[SusieBlue]

My 8 month girl is crying every time she does a poo (I know this because I have actually watched the poo come out and her crying while its happening). She is breastfed (about 7-8 times during the day/night at the moment) and generally having 3 meals of solids a day. Her poos are soft but quite solid, IYKWIM (shes not constipated).

What do you think might be causing this? Could the change in poo have caused her to tear a hole in her rear end? (this happened to me after DS was born, it was agony!!!) Or do you think she just doesn't like the sensation?? I'm just pondering whether to try and get her to the doctor before Christmas...

Thanks in advance

[mummy.to.one]

This happened to DS last Christmas, he wasn't constipated as far as I saw but was in pain when pooing. The dr suspected a tear, for him it was much the fear of pooing.

When he needed to poo he would hold it in, make his body stiff, be crying/screaming and have this look of terror on his face. No diet changes helped and he is still on a daily dose of laxatives to make him go. We are in the process of weaning him now or trying to from them.

Is her anus red or irrated? Is it for every poo? If her poo is still soft, I'm not sure. I'd say try a diet change first (lots of water, fresh fruit etc) but as they are already soft not sure what that would do. How long has she been crying when pooing, you just don't want the pain association my son has to develop.

[Dylan's Mummy]

If the poos as formed then she has constipation. Constipation has more to do with what the poo looks and feels like rather than the frequency. My bub had this until recently, it lasted about 2 1/2 months. He would cry and squeal in pain while doing a poo. Breast milk is digested easier than formula so when a BF baby goes onto solids it is a bit harder for their body to adjust. She may get a slight tear but it is the type of poo that is hurting her. Baby's pos should still be mushy at this age, though not as runny as their poos from before solids when they have breast milk alon.

Try giving her plenty of water, my bub's poos got better when it was really hot a couple of weeks ago because he actually drank his water instead of just played with it (gurgling it out of his mouth). You can also try puréed pears (they are hard to find, they're on the bottom shelf of the baby food section) heinze make a pack of 4 cans. I had a bit of success with that. You could also try boiling some prunes in a bit of water. The prunes go soft and can be puréed and you can also add the prune juice water (put it through a sieve first though) to some water and give that to bub.

There are foods which apparently increase constipation and they are banana, rice cereal, apple and toast (this is according to the information I found while googling)' BRAT is a good way to remember it. There is also some drops you can get, Cololxyl, I think, the doctor reccomended it to me but his poos got better before I got around to buying any. I would only use this on a doctor's advice and only if bub was going through a bad stage. Try water and diet first though.

If bub won't drink water or prune juice water in a sippy cup, try putting it in a bottle, at least that way you know she is drinking it.

This post has been edited by Dylan's Mummy: 18/12/2012, 10:55 AM

[SusieBlue]

Thanks very much for your replies ladies. I've stewed up some prunes this morning and she has had some much better poos today (and not crying in pain!) So I think it must be a diet thing. I'll try and make sure I include some prunes in her breakfast from now on!!