Okay, Natalie has had trouble pooping for 4-5 days. The first 2 days she pooped one tiny hard ball each day. The next 2 days, including today, she pooped 2-3 hard balls each day. She really struggles, cried during a couple of times, and during 2 changings, I could actually see poop in her bottom that she couldn't get out.

We've upped the fiber (broccoli, baby prunes, graham crackers, and we do whole wheat breads and crackers)and cut out the milk.Today alone she's had 8oz. of straight apple juice, plus 4 oz. straight prune juice. Her eating is down because of the pooping I think. After she poops she seems to be like her normal self for a few hours, then back to being kind of slow. She was even walking funny yesterday and ate next to nothing yesterday.

She started with constipation when she first went to milk at 12mths. That last about 6 weeks until we balanced out fiber and the milk intake. She's been regular ever since with no problems. This is just all ofa sudden.

We did the suppository tonight as recommended by the ped. She pooped a couple of hard balls within 10 min. or so.

I guess my question is: how do I get her regular again? This suppository makes her poop, yes, but honestly she has pooped twice today. It's just a BIG struggle and they are very hard. Very abnormal for her. Generally her stools are pretty mushy. On any given day before this all started, staright apple juice would definitely give her diarrhea.

She doesn't cry or whine, except when she's trying to go, but is just slowed down and laying around. Not as active as usual. I definitely don't think her belly hurts.

Any suggestions or ideas? Shouldwe give her another suppository? It seems like it will just be more of the same. Any help is appreciated!

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 07:32 pm:

I would give her another suppository. Usually Madison has to have a couple of smaller, hard BMs before she gets back to normal. As far as preventing it, your guess is as good as mine, nothing seems to really make a difference for Maddie. ((((Deanna and Natalie))))

By Kaye on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 07:49 pm:

I would also make sure she spends some good tub time today. Something about being in the water is soothing and can help things get moving. If you press hard on her belly you may even be able to feel a hard stool in there.

If are changing a diaper and can see poop there, you may want to consider the qtip idea. sometimes it just has to be broken up, not a fun thing to do, but you do what you have to.

By Vicki on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 07:55 pm:

My opinion, if she is still having hard balls, it isn't all out. When the softer stuff comes, then you are getting somewhere. I would definately try another.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 07:56 pm:

I'm no expert in this area but I know a warm bath as Kaye mentioned is good. You could also try warming some oil (olive oil is good) in the microwave and massaging her belly in the bowel area this might loosen things up as well.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 09:22 pm:

Those are great ideas! She did have one more movement before bedtime, and (this is gross but) it WAS shaped liked it was easier to get out, was somewhat softer, and seemed wetter. She also had a nice warm bath tonight and seemed so much more comfortable.
Vicki- That's what we thought. Until the hard balls stop coming out, it's still a problem.

We felt better about her second BM after the suppository. I'm going to see what happens tomorrow, and if they're still hard or not getting better, we're going to do another suppository. The vaseline/q-tip and olive oil ideas are great and we'll keep them in mind for tomorrow. I really appreciate it!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 11:17 pm:

I hope things work out for her soon. Sounds like she was more comfortable tonight.

By Kernkate on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 07:36 am:

My doctor always told us when they were having this problem to try a little prune juice. The taste is yucky but it always worked.

By Debbie on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 08:06 am:

Definitely give her another suppository today if she is still having harder bms. It sounds like she is doing better after last night. Hopefully, she will be fine today. Also, continue to watch and monitor her. My oldest ds ended up with encopresis because he got constipated while on vacation. He had just potty trained and didn't want to use a potty anywhere but home. If she continues to have irregular bms and keeps getting constipated, take her into her doctor. Some kids get into a cycle of constipation because once it hurts to have a bm, they start holding them because they are afraid of the pain. This happened to my ds. The ped. can give her a prescription for a non-stimulant laxative, like Miralax. It is mixed with juice, has no flavor, and will help her get regular again. Once she is on it for a few months, you just tamper off the dose. Hopefully, this will not happen and once she gets "cleaned out" she will be fine again. But, I just wanted to make you aware that this could happen. I wish I had realized this was happening to my ds and taken him into the doctor sooner. If it does happen and you catch it right away, it is easy to fix. It took my ds awhile to get over it because I waited longer then I should have to take him in.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 08:53 am:

"Some kids get into a cycle of constipation because once it hurts to have a bm, they start holding them because they are afraid of the pain"

Jules did this when she was a young child. I don't know what to add to all of the above except to carefully watch her diet - and it appears you are already doing that.

Things like cheese and breads/carbs are more constipating. Making sure she has a good fluid intake/staying well hydrated - even just drinking plain water - is a plus.

