Constipation

[Michele]

Phedre strains to poop. I didn't think it was that big of a deal bc it's not every time. But it's been worse lately. Today though she told me her pee hurt. So coupled with her elevated temp and grumpiness all night I suspected a UTI and made an appt today. He didn't buy the UTI story and thinks its all constipation. She didn't per in the cup (18m) so I had them cath her. Poor girl. They are sending it out, but the in house stuff was negative. So he gave me a Rx for lactulose.

I'm going to do the lactulose in the short term, but long term I'd rather come up with dietary solutions. Also I'm waiting on the culture. Phe doesn't talk much, but she's a really smart girl and if she said her pee hurts I believe her. She was painful when he palated her left lower abdomen, but that could be her colon he said.

Anyway, tips for constipation? She nurses a lot still and doesn't really eat all that great. She's starting to eat better. Which foods should I encourage?

[Thirteen]

If she'll eat it, I say go with squash. It always cleans DS out.

[weeniegeniewife]

It sounds like her body needs more fiber. Prunes might help.

FWIW, a large percentage of the peds uro patients my DH sees are chronically constipated. If you'd like to chat with him about management remedies, call any time.

[houseelf]

My little guy had to be on miralax for a year after I quit breastfeeding around one year of age. Nothing else would help. I hated keeping himon meds, but it was what it was. Miraculously, this all ended at the age of 2 and he never had a problem again.

[HouseofWool]

Sophie is chronically constipated too. I've given in to the Miralax and just go with it for now. I can't get the child to eat more fiber, she simply refuses.

[weeniegeniewife]

Miralax is the only thing that works for me as an adult, and it's what DH prescribes to his patients. It's good stuff.

[scrub-jay]

We had luck mixing bran fiber into smoothies... also fresh blackberries worked better than prunes in our house.

[HouseofWool]

Jaimie, are there "dependency" risks to using Miralax all the time?

[v-girl]

Miralax is the only thing that works for me as an adult, and it's what DH prescribes to his patients. It's good stuff.

That's what DH has me give K. Actually M and I use it a lot too. It works and you can't taste it. I also found bread with extra fiber that has helped some.

[weeniegeniewife]

Jaimie, are there "dependency" risks to using Miralax all the time?

DH and all of my doctors have told me nope; it's safe to take for as long as needed.

[diggitydot]

I've always used raisins.

[v-girl]

Raisins worked for my girls. The boy won't eat anything with raisins -- not even a freaking cookie! LOL

[Michele]

Thanks for the tips..... I started reading more about constipation and I guess she really is. I didn't really think she was, just that she complained when pooping sometimes...bad mommy. I'll try the foods you mentioned and prune juice....I'll do the lactulose and reassess in a week or so. Check back in with the ped and figure out a better long term plan.

[alison]

Nope--miralax is a godsend that you can titrate depending on how much, how little, how hard, and how soft the poop is. Not habit forming either!

We give dd diluted white grape juice.

Prunes, pears, peas, peaches. (anything that starts with P.)

[weeniegeniewife]

And mango!