I have a 4month old baby and she just recently started straining as if she was having a bowel movement but she's not. and once she starts straining she will go on for about 30 min to an hr. why is she doing this???
She's no longer straining. I really think it was the baby cereal. I'm not giving her anymore ceareal until later maybe in a few weeks.
My son had this problem too when I first started feeding him cereal, and the doctor told me he was probably constipated from the cereal. At the time I was feeding him rice cereal, and the doctor said to switch him to oatmeal cereal and this helped tremendously with the constipation. You could also add a little of the gerber apple or white grape juice to it to thin it out, but not much since their little bellies are so sensitive.
My now eight year old daughter had the same problem when she was an infant. We took her to the doctor and he advised us that when she started to strain to push both her legs toward her abdomen (with knees bent). He explain that this would make it easier for her to have a bowel movement. (It work!)
T.
Hi R.,
Shauna's right. If the applesauce doesn't work, other fruits with fiber will. Plums/prunes will always do the trick and are good for her too.
God bless!
M.
I read your previous request and it seems like you just started your baby on cereal. I would suggest a little apple sauce. When she poops is she constipated? Other than that I wouldn't worry too much. She may just have found a new hobby. *SMILE*
Depending on if you are using formula. The cause for straining can be caused from the Iorn. Try 4 oz of Prune apple Juice by gerber daily and increase the water intake to 4 oz. Throughout the day. This helped with my son.
My son used to do that. Make sure she is not constipated. But definitely talk to the doc, cause 30 min of straining is not good for anyone.
This is usually caused by being dehydrated. Try giving her 1oz apple juice with 4oz of purified or distilled water. Regardless of what type of food she is on, rehydrating her will always help her body to function normaly. If she has never seen a chiropractor before, she could very well have some pinched nerves in her pelvic area which can also lead to this problem. Please consider this, it will help her growth and development in SO many ways. Good luck!
I assume she's on formula? (breastfed babies don't usually get constipated.) Make sure you're putting enough water in it... Are you sure she's straining for a bowel movement? Is she crying or acting like she's in pain? Is there a BM in the diaper to show for all the effort as an end result? I wonder if she's just being a silly baby freaking out her mama...
My daughter did the SAME THING AT THIS AGE. I was breast feeding her, altered my diet and she still strained. My Dr had us see a specialist...while my mother (of 10) said to change to Allimentum or Neutramogen. The Dr did a scope and saw nothing wrong. I changed her formula over and within a day or so she stopped straining. (It takes 1 to 3 days to see the change.) All of my kids have had allergies/sensitivities to milk base formula/dairy. (Even soy)Save her the agony and change to one of the above formulas. Don't just treat her for constipation..you need to understand WHY she is straining and/or is constipated. If you don't, she will continue to have this problem. Like I said, save her the agony and treat the core issue. Her diet. You may need to wait a bit longer before you introduce new items to her diet and be sure to try 1 thing at a time. Keep the fancy baby foods from her until she adjusts to each one. None of the mixes...I promise you that I know what I am talking about. Their digestive systems need time to develop too....so you may find that you need to wait beyond a year to introduce milk to her. Let me know how she does, if you follow my advice. Please let me know. I hated seeing my daughter go through this too. I know how you feel. Believe me. My last child had it so much easier because I had it all figured out.
She might be trying to have a BM, but could be constipated? Does she have regular BM's throughout the day?
If you just started your baby on cereal, remember that is carbs...it's harder on the body. Veggies would be better to start her on. Avacado is one that I start my children on as well as other veggies. I leave fruits for last so as to not give them a sweet tooth early on to where they won't eat veggies.