Alternatives to prunes are apricots - I know I've posted this somewhere recently, but you can actually cook them down - either the fresh ones or the dried ones (fresh work better for this), in a small amount of water with a bit of clove or cinnamin, even a dash of sugar, but it's not really needed. They end up soft and *mushy*, sort of like *fruit pudding*. Anyway, they are a tasty alternative to prunes, which I always HATED. Fresh, raw vegies provide a lot a fiber as well - does she like baby carrots, brocolli, cauliflower, etc?

Hope you get this problem solved quickly. I know how frustrating it is to see your baby in distress this way.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 09:23 am:

We did baby prunes and prune juice yesterday and the the day before but no help! That surprised me because I thought they would blow her out.

We'll see how it goes today.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 11:18 am:

Deanna,
I've never had to give a suppository for bathroom purposes, but i've had to give my ds the Tylenol suppository for a high grade fever , the ped said that it was a quicker way to break his fever.

But with my daughter who suffers from constipation, when she was Natalie's ago a few drops of mineral oil in her milk or juice and that would help.

Hope she gets back regular soon.

By Kiki on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 02:30 pm:

My Daughter's G.I. told us to give her mylanta or MOM whenever she would get constipated and it works like a charm. I hope she gets back to normal soon.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 02:37 pm:

She doesn't care for carrots too much, but loves cauliflower and broccoli. She ate quite a bit of broccoli yesterday, she's always been a big water drinker, and she had cheerios today for a snack. (Whole grain right??)

Nothing yet today. I have a feeling we will need to give her another one. DH has a stomach bug so it looks like I will have to give it to her myself this time. She was pretty easygoing about it the first time, but I think it burned her little bottom (it's still red), so I'm sure she'll be more resistant this time. She's napping right now.

By Vicki on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 03:02 pm:

Did you call the doctor back yesterday after the first one didn't work too well? At this point, with all the foods that you have given her to help her along, I would be very concerned about a blockage. With all the "softening" foods and juice she has had, I would just be very concerned. I don't want to scare you, but I would call again.

By Debbie on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 03:47 pm:

Deanna, I agree with Vicki, I would call her doctor. Ds got so blocked up one time that we had to give him a children's fleet enema. It was no fun, but cleaned him out. We had tried everything else and nothing worked, until we did the enema.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 05:11 pm:

Kondremul, Miralax (by prescription) Benefiber - all these are great!

Also - get some Anusol - now called Tucks - don't get the one with the hydrocortisone in it.

You are doing great. You need to treat the source with changes in diet and you need to soften what's already hard with some kind of stool softener. You also need to protect her anal area so she doesn't tear it.

My son had bee having hard poops and ended up with a fissure because I wasn't aware that he was having trouble.

You are right to be concerned and to try and treat it quickly because it can escalate.

Good luck!

Ame

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 05:45 pm:

She pooped about an hour ago....definitely more of a normal BM. (Still not HER normal, but if she just had a normal poop like that I wouldn't be worried.) It was much wetter. She certainly hasn't pigged out the last 2 days; ate more yesterday than she has today for sure. A light eater today, so not really sure how much she would poop anyway.

Regarding the blockage...wouldn't it be that she couldn't poop at all if she had a blockage?

YAY!!! MOre poop! She just pooped again and much better!! Formed but soft and I couldn't tell she was even going the last 2 times.

I think I'm going to print this entire post for future reference. You guys have great ideas! I'm going to continue with the water, fiber, and juices and hopefully we'll stay on this track!

By Kaye on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 06:52 pm:

If they get a blockage they have no poop coming out, but can ooze around it. You can feel a blockage by papitating on their tummy. Another thought is make sure she is getting plenty of walking. I know that sounds strange, but toddlers have a way of moving around and staying active but not really using their leg and ab muscles. It probably would be a great idea if she walked with you somewhere every day. Like a walk in the store, or walk to get the mail, etc.

By Speechgrad on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 09:40 pm:

My son has been having this problem since he was first potty trained at 2 years of age. I did not know that it was such a big problem for so many kids. We have been washing 5-10 pairs of poopy underwear everyday for all of these years, he is now 8. I finally did a search on google and came up with this site and another which I found very informative and which we have used to regulate my son and finally get him to make regular BMs.

http://www.aboutencopresis.com/index.html

We are giving him Benefiber in his morning juice and in his dinner drink and sending him to the toilet for 5-10 after each of these meals. If we are out or away from home I give him the chewable orange flavored tablets. He has been regular for a month, since I had to give him laxative and he screamed all day, because he said he had a stomachache and I felt his stomach and it was as hard as a rock.
I hope this helps someone. Good luck!!