Pooping (or not)

[Anonymous]

Our GI has instructed us that we have to get our daughter into a regularly pooping pattern (preferably every day). She is currently BF and gets one Prosobee bottle a day. (I have tried cutting out the formula bottle and it didn’t help). She has learned to avoid pooping because she refluxed so horribly when she woudl go (before the meds). I have to teach her that it’s ok now that the reflux is getting better.

What can I do to help my baby get more regular. Over the last few weeks, I have tried without sucess:

1 oz. prune juice + 1 oz. water

1 oz. pear juice + 1 oz. water

Yesterday we tried magnesium and she wouldn’t have anything to do with it.

I have heard of some folks using Benefiber, but I don’t know how much? Am I not giving enough of the juices? She really won’t even finish that 2 oz. bottle- I don’t know if it makes her feel full or what.

Also, are the hypoallergenic formulas less constipating? She definitely can’t do regular cow’s milk formula (not even Nestle).

[hellbennt]

Sheri’s constipation remedies for non solids baby (solution p2): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9263&PN=2

[Anonymous]

Hi there. I had an idea. My first two kids had a lot if constipation issues and according to the Ped GI’s @ Primary Childrens Hospital, Miralax is totally safe to give to babies and kids. And it is over the counter now. I gave my first son an adult dose twice a day starting at 2 months. I also gave it to my other son, but only about a teaspoon a couple of times a day. They said it wasn’t habit forming, and I agree. Both of my kids are off of it now and poop just fine. It’s nice becasue it doesn’t cause gas or cramping, there are no side effects. I was thinking maybe if you gave some to your little one once or twice a day at the same time it would help her get into a pooping routine?

[Anonymous]

Thanks- I had seen Sheri’s thread and wasn’t sure of the dose. My daughter is 2 mos. and nearly 12 lbs.

I’m so glad to hear that Miralax doesn’t cause cramping. The juices seem to (especially the prune juice). Thanks so much for the info on the dose. I’ll give it a try.

[Anonymous]

I was going to suggest the miralax as well. I have heard many good things about it. unfortunately I have never had this problem with Cooper he poops like clockwork.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t it funny how if it’s not one thing it’s another??

[Anonymous]

I second the Miralax suggestion. You can really base the dose on how well it works for her. My daughter is on it, and we were told to give her a full dose each day, but her stools were way too loose and watery, so we just experimented a little until we found what works for her.

[Anonymous]

Just a curiousity- why do you do it twice a day? Is it to keep from giving too much at a time? Also, how long did it take to see results? I started low- with a teaspoon twice a day.

I feel better, Naomi, since I see you your daughter is on Zegerid, too. I was worried about mixing too many drugs. Do you all make sure you give it at different times?

[Anonymous]

One of my kids I put some in every bottle because he was VERY constipated. The other one I did twice a day. I only suggested you give it to your babe twice a day because I wondered if it would help you get a schedule going, which is what your doc wanted. You can really do whatever with it though, take however much works whenever it works for you guys.

[Anonymous]

Thanks– sorry for asking so many questions, but I hope you don’t mind one more. Is it okay to put in the bottle ahead of time, or should I send it along to daycare and have them mix it as they go (I go back to work a week from tomorrow).

[Anonymous]

Claire isn’t on the Zegerid, just my son. However, she was on Prevacid as an infant, and was on the Miralax at the same time, so I wouldn’t worry about using them together.

Anyway, we mix her juice with the Miralax in it the night before, and it’s fine for the next morning. So, I would think you could add it to the bottles and send them pre-mixed. Maybe just ask them to shake them up a bit first.

[Anonymous]

I never did and I don’t really know, but I think it would be okay. The powder just dissolves in the water anyway right? On the other hand, it isn’t a big deal to add a teaspoon to a bottle. I guess it would just depend on whether you could trust your daycare to actually do it and do right.

BTW…How is it going? Or maybe a better question is is it getting her going? It was a miracle drug for us!

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for asking and for all the info. I may try just putting it in her first bottle of the day at home or first bottle for daycare so it won’t sit too long.

I have been doing a teaspoon of Miralax for the last three days. We have been up all night every night with her crying and squirming even though I have also been following the doctor’s advice and stimulating her with the suppository around 5 p.m. if she doesn’t go. It’s so awful.

Well, I think the Miralax kicked in because she really went today (and went, and went) so I am going to dial back and see if we can get her to a normal level.

The good news is I called her GI this morning and explained everything, and she suggested Miralax at 1/4 teaspoon, so I feel like I am not going behind her back anymore. I’m going to dial back to her suggestion.

I have read a lot about witholding in the last few days and I think I understand why the other doctors kind of wanted the big poop first. It sounds like you have to clean out all the poop they are holding back and start fresh.

I also bought some Alimentum and am going to give it a few days longer with the Prosobee and switch her over (don’t want to do too many things at once). She’s only getting 1-2 formula bottles a day right now, but it may be part of the problem and it seems the hypoallergenic formulas aren’t as constipating. Wish me luck!

[Author]

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