So she's not really 15kg...

[onthefly]

Oh the poor thing. I really hope she gets some relief soon

[UntoldAngel]

Liquorice also works quite well for getting things moving

Glad to hear she has had some movement, but here's hoping for a lot more without medical intervention to your DD and you

[Kazbah]

Poor litle thing ... lady at work's daughter had issues, it took her about 3 years to get sorted out - she said physically it was fixed in 3 months, but that it took that much longer to get out of her mind the pain. She said they used (in addition to parachoc) star charts and also letting her see that mummy and daddy and big brother all poo too.

I hope she gets that kg lighter soon ....

[Just Me]

I hope it is all over soon for her. Poor kid.

I thought I might add that soft runny poo is not always a sign that things are moving inside. Often the hard poo gets stuck up inside and what makes it out is the soft poo that is able to pass the other stuff and make it out. Just something to keep in mind anyway.

Maybe some of it will work its way out while she sleeps if she has had enough things with a laxative effect ... does she still wear nappies at night and when she naps? Might be worth thinking about until it is sorted. They relax at night enough that sometimes it does work its way out.

[Gigi]

poor kid. i don't know how old your DD1 is, but gripe water really helped my bub to 'go'.

psyllium is a grain that is 80% fibre, about $7 for a bag of it at woollies. you can add a spoon of that to many recipes e.g muffins.

i would look at it from the other end too.
not just "what helps her go"
but also
things that cause constipation e.g white bread, bananas (doubt that would be the issue at the current prices!),

and get her drinking lots of water.

poor you too, sounds very ick. (she can't help it, but i do feel for you, having to clean it all up).

[Kaydee]

I agree with the laxatives ASAP. DS has had a lot of problems with constipation from an early age. He is now taking a medication for it (movicol jr). Really there is no reason to put it off, the poos that are already there aren't going to get softer as more and more water is being absorbed out. Changing her diet will only help the "new poo" that is building up. Good luck!

[Trillian]

I hope it is all over soon for her. Poor kid.

I thought I might add that soft runny poo is not always a sign that things are moving inside. Often the hard poo gets stuck up inside and what makes it out is the soft poo that is able to pass the other stuff and make it out. Just something to keep in mind anyway.

I agree with this - what came out wasn't what is meant to be coming out, but it's all the 'new poo' that has been softened up by the prune juice etc. The the problem isn't really being solved because what is happening is all the food she is eating now with all the juice, fruit and stool softeners are making her poo really really runny, and because of this the runny poo is basically forcing itself around all the hard poo that is blocked up in there. You really do need to tackle this from the bottom end of her bowel because that is where the problem is. Once the poo is that far down in her bowel it has absorbed all the water and become dry and hard, so giving her to stool softeners orally aren't going to do anything to shift it or soften it, it is just going to make all the new poo very soft.

[*Beema*]

I would do the glycerine suppository hun, we've had to do it with DD2 and it is very small and she didn't even notice it.

She has been very constipated, and we had tried all of the natural remidies, prunes, pear juice, aprictos, brown sugar and water, even dark brown sugar and water, massage, warm baths, along with Coloxyly, Lactulose, and she still couldn't poo. The suppository worked within about 10 minutes, it released the initial block without screaming in pain and then over the next two days she was able to let go of the rest...

Thinking of you it is horrible having a constipated little one

[Taurean]

Once the poo is that far down in her bowel it has absorbed all the water and become dry and hard, so giving her to stool softeners orally aren't going to do anything to shift it or soften it, it is just going to make all the new poo very soft.

I don't agree. Stool softeners such as Parachoc soften ANY built up stools while also lubricating the stool and the bowel making them easy to pass. Stool softeners only cause leakages or the runs if too much is administered.

Here is some info from the Parachoc site. There is lots more info on the site

What can I do to relieve my child's constipation?

First the hard mass of faeces must be passed. This may mean using softening agents, enemas and suppositories. Then the bowel must be kept empty. This is so the bowel has time to recover its normal muscle function. It’s important that faeces do not build up again until the bowel is functioning normally. To keep the bowel empty use a liquid lubricant laxative such as Children’s Parachoc.

[Trillian]

Even that information suggests that using a combination of treatments is better. Anything you read about fecal impaction tends to suggest that a combination of treatments is better.

[Astrid]

This thread has been very informative. The Dr pointed out the other day that DD2 was constipated, which surprised me as she had been pooing. Shows that I really need to deal with it quickly and properly.

[Arimeh]

No poo at all today

DH picked up some movicol (sp?) from the chemist and we have given her a dose (which was quite traumatic for all of us!) so we will see what happens tomorrow...

[Taurean]

No poo at all today

DH picked up some movicol (sp?) from the chemist and we have given her a dose (which was quite traumatic for all of us!) so we will see what happens tomorrow...

We are on day 3 of 'no decent poos'. Planning on giving DD Coloxyl drops tomorrow if it doesn't rear its ugly head tonight.

We have used Movicol a couple of times but it was so hard to get into DD - it tastes foul I mixed it with pear juice once and she drank that one dose but wouldn't have it again so I've given up on it. It did work that one time though so I have everything crossed for you that it works for your DD too. There is also Movicol Junior which I *think* tastes nicer. I had literally just bought a big box of the Movicol Half when I found out about the Junior one (my local pharmacy didn't stock it, I saw it elsewhere). Something to keep in mind if she doesn't like the normal Movicol though.

[Schmickers]

+1 for movicol.

[Aligater]

Oh the poor thing hope she poops soon for you

[*Beema*]

Some more info as well

Coloxyl works by stimulating the bowl, causing it to contract.
Actilax (or other forms of Lactulose), cause the bowl to absorb water from it surroundings, which soften the stools, allowing them to pass.

Once the bowel stretches it takes a long time to contract to a normal size, not hours or days, it can take weeks.

With the Movicol you can hide it in food (if it is the satchets), yogurt for example, it may make it less traumatic for all of you, and keep her drinking lots of water.

It is horrible having a constipated little one, we've been battling it for months and it is so frustrating and I don't know if the Dr said, but it is best to keep treating even when she gets going, to give the bowek a chance to recover and return to its normal size.

[Life is Good]

I know you are after natural remedies, but we have tried everything Mel! Eventually the paediatrician put DS on Movicol-Half and it has worked a treat. It is mild and doesn't give them a lazy bowel. Just something to bear in mind if the natural options don't work. I hope your poor DD gets some relief soon x

[Arimeh]

I know you are after natural remedies, but we have tried everything Mel! Eventually the paediatrician put DS on Movicol-Half and it has worked a treat. It is mild and doesn't give them a lazy bowel. Just something to bear in mind if the natural options don't work. I hope your poor DD gets some relief soon x

We've got her on that too - gave her a dose last night, and no movement so far. How long does it take to kick in? When should we give her another dose? (question for everyone btw!)