Foods to prevent constipation

[wardygirl]

Blake broke his arm on Tuesday and has been on both Painstop and Nurofen as recommended by his Doctors.

However from reading the literature with Painstop, it does say to keep up fluids as Painstop can cause constipation.

(TMI) Blake did a small, dry pebbly poo last night but I don't think, from memory he has does anything else since Tuesday (can't be sure, but I don't think he has).

I know there are plenty of laxatives out there, but what foods/drinks can he have that might help soften him.

Not sure he'd like the old prune juice. Any other suggestions?

[Ambah]

Pears and pear juice are really good!

You could try the brown sugar in water trick too, but he may not like that either.
Make sure he is getting plenty of water, and perhaps you could sprinkle some extra fibre onto his food?

Oh, and avoid bananas!

ETA - peas, brocolli, beans are veggies high in fibre. Bran is also excellent... could you make some wholegrain bran and pear muffins maybe?

[jess_i]

my chinese doctor recommended lady finger bananas to me (must be lady finger) - apparently they help to get things going

[wardygirl]

Ooh I've got some pears here. I'll cut some up for morning tea.

He's not a huge drinker but I've been able to get him to drink more than usual so hopefully it will make a difference.

Ambah, I might try the brown sugar trick cause he's always been a big vegie eater and it hasn't made a difference so far.

[Muppity]

Try a couple of straps of licorice (the soft stuff from Darrel Lea works best) - it is a sure fire way to get it all moving again but it will turn it a nasty green colour

[Pandora]

I give Milo the baby apple and prune juice, it comes in a single serve glass bottle in the baby section at the supermarket (though I got to Sims - haven't seen it at coles or safeway/woolies near me). He likes it, and its a lot less harsh then actual prune juice (stewed punes are better than regular prune juice)

Milo gets constipated a lot, from a lot of foods. Pears are the other main one that work for him, I mash them in with his weetbix in the morning.

[Olive]

oh rach poor blake!!! what about dired apricots??

[wardygirl]

Ooh I have some apricots too AJP. The pears aren't quite ripe enough for him - he likes them a bit softer.

Yep licquorice is good but I have to go out for that and couldn't be stuffed. Also I have DD home sick from school so she needs to stay housebound as much as possible. Might get DH to get some on his way home from work or something

[ZigZag]

Kiwi-fruit is a mild natural laxative but you'd prolly have to give him a few of them )

The highest doses of fibre are found in fruit/veg so maybe up his intake of these for a couple of days - like more than normal.

From memory I got told with the bananas, that it's only the harder more unripened (sp?) ones that don't help with constipation.....so I think really soft bananas are ok to eat.

[ZigZag]

hmmm, not sure where that smiley face came from....where are the smiley faces anyway....the option to have them seems to have dropped off?

[mrsr]

Is it Metamucil that's put out that fibre that can be sprinkled on food recently? What about giving that a go? Perhaps also try mixing prune juice with apple juice? I'm drinking prune juice each day because I was tired of being constipated myself....ta to Elevit for that.

[wardygirl]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We managed to have 'success' after lunch. He's now down happily sleeping.

[Ambah]

YAY, what a relief Rachel!!

[wardygirl]

Actually, we've had 'success' twice since our first effort. Guess he just needed something to get the ball rolling!