When my daughter was less than 48 hours old she had surgery for an intestinal malrotation. She healed beautifully and today is a mostly healthy nine month old. During one of our follow up visits, the doctor told me that there is always a small chance that the intestines could go back to the way things were before. So I was told to watch for green vomit, abdominal distention, and a stopping of poopy diapers.
She has always had small problems with having dirty diapers, sometimes going two or three days between, but the doctor said it was normal. Once she didn't go for three days and I took her in for an x-ray on the fourth day. She was fine, but the doctor suggested giving her a laxative if she doesn't go every three days because constipation might cause a problem given her history.
So now she usually goes every three days, but it is accompanied by screaming, crying and extreme straining. It clearly hurts her and takes a lot of effort. I'm not sure if it is something in her diet or just a side effect of her having had surgery and a less than perfect digestive system.
I have her on (what I think is) a balanced diet. She is exclusively breastfed (she had formula once in the hospital when she kept throwing up my milk) and eats 2 Tbsp of mixed grain cereal and fruit for breakfast (no bananas), some Gerber puffs and a little water for a snack, vegetables for lunch, and a dinner and dessert before bed. And lots and lots of breastmilk! Sometimes she munches whatever we are eating for dinner, too. She also gets plenty of exercise trying to keep up with her older brothers. I'm not sure what else I can do, except give her prunes every day for the rest of her life. ( I can see this happening until she's about 18 months! :-) )
Has anyone else had a baby with this problem?
First, I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who responded. It's good to know that there are so many wonderful people out there. After hearing that I wasn't paranoid to be worried about this, I did finally call the doctor again. He had a nurse call me back to tell me to give my daughter more water because breast milk is causing her to be constipated. I am skeptical about this advice, but I will try it because I'm trying to get her to drink from a cup anyway. In the meantime, I'm looking into getting my insurance to pay for trips to a nutritionist or a chiropractor. I've continued to make a lot of her babyfood, and I cut out the morning cereal. If those don't work, I will ask about miralax or senecot. I never thought of this as a life-long problem, but I'll do whatever it takes to make her more comfortable! Thanks, everyone!
Just a suggestion here . In a bottle of warm water add a 1/2 tablespoon miralax. Most doctors recommend 1/2 tablespoon mirlax to start once a day.
Then sometimes if it gets really bad a baby Lax will help.
Hello my daughter was also born with a malrotation. Well her's was not only a malrotation but a congential diaphragmatic hernia. Basically she was missing a large portion of her diaphram and her organs, intestines, etc migrated into her chest cavity. But still she is considered to have a malrotation at birth in addition to CDH. My daughter also has issues going to the bathroom. She is now 21 months old and it is not as bad as it was and is no longer taking Miralax on a daily basis. She sees a pediatric GI Specialist. They put her on Miralax (which is now an over the counter laxative) and reglan (perscription med which helps move things along through the digestive system-also used for kids with slow emptying stomachs). This worked well for my daughter even when she was just the Miralax. However I will caution that dr's usually perscribe dosages by weight. With laxatives sometimes kids don't need the full dosage to help move things along. We were advised to start with a smaller dosage and work our way up to what worked, LOL. Trust me too much makes for an unpleasant diaper change ;) And yes your daughter is at risk for the malrotation to "come back". But you will KNOW if it does. Hope this helped and if I can help with anything just ask.
T.
mom to 4 kids-2 boys and 2 girls. My youngest was born with major medical issues and was never supposed to come home. I am proud to say she is now 21 months old, happy and pretty darn normal if I must say so-despite her continuing medical issues! And my other kids are amazing also in every way :)
My son had the same surgery when he was 5 days old. He is now 13 months. We were told that the chance of it reversing was rare, but now you have me concerned as well. Our son has been experiencing constipation on and off for about the past 2 or 3 months now and before that never a problem. We kept thinking it was his diet and kept trying to leave out whatever we felt might be causing the constipation. Just these past few days, however, he's constipated again and I'm running out of answers. I'm thinking I may call the surgeon and ask him what he thinks as our ped has never seemed too concerned... Out of curiosity, who did the surgery for your daughter? If you wouldn't mind, I'd really like to hear more about your daughter's experience. You can email me at ____@____.com Thanks.
My oldest has had problems with her bowels since I can remember. Pears & pear juice are great, because they get sick of prunes & prune juice. Stay away from the BRAT items (bananas, rice, apples, toast) becuase they are binding (as well as cheese in later years). This means at my daughter's age the only way she can have mac & cheese is with a LOT of butter and i put a little bit of benefiber in it. Since you are nursing, it might help if you add more fiber to your diet as well. (yogurt with the healthy cultures too). Good Luck.
Wow, what a strong little one!
My son had a surgery at birth that involved his intestines so he always had issues with his bowels. He would go a week without pooping and when he did he hurt him so bad!
His Ped. put him on Miralox. Now that he is older and his bowels are stronger I only give him it when he is needs it. He is starting to go more regularily so it is needed less.
I suggest that you talk to her Pediatrician. She may feel like Miralax is an option for her, or have other options. I know they sell it over the counter now but I wouldn't give it to her without asking your doctor because she is too young.
Good luck!
