf causes constipation! So I have to try apple juice in boiled water - lets see!

Glad to hear your lo's are doing well!!

 

[lovelylaura]

It took 3 months for them to finally listen to me I hope you get it sorted soon, I went every week to the doctors and the hv. It's horrible I know how your feeling. Fingers crossed its all sorted xx

 

[skeet9924]

Just a warning some times the apple juice is hard on their belly can make them gassy. Pear juice is less acidic and easier to digest. And I can't believe they said its not the milk.. As soon as I switched formula Carson is way better .. Hasn't had an issue since

 

[nimbec]

Thanks girls! Eek just given him a bit of apple juice hope its not too hard on him - useless doctors!!!

Was he much better when u switched to soy? Which milk did u find the best?

Thanks ladies!

 

[skeet9924]

His gas issues were way better with soy.. But the constipation was horrible on soy. Also my friends pediatrician told her that soy is linked to cancer especially in boys.. So I switched him back to regular formula ( good start) and he's horribly gassy but he poops normal now and the gas doesn't seem to bother him. He still spits up all the time!! But he's gaining weight well so the dr isn't concerned. There is a completely hypoallergenic formulae that is apparently really good.. My friends son was on it for reflux and milk allergy.. It's called Nutramigen by enfamil

 

[nimbec]

Thanks skeet well update apple juice was a DISASTER he was sick and cried in pain for ages

So this morning I put him back on regular formula with thickener for the reflux and already after just 2 bottles he has managed a poo even tho it was like concrete poor boy - so far seems ok but I guess lactose builds in the system so he maybe unwell by this evening I really really hope not!!!!

Doctors are useless!!!!

 

[skeet9924]

What formula did u put him on? If it doesn't work.. Try the pear juice.. It helped Carson and although his poo was still a bit hard it was easier for him. You could also try a probiotic with the regular formula.. BioGaia works well and it helps with digestion. I put Carson back on regular formula and he is gassey as can be but it bothers me more then him cause now he just stinks lol

 

[momofmisters]

My LO was the same way. You can get probiotic drops (BioGaia) for infants and that seemed to help my LO a lot with the constipation. It took about 2-3wks for his system to start pooing on a regular basis ...he now goes once a day or sometimes every other day. I have him on Enfamil Lactose Free formula. To help him to go before I realized he needed Lactose Free formula...we would dip a Q-tip in Vasaline and insert the qtip ever so slightly into his bum and lubricate him so it wasn't so hard for him to push out the poops.