Chronic constipation - very distressed mum and toddler

**jackrose** · October 8th, 2009, 05:58 PM

I need some help!

Poor DD is 22 months and has been suffering from chronic constipation for the last months.

She had good digestion while breast fed (to 18months) with one of two bouts of constipation when she started solids (8months) which were easily resolved with prunes etc. Since weaning she suffered from a few sever bouts of constipation where I physically had to help the poo out and it was pretty traumatic for us all! That was pretty much isolated though and again resolved by natural laxatives.

So recently she has suffered from ongoing constipation and is really traumatised by needing to do a poo.

I visited a chemist when she had not done a poo for 4 days (after previously being a once a day poo-er) and they suggested parachoc. I went with it and it worked (although still with the trauma of having to pass a hard poo) I don't really like the idea of liquid parafin ingested regularly but if the option is my very distressed daughter.... So I used the parachoc regularly for a few weeks but there was no real change in her bowl habits. Although the parachoc would eventually help, there was still the underlying problem of constipation unresolved.

So I visited the GP who reiterated everything I already knew...

eat lots of fruit and veg
drink lots of water
try not to make it an issue
eat lots of prunes/pears as natural laxatives

I thought maybe it was the dried fruit making it worse - the doc said no, that should help rather than hinder
I also thought maybe her gut was out of whack considering she was c'section and missed out on the natural flora in her gut - the doc said no.

The doc suggested that "some children just have sluggish bowls" and that this may be the case with DD.

She also said that I would want to sort this out as I don't want her to develop a problem with the muscles controlling her poo-ing and end up with fecal incontinance -

Yeah thanks for that! And that was it.

The problem is she eats lots of fruit, (wont really go for vegis) and will happily eat heaps of prunes and pears with no change in her constipation. She drinks lots during the day and has heaps of full wet nappies.

Then... I visited my aunt who is a GP in another state and she suggested

dried fruit can make it worse
the intestinal flora can be related to constipation and
we could try to remove Gluten from DD's diet

We tried that and immediately her constipation disappeared

!!! So rice and fruit for 2 weeks has been a dramatic improvement with a bowl movement (soft) every day. Poor DD is still traumatised when she needs to do a poo, but at least it happens and she should get better....

Then, since we have been back home, we are back to square one. I can't for the life of me figure out what is different in her diet, but it is 3 days between poos, they are hard and she is really distressed. It just took 1.5 hours for her to do a poo today with me having to help her again.

I am beside myself now.

Please, if anyone has been through something similar and can offer any advice??

I don't want to have to go back to daily parachoc as it did not help in the long run and is really a gross thing to have your toddler ingesting

I would really love a good referral for a health care practitioner who can be more helpful than "she probably has sluggish digestion" and give her liquid paraffin.

Does anyone know of a good wholistic practitioner who knows about digestion/allergies or maybe a good therapist for cranio-sacral work... I want to get this sorted out!

Sorry this turned out so long. I guess I am having a rant as well as seeking advice

***charmalea*** · October 8th, 2009, 06:23 PM

well hun , im totally on the same page as you my 3yr Ds is tramatised to do a poo , due to constipation , now hes hard poos one day , sloppy poos the next , i cant work it out .

i booked in to see a naturpath and another GP as i am getting frustrated at him for pooing his pants (hours after he tells me he needs to go) and its strssing me out .

i am switching to soy milk , but thats about it so far diet wise .

its hard seeing them run around and cry in pain . one night DH and i gave him a enema (microlax) and the poor boy was beside him self .

the other day my DS was so bad , and trying to poo , i put a lubed finger in there and the hard poo was about 2 cm in , just stuck there , eventually he pooed his pants and cried coz it hurt

will be watching this thread and thinking of you both !

oh just rememberd , inner health plus for kids , helped my DD with contipation when she was on meds for a while - just a suggestion

**sas85** · October 8th, 2009, 06:43 PM

My Doctors are like that they're called Invitation to Health and they are fully qualified Doctors but they also do allergy testing, non-standard medical testing, compound medicine, and have a chinese herbalist on staff etc. BUT I live on the Central Coast . . I can't see your location - but on the very slim chance you are this way PM me and I will send you through their detaiils. I know this is an unhealth suggestion but a GP recommended it to a friend with similar problems with her daughter and his recommendation was put a teaspoon of brown sugar in her milk. Does she drink much cows milk? As some small children react to cows milk with constipation also.