Hi T.-the first 2 ladies were right on with their advice. I have been fervently studying holistic health and nutrition for 7 years.
Cow's milk is made for baby cows, not for consumption by people. She should be going 2-3 times a day, not every three days. Please steer clear of laxatives they are a drug and very bad for you.
You can make some small changes and get some fantastic results. Get her of any processed grains, cereal and carbohydrates (the rule is anything white and processed--the body can not digest it properly). You can substitute almond milk or rice milk.
Next get her on some omega 3's and 6's the essential fatty acids (efa's). Coconut oil or cod liver oil (preferably carlson's or nordic and they come in flavors) is excellent (hexene free and organic-you can get this at a local health food store or a whole foods) and can be used as a butter substitute-tastes great and you can even cook with it without breaking down the properties of the oil.
If you want to take it a step farther and incorporate some very soothing relaxing herbs to help, let me know there are some really great products.
Keep up with the fruits and veggies--also do you have a juicer?? An apple carrot combo would work fabulously.
T.
____@____.com
We've had problems since starting whole milk. My son has had painful painful poops that just make you want to cry. I've tried giving him 'P' foods (pears, prunes, peaches) but nothing really helps him. We did start Miralax on our doctor's advice and it really has helped. I don't know what age they start kids on it though, so you may ask your doctor. Its different than other laxatives in that it draws liquid to the bowel and softens the poop naturally. Just a thought...but its probably a good idea to consult a nutritionist for some long term ideas.
My youngest who is 9 months now got constipated, and I called the doctor. They told me I could give her prune juice in her formula. I did one ounce of prune juice to four ounces of formula. One-two a day, and it helped her loosen right up. I only did it for a day or too. She was good to go. But maybe do that like every-other and it might just give her enough to get softer and more regular. Just a thought. They also told me Dark Karo syrup in her bottle. I believe it was one tsp to four ounces. And that was also one-two a day.
Exclusively breatfed babies can go as long as a week without a bowel movement. I see she is taking some solids though so she should be going more often. Has this only been the case since the introduction of solids? Some babies are not able to properly digest solids yet even at 9 mo. Have you tried cutting back on solids and just offering the breast more often? You could try offering just the fruits and vegetable without the grains. She is sitll getting most of her nurtrition from breastmilk. Going every three days isn't a problem, but the fact that she is uncomfortable is more concerning. Going back to breastmilk only for a little while may help to determine if it is something in her diet or maybe the dairy in yours.
T. my son had a malrotation they didnt find it until he was 10.we had to give him nutragamin formula it is pre digested.he is 19 and still has stomach problems when he vomits it wont stop he has to get ivs and tests to make sure there are no kinks what hospital or doctors do you have his surgen was dr. Thill out of christ. He has seen my son for years,his gastro dr was nagpal great dr out of hope.we gave him applesauce it seemed to help we spent 22days at hope they were great let me know how things go or any questions ill be glad to answer. ____@____.com ###-###-####
we first tried lactose syrup it is supposed to be an all natrual syrup that makes them go. I woudl try this first has to be prescribed by a dr. If it doesnt workyou really should consider myrlax seriously you will never get her potty traied to poop because of the pain. it will cause tons of problems later.
J.
T.,
given your childs condition, I really would get advice from a doctor. If you are not getting the answers you need from your pediatrician, than ask for a referral to a specialist.
While I can appreciate 'home remedies' or advice on how to help an otherwise normal and healthy child, your problem is unique. If you haven't been given advice from a gastroenterologist/specialist, i suggest seeing one, who can give you suggestions on nutrition and keeping her 'regular' naturally through diet, and... what to do as a prevention if you notice things seem to be backing up, so she doesn't get a blockage.
My daughter, now 14 months, had (and still has) a similar problem. When she was younger I gave her prunes frequently, but also a product called Miralax. For several months I gave her ~ 1 tsp (in ~4oz of milk) of this once or twice a day until she became regular. Now whenever I notice she hasn't had a dirty diaper in a couple days I give her ~2 tsp a day until she goes. It works pretty fast (24-36 hrs). Miralax is a laxative that used to require a prescription, but is now available OTC.
Also, as your daughter becomes older, you can increase the amount of fiber she's consuming from table foods, and this will help a lot.
Good luck!
T.:
I would talk to a nutritionist.... try renee barasch ###-###-####
P., RLC, IBCLC, CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
Sometimes infants that are chronically constipated has restrictions in their low backs. Have you had her checked by a chiropractor yet? If not, I'm in Villa Park and I highly recommend it. With the light adjustments and some belly massage, your child could have more frequent and less painful poops. Give me call. ###-###-####.
Susie B
Althought my children are 18 yrs and 11yrs, both had terrible gas build up when they were on the bottle. First I lowered their Iron intake, so check the cereal and also if you take a supplement maybe try reducing your dosage. Second I gave them Camomile Tea to sooth there stomach and relieve the gas ( after 1 bottle they both were passing gas like crazy ). Third I would but a little Brown Sugar (doctor Ok'd)in the Camomile Tea, this would help with bowel movements. Til this day my kids drink tea for upset stomach and put brown sugar in it when they are constipated, me too! GOOD LUCK!
