Posted by
singhs
18 yrs ago
Hi
My 10 month old has been suffering from hard stool since the last 2-3 weeks (she's not constipated, just that her stool is hard). Everytime she has a bowel movement her tummy hardens up and she scream. I have tried to give her as much fluid as i possibly can, but it is really difficult as more often than not she spits it out- everything- water, juice, gripe water, yogurt, fruit puree, every single thing that i felt will help soften her stool (she does not care for anything sweet, loves savoury). So its an endless process of trying again and again, catching her in the right mood. I consulted my doc about 10-12 days ago and she prescribed a laxative, but no change. 3 days ago there was a streak of blood in her stool and I took her for an examination and was told she has a tiny little fissure. She was given Agragol to induce loose bowel. However, she is still having quite hard-ish movements and she seems to be in pain everytime its time to go, obviously because the wound keeps reopening. Any suggestions as to what i can do....I feel so terrible seeing her go through this. Please, any ideas as to what I can do to help her.
singhs
(am based in HK)
Please support our advertisers:
Our daughters, especially #1, have had hard stools just like your little one since they started on solids. The best long term solution is prune puree every day without fail. Also avoid bananas, carrots and any other "hardening" foods. Make sure he gets enough water.
Sometimes we'll get a run like yours where there is no poop for days. For example our helper gave #1 half a banana when she had just started and we and we had forgotten to tell her. It will be painful and the best thing is prevention. It will come out but as you have noticed it is painful.
How to make prune puree:
Buy prunes (dried plums) at the supermarket (Mariani is a good brand) and boil them in some water for 15 minutes. Dump the prunes (sans the water) in a food processor and whip until you get a paste. It will be rather thick and sticky (and yes, it does look like poo). You may sometimes have to add a tablespoon of water.
What we do is make individual packages and wrap them in plastic, then freeze them. Every day we take one out for each child. Serve as is or with a little milk or cream. Our kids love it. Also #1 is now old enough to understand that it keeps the bowels from getting hard. Good incentive!
Please support our advertisers:
My son used to have similar problems when he was about the same age. He would have a bowel movement once every 2-3 days or so and it was quite worrying for both parents. Yes, the best solution is still giving him plenty of fluids and "softening" fruits (or purees).
We also asked our friends and PD, and found out that it might sometimes be caused by the brand of baby formula he is drinking. If he's drinking "western" brands right now, you might want to try japanese brands since these seems to have less "hardening" effect. It worked for us and a lot of our friends' babies.
Please support our advertisers:
alcheng has a point about the formula. In the US doctors and books will tell you that breast fed babies have more and softer bowel movements compared to "bottle fed".
It's all about being extremely vigilant. Together with our helper, we adjust diet slightly as needed to make sure the poop is the right consistency.
Please support our advertisers:
MROY
18 yrs ago
Corn syrup is a natural and effective way to soften the stool. A teaspoon mixed in with their milk and you'll notice results that day. If thestool is extremely hard you might need to repeat the process. This is safe even for new born babies. If you baby has received antibotics recently you will want to put her/him on a probiotic for a few days.
Please support our advertisers:
thanks for all your replies. have started working on the remedies suggested.
MROY, any particular brand of corn syrup you recommend? and is easily available in supermarkets?
Please support our advertisers:
Try to increase the fibre in your baby's diet...whole wheat baked goods, lots of veggies and fruit like plums and apricots. More fluids will help too...try a new fun sippy cup.
Please support our advertisers:
Whole wheat baked stuff is ok, but watch it. Many of those products contain non-wholewheat as well, and this can make stool harder.
Please support our advertisers:
you can also buy babies prune/apple juice - I gave mine some, diluted with water - seemed to work.
Please support our advertisers:
Idsllvn, that was my first line of action ....however, she just hates prune/apple juice. just spits it out. for some reason my little one doesnt like anything sweet. and anything liquid (water, juice.....) too doesnt go down well with her :-(
Please support our advertisers:
hi singhs, your little one def needs more liquids then, I dont really know what else to say except - keep trying with water/dilluted juice - it will take a while - but that might be one of the reasons, as others mentioned above - not enough fluids...
Please support our advertisers:
Some of my friends swear by Flaxseed. You can add some to cereal/yogurt in the mornings. I personally use apricot puree for my daughter, mix it into her cereal every morning.
My daughter was not fond of water earlier but then tried a cup with a straw rather than the sippy cup and that worked.
Please support our advertisers:
yes! same - straw worked for us to start with much better than sippy cup.
Please support our advertisers:
".however, she just hates prune/apple juice. just spits it out. "
If you can get her to eat it, one spoon of prune puree is probably worth a whole glass of juice. Don't know about how to "solve" the negative sweet tooth.
What we have experienced with the fluids thing is that you have to be tough and consistent (as ever). In any case when they reach a certain age (2 and change) you can actually explain that drinking more water -> softer poop.
Please support our advertisers:
actually tried it for the first time today morning. mixed prune puree with her porridge...worked well...lets see how long before she gets suspicious.
will try the 'straw' suggestion today...since no interest in sippy cup....too lazy to tilt her head back!
Please support our advertisers:
"actually tried it for the first time today morning. mixed prune puree with her porridge...worked well...lets see how long before she gets suspicious."
This made me smile. Yes it is true that kids tend to be wary of being conned. :)
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail