[Azreial]

One of my poor little guys is very constipated. He's mostly breastfed but he does have about 8oz of formula a day. When he goes you can see he's in a lot of pain, legs drawn up, straining, crying

The poo is hard little "nuggets" He hasn't gone on his own in almost 3 days. I did do the thermometer trick yesterday and today. I've been massaging his belly, bicycling his legs, giving him a warm bath, putting a hot water bottle on his belly. I've done 24hrs with no formula and he's still constipated.
I really don't know what to do anymore. Any one have any advice?

He had poo problems since birth. He ended up having to get a suppository in the nicu. WE've tried switching formula brands and powder vs. liquid and nothing has made a diffrence. I'm really at a loss of what to do and I'm starting to worry that there's something wrong with him

 

[ella'smommy]

My dd had the same problem, the between the iron supplement and rice cereal thickener for reflux it was fully formed and she was miserable, would spend all day trying to go. The docs told us that we could add a small amount of prune juice to the formula (she is exclusively formula fed). I add 1 tsp per 3 ozs of formula, and it does the trick. She only has 1 bm a day, but it's very loose and she is MUCH happier.

 

[twinvillageiowa]

Our girls are breast milk fed, but they did go over a week without a poo. They ended up being fine, but the doc also did suggest the prune juice.

 

[Amys1st]

Maggie is breastfed but also gets the preemie formula in 4 ozs at least 3 times over a 24 hour period and usually breastmilk is added to it. She also gets iron supplement at bath time. Zantac, vitamins in the bottle, and amoxicilln.

She has been constipated since about 2 weeks after she got home. At first we panicked since dd1 who was 100% breastfed pooped like no ones business. We did the prune juice, corn syrup, sugar water, and all and finally started using suppositories every few days but now we just have glyceryn and insert it in her rectum and she poops (did it an hour ago).
My ped and her neos dont seem concerned becuase she also wets plenty of diapers daily. They would be if her poops were dry and she had less diapers.

I have noticed since her back and neck have gotten stronger and when DH the pt works with her she is now pooping on her own a bit. I am hoping she will just grow out of it like the Drs say.

But pm me with any questions since I know what you feel like!

 

[sehbub]

We did the prune juice too, but not mixed with her formula. Ped suggested doing one ounce of prune juice and three ounces of water and just giving it to her that way, because mixing the juice with the formula can upset their stomach, apparently.

 

[boscopup]

If it's the iron supplement causing the constipation, switch to a better supplement. When DS was diagnosed as anemic at 9 months old (I asked to have his blood tested - he wasn't showing any signs, and the doctor didn't think he was, but then got the results and was shocked!), we started with the Fer-in-sol (ferrous sulfate), but after 5 days, I couldn't do that to him anymore. He was in a TON of pain. I remember that pain in early pregnancy when I was taking prenatal vitamins with ferrous sulfate. Just nasty stuff. I switched to an herbal iron supplement that not only was easier to give (just 2 drops a day) and tasted better, but it also didn't cause ANY gastrointestinal side effects. Within 3 months, his iron levels were well within normal range, and we were able to stop the supplement altogether. If I have another preemie, I will use the herbal supplement again. It worked great, and didn't have the nasty side effects of synthetic iron.

I don't know if this is the OP's problem, but I noticed that some of the PPs mentioned the iron supplement causing their babies constipation, and thought I would mention this. There are better supplements than the ones most peds give you, and your child does NOT have to be in pain in order to get enough iron.

 

[fireant]

We've had to use the glyceryn on Marlow a few times. She is so relieved (and so are we) within a few minutes. But lately she's been able to go on her own every other day. She gets about 1 to 2 bottles of alimentum a day when my milk supply runs out and Dh is home alone with her. She's much better with this than the soy formula.

We tried the prune juice too but that didn't seem to work. I tried drinking the prune juice too to see if it could somehowhelp her through my milk but I just wound up having a terrible stomachache.

 

[Azreial]

He,s not on iron. I think he's a bit young for prune juice. He'll be 5wks old tomorrow, but he's just 5days corrected age.
When he does go its very hard. We mentioned it to his dr and he said to call if he goes more than 24hrs without a bm so that's why I've been doing the thermometer.
Right now its been almost 36hrs and I've tried the therometer and nothing

I'm comtemplating the suppository. I just don't know how long I should let him go without a bm at this point

 

[Azreial]

good news, I went to do the suppository, didn't even get the tip and and, well Mr A is no longer constipated

 

[Amys1st]

That happened to us the first time too. Actually to DH and the wall.

After that he was careful of the wind coming out