constipation woes!

[babywearer_anon]

Ok. since dd started crawling she's been less and less interested in the potty. more like flat out refusing. i'm okay with that, i've backed off a lot.
but now at 10.5 months and just recently having started solids she is constipated. She wasn't interested in solids until a couple weeks ago. She's still mostly on breastmilk. She isn't eating all that much either - some mashed banana, mashed avocado, canned prunes and occasionally oat cereal (fortified).
I would guess that iron fortified cereal can make a baby constipated. but she's had very little of that, especially lately.
I've also heard that bananas can be constipating for some babies, so we're slowing down on that (too bad because she loves bananas).

I've been trying to introduce water in the last week, cause I heard that can help with constipation too. SHe's never had a bottle before. I gave her some water in a bottle last week and it totally didn't work. So I just got her a sippy cup, and she gets what looks like a few drops if I hold it up for her.

Ummm, and I guess the EC part of this equation is that I've been holding her in the 'classic' EC position over the toilet which used to work well for her when she has a poop. But today she was crying and screaming, and (sorry for the detailed description here....) I could actually see this poop trying to make its way out.... and then... it went back in again. Urg. Poor baby. SHe's been straining when standing against furniture, etc.

I've also tried pushing her knees up to her chest when laying on her back, and doing the 'corkscrew' move.

So far its been about 4 days since she last pooped. And before that it had been about the same.

I know a lot of people have babies that end up only pooping once a week or so. But she's so obviously uncomfortable, I'd like to help her in some way.

Should I call the pediatrician?? I'm not sure what they'd tell me to do. Please share if you've had similar experiences or have some advice. I'd love to hear it!

Thanks. (and sorry if this was too long!!!!)

[srs]

Not sure about the constipation, but I wanted to suggest that you can also just use an open cup with your baby, if the sippy is not getting her that much water (no reason to use a bottle at all, at this age). My DD was terrible with sippys, never really figured them out, so around a year old I started offering water in an open cup. She was fine with it.

Good luck and I hope your baby is more comfortable soon.

[babywearer_anon]

Yes! I forgot to mention that we did try a regular, open cup for the last month or so. but it seemed like too much water at once and dd would always choke and sputter, even if there was just a tiny tiny bit in the cup. So that was my thinking on trying (first the bottle) and then the sippy.

[blackbird2]

A few quick thoughts: your baby's digestive system may just be adjusting to solids. i wouldn't worry too much about introducing water unless your DD doesn't have free access to nursing - I think the water to reduce constipation idea is generally to encourage drinking (and for those of us who aren't nursing, water is a great option). My DS has been on iron supplements for a while now; it's a balancing act between his nutrition and not getting him too stopped up! Remember that bms can only happen when the colon is contracting - trying at other times won't be successful, so try to make sure your timing is on. after meals (at this age, 22months) or after repeated nursings is a good time - my DS usually askes to nurse more frequently (a couple times in a row) when he's working on something.... I also found that peaches and kiwi were good "movers". Oh, and the classic position still is helpful. occasionally DS still prefers it to the potty. Good luck

[Heidi74]

Originally Posted by babywearer_anon

Yes! I forgot to mention that we did try a regular, open cup for the last month or so. but it seemed like too much water at once and dd would always choke and sputter, even if there was just a tiny tiny bit in the cup. So that was my thinking on trying (first the bottle) and then the sippy.

I've used a sippy and removed the valve in the beginning with both my boys. With DS1 I introduced the sippy at 5 1/2 months, and by 7 months he had figured it out well enough to put the valve back on. DS2 is 9 months old, and still has not figured it out, but he drinks from the cup if the valve is not there. Of course, he needs to be closely supervised so he doesn't spill the water all over himself, but I still feel better about it than I do about an open cup. You could try that.

[babywearer_anon]

Update:
she pooped!
hooray!

[FloridaBorn]

Yay! So glad she was able to go. I remember being constipated as a child and looking back on it I *KNOW* it was due to constant ear infections and subsequent antibiotics that totally threw my natural digestive flora off balance.

So, I guess what I'm suggesting is to make sure your baby is getting some probiotics. Baby yogurt or something?