**DaintreeDream** · October 8th, 2009, 06:54 PM

I have recently been having the same issues with my DD (16 months), she was passing very hard poos every 5 days and she screamed every time, I was afraid that she was going to get scared of pooing and she was starting to show those signs but no matter what I did nothing helped. I was finally told to try a mix of prune juice, apple juice and bran. She does not eat solids so I was unable to get bran into her but I give her her a small cup of 1 part prune juice, 1 part apple juice and 1 part water for morning tea every day and she has gone back to pooing every second day, they are a bit sloppy but it does not bother me that I have to clean it as she has not cried once

.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you soon.

**Janie** · October 8th, 2009, 07:18 PM

I'm so sorry I can't help you (except to second Charmalea's suggestion of seeing a naturopath), but I just wanted to give you a massive hug

. It sounds like a really traumatic time for all of you, I hope you can find a solution very soon

**~*Niadalla*~** · October 8th, 2009, 07:30 PM

I had lots of trouble with DS after comp feeding him between the ages of 3months and 9 months.
DS would scream his heart out, go red in the face, cry, and cling to me as tightly as possible. It ws heartbreaking and noone wanted to help me. I knew there was something wrong, but everyone just kept telling me to do all the normal things.
I got fed up adn went to my GP who referred me to a Pead. The pead ws great but also a little baffled. We tried DS on a high fibre diet (lots of baked beans hommus etc) and also put him on soy formula to see if it was a cow's milk protein intollerance. Nothing worked, including adding probiotics to his food. I was so frustrated.
A good friend saw DS at his worst, and suggested something she did with her daughter. Vaalia yoghurt. I gave it a go, and what do you know, then next day DS soiled his nappy without screaming. From that day on, he has not had one single problem. His poos do get a little on the hard side on the odd occasion, but no bleeding, no screaming, no sweating etc etc etc.
Giving him Vaalia yoghurt was the best thing I ever did. I know it doesn't sound very conventional, but it's just an option for you to try if you want to.
I gave DS Vaalia most days for a good 2 weeks, and then every so often after that for a few months. He hasn't had Vaalia yoghurt in a good year now and we've still had no issues. I really believe it was all to do with the flora of his gut. I feel that if I didn't comp feed, he probably wouldn't have suffered for as long as he did.

Good luck with it all. I remember how heartbreaking it was and I hope you can get something that works.

**Nadine216** · October 8th, 2009, 07:46 PM

I would second Sarah's suggestion about the brown sugar. Here it's common to give Rooibos tea with brown sugar to babies/todlers for constipation, it worked really well for my ds. If you would like to try some Rooibos tea, I would be happy to post some too you

PM me, ok?

MAYBE, just maybe she already HAS issues with poo'ing at home and that is why she was fine when you visit your aunt, but fell back when you came home?? Maybe she assosiate your bathroom already, they are smart little bugger those almost 2 year olds.

Also I would get a second opinion from another GP, or if possible, get her to a specialist in gastric stuff yourself.

Poor baby. I hope you get this sorted out

***charmalea*** · October 9th, 2009, 07:16 AM

i was told vaalia youghrt too , heard it worked wonders , luckily my DS loves it , but my DD is dairy intolerant , cant even have the lactose free vaalia

and brown sugar and water did the trick for us while we were on holiday , with in the hour !

have heard of rooibos tea ,but not of giving it to a baby/toddler . where are you from nadine ? and what is the tea made from ?

**Janie** · October 9th, 2009, 07:33 AM

Charmalea, Rooibos is an African tea, it's caffeine free and pretty yummy

(if you like tea). I know it's pretty available in Melbourne, so you can probably get it up there too. If you struggle, let me know and I'm happy to send you some.

