I've been researching in the archives, and apparently there are LOTS of other moms dealing with LO's that withhold poop. However, there doesn't seem to be any good answers that don't involve more fiber or laxatives. So I thought I'd try to get a TF perspective.
DS is 3.5. He has never been an every day pooper, but until recently, they didn't seem painful or hard when they came out (except once that I remember a few years ago). It seemed more that he just didn't pay attention to the urge to go, and didn't like being changed. Now it seems that he's afraid to poop because he had a few that hurt. He has eaten a TF diet since birth, and doesn't seem to have any food allergies. He eats plenty of fiber so that's not the issue. He also drinks... ALOT. And he drinks mostly kombucha and natural fermented drinks. I've tried adding prune purees to his smoothies, and that seemed to help a little, but he's not interested in drinking them right now. He's a VERY picky eater, and the only supplements I can get into him have to be hidden in something he eats. I tried suppositories but he is terrified of them, and I tried Milk of Magnesia once, and I literally had to hold him down which made both of us cry.
I feel that this is a serious medical issue, since he's stretching his colon out, so I want to address it, but I also feel that when I focus on it he picks up on it and it becomes a control issue... which in my son will make him want to poop even less. I think I'm going to tell him that Mommy cannot control his poop, and that it is completely up to him whether to poop or not... and then never mention poop (meanwhile sneaking dissolvable magnesium into his kombucha) and putting epsom salts into his bath. I kills me knowing he's going to suffer when he finally goes, but if I force suppositories on him, I think it will damage his trust in me. And at this point, he goes every 3-5 days, and has only had a few that were a real struggle. I know many have it much worse. I'm afraid making pooping an issue will actually push him over into serious encopresis.
So. Any TF ideas? Anyone know of kid-friendly magnesium that can be hidden? Should I try chiropractic adjustments?
I would love to do the scd with him, or try elimation diets, but don't have cooperation from dh, which would be essential. I suspect that this problem is not really caused by the food he eats, but perhaps is a structural/functional problem aggravated by personality. I feel so powerless to help my baby!
DS is 3.5. He has never been an every day pooper, but until recently, they didn't seem painful or hard when they came out (except once that I remember a few years ago). It seemed more that he just didn't pay attention to the urge to go, and didn't like being changed. Now it seems that he's afraid to poop because he had a few that hurt. He has eaten a TF diet since birth, and doesn't seem to have any food allergies. He eats plenty of fiber so that's not the issue. He also drinks... ALOT. And he drinks mostly kombucha and natural fermented drinks. I've tried adding prune purees to his smoothies, and that seemed to help a little, but he's not interested in drinking them right now. He's a VERY picky eater, and the only supplements I can get into him have to be hidden in something he eats. I tried suppositories but he is terrified of them, and I tried Milk of Magnesia once, and I literally had to hold him down which made both of us cry.
I feel that this is a serious medical issue, since he's stretching his colon out, so I want to address it, but I also feel that when I focus on it he picks up on it and it becomes a control issue... which in my son will make him want to poop even less. I think I'm going to tell him that Mommy cannot control his poop, and that it is completely up to him whether to poop or not... and then never mention poop (meanwhile sneaking dissolvable magnesium into his kombucha) and putting epsom salts into his bath. I kills me knowing he's going to suffer when he finally goes, but if I force suppositories on him, I think it will damage his trust in me. And at this point, he goes every 3-5 days, and has only had a few that were a real struggle. I know many have it much worse. I'm afraid making pooping an issue will actually push him over into serious encopresis.
So. Any TF ideas? Anyone know of kid-friendly magnesium that can be hidden? Should I try chiropractic adjustments?
I would love to do the scd with him, or try elimation diets, but don't have cooperation from dh, which would be essential. I suspect that this problem is not really caused by the food he eats, but perhaps is a structural/functional problem aggravated by personality. I feel so powerless to help my baby!