**Becs_bubs** · October 9th, 2009, 08:49 AM

Both of mine had this at the same age. My daughter's was particularly bad - we ended up in emergency one night at about 20 months because she was so constipated and was screaming in pain. What has worked (eventually) for both of them is pretty much what your doc said - a high fibre diet and LOTS of water. I keep drink bottles in the fridge, and they drink all day - the first thing and last thing of the day they have been taught to do is have a cup of water. And a lot of raw fruit and veggies and grainy bread. Also, when I know it's starting to get bad, I have a fibre powder I add to their drink - it's clear and tasteless and you can put it in food, too - I asked the chemist back then and they said it was fine for toddlers. I think it's just Benefibre? I will see if we still have some. I know most of that is probably what you're doing already, but with us it's just been a constant thing - the water is the main thing.

Good luck...it's not nice when they're in pain

**Janie** · October 9th, 2009, 08:52 AM

I've just remember something that some midwives said to me in hospital after having DS. They all noticed that I was ordering meals high in fibre (I was so nervous about my first bowel movement with my stitches!). Some of them said 'good on you, just what you need' and some said 'oh, watch you don't have too much fibre because that can cause a problem'. I still went with having lots of fibre, and I didn't have problem, but maybe there's something in that? I have no idea, just remembered what they said and thought it might be useful to you. Maybe there's such a thing as too much fibre?????

**sas85** · October 9th, 2009, 10:29 AM

Janie - you are right there is - but only if you have too much fibre without the applicable balance in water - this is particularly true of the 'rougher' types of fibre (ie - bran/grains as opposed to vegie/fruit fibre)

**BellyBelly** · October 9th, 2009, 10:50 AM

Where abouts are you state wise? I'd definitely get along to see a naturopath, especially if it's that distressing to both of you. I can recommend someone great in Melbourne.

**Visitor3** · October 9th, 2009, 10:53 AM

Hun, I really feel for you both and understand how distressing it can be. My DD thankfully is ok and seems to he her dads bowels but I have suffered all my life from on again off again constipation. What works for me has been a matter of trial and error, so is very specific, but even if only one of these works it would be worth it. Ok,

Tinned pears in fruit juice (not in syrup),
Prune Juice (Not Prunes),

I would also try the recommendation to put a teaspoon of brown sugar in some cool boiled water. I would also try some infant inner health plus to promote the good bacteria in her gut. Vaalia natural yogurt is also a good recommendation.

Good Luck and tell us how you go hun xx

**jackrose** · October 9th, 2009, 11:27 AM

Oh thank you so much for all of your replies and suggestions. I am quite overwhelmed

I am close to tears reading some of your stories, it is just terrible to have little ones crying, shaking, screaming and sweating in pain with that look on their face: mummy fix it. Whether it be constipation or anything else, its just terrible!

It took DD 2 hours to pass a motion yesterday afternoon

Thank god for the fact that when its all over she is back to normal mood wise. (I'm pretty scarred though!)

There are so many good suggestions you have all put forward. It is just so complicated as there are so many and some contradict each other. By its very nature digestion is very complicated.I have tried a few of the suggestions here such as prune juice, vaalia, baby pro-biotics but I am thinking that the effects may have been hidden by other aggravating complications

I think I am going to have to try an elimination diet... I just think I should do that under the guide of a professional. sas85 your Invitation to Health Clinic sounds perfect. I forgot to mention in my OP (Pregnancy scatty-ness!) where I am. Melbourne!
Kelly, I have actually seen Nicole Tracy at the Belly Belly centre a few times so maybe I will try her again... Is a natropath the best person to see regarding a toddler's diet? (especially with a view to addressing possible allergies and intolerances?)

Once again, thanks so much for all your responses and support, it does make me feel better to know that it is not only my poor DD going though this as terrible as it is for all of your little ones also.

**Cricket** · October 9th, 2009, 12:00 PM

jackrose - my DD3 (who is almost 2yrs old) is going through the exact same thing.

And like you, I know all the "normal" things to try with constipation. We eat lots of fibre, fruit and veggies. My oldest DD (6yrs) has the same thing. My second DD is just fine. Same diet, same lifestyle.

But I will be trying the prune and apple juice mixture (they wouldn't drink the prune juice alone, but I didn't think to mix it.) and some probiotic yogurt and see where that gets us.
I totally understand your feelings watching your baby try to poo, and screaming in pain, and you can't fix it. It's a horrible feeling. They don't understand, and you can't really help.

I hate it.
Here's hoping some of these suggestions work for these little ones!