Diaper Swappers

ashley84 · 03-16-2013, 02:15 PM

I'm pregnant and my milk is drying up. I have a freezer stash but we're supplementing with anywhere from 6-10oz of formula a day to stretch our freezer milk out longer. I'm trying to FF without guilt and it's so stinking hard because DD is constipated. She hasn't had a real poop in 4-5 days - just tiny little poops that are barely even worthy of noting. She keeps grunting and pushing but nothing is coming out. Last night she was up bawling. She was even grunting and pushing in her sleep. I know the formula is what is constipating her because she doesn't get anything else that could be doing it. She's 5.5 months old and just really starting solids. She gets 2-3oz of veggies a day & once in awhile I mix some oatmeal into them. Other than that, she's strictly on BM and formula.

I gave her a bunch of prunes a couple of days ago and that didn't free her up. We tried to give her a bit of apple juice yesterday, but she totally refused it. Today I'm only giving her BM because I'm afraid that formula is just going to make it worse. Eventually, she's going to have to go back to formula though. It won't be long and she's probably going to be exclusively on formula.

We've tried warm baths. We've bicycled her legs and massaged her abdomen to no end. I even tried a bit of stimulation with a baby wipe. Nothing is working. I'm beyond frustrated.

I don't want to try Miralax. I've heard awful things about it. One of my SILs recommended Karo syrup. I'm not even sure how we could get her take it if she wouldn't even go for apple juice. Has anyone tried Karo syrup though? Any other ideas?

What do I do to prevent this from happening in the future? I was Googling low-iron formula and I'm seriously tempted by it. Has anyone made the switch?

luvsviola · 03-16-2013, 03:26 PM

Miralax is magic. Our pediatrician, our GI, and our developmental recommend it over Karo.

Have you changed formula yet? That is not normal, and I would try a more hypoallergenic formula instead.

mommy2sammy · 03-16-2013, 03:38 PM

Nutramigen formula is costly but gives ebf poops. Or 1 tbs of karo mixed in with the bottle can work in a pinch, but not something I would do daily.

Nickel+3 · 03-16-2013, 04:39 PM

When you see her grunting and trying to poop, take her diaper off, hold under her knees with her back to your stomach and hold her over the sink. It will give her a squatting position, and may help her get it out better.

ashley84 · 03-17-2013, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickel+3

When you see her grunting and trying to poop, take her diaper off, hold under her knees with her back to your stomach and hold her over the sink. It will give her a squatting position, and may help her get it out better.

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for this advice! I finally got her to take some apple juice. Then I read online that pears also help free things up, so I fed her some of those too. She was nursing when she started grunting and pushing again. I took her clothes off and put her on the toilet. I propped her legs up on the seat so she was squatting. She whimpered for a second and then everything all let loose at once. Such a relief!

Nickel+3 · 03-17-2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashley84

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for this advice! I finally got her to take some apple juice. Then I read online that pears also help free things up, so I fed her some of those too. She was nursing when she started grunting and pushing again. I took her clothes off and put her on the toilet. I propped her legs up on the seat so she was squatting. She whimpered for a second and then everything all let loose at once. Such a relief!

No problem. Maybe this could be the start of elimination communication for you

aitorres821 · 03-19-2013, 03:42 PM

I'm glad you found a solution, I've dealt with my babys constipation for months!

03-16-2013, 02:15 PM	#1
ashley84 Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,222 Ratings: 100 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	constipation I'm pregnant and my milk is drying up. I have a freezer stash but we're supplementing with anywhere from 6-10oz of formula a day to stretch our freezer milk out longer. I'm trying to FF without guilt and it's so stinking hard because DD is constipated. She hasn't had a real poop in 4-5 days - just tiny little poops that are barely even worthy of noting. She keeps grunting and pushing but nothing is coming out. Last night she was up bawling. She was even grunting and pushing in her sleep. I know the formula is what is constipating her because she doesn't get anything else that could be doing it. She's 5.5 months old and just really starting solids. She gets 2-3oz of veggies a day & once in awhile I mix some oatmeal into them. Other than that, she's strictly on BM and formula. I gave her a bunch of prunes a couple of days ago and that didn't free her up. We tried to give her a bit of apple juice yesterday, but she totally refused it. Today I'm only giving her BM because I'm afraid that formula is just going to make it worse. Eventually, she's going to have to go back to formula though. It won't be long and she's probably going to be exclusively on formula. We've tried warm baths. We've bicycled her legs and massaged her abdomen to no end. I even tried a bit of stimulation with a baby wipe. Nothing is working. I'm beyond frustrated. I don't want to try Miralax. I've heard awful things about it. One of my SILs recommended Karo syrup. I'm not even sure how we could get her take it if she wouldn't even go for apple juice. Has anyone tried Karo syrup though? Any other ideas? What do I do to prevent this from happening in the future? I was Googling low-iron formula and I'm seriously tempted by it. Has anyone made the switch? __________________ My hubby has been rocking my world for 6+ years. We have ~~three~~ 4 awesome kids! DSD (11 yrs) , DS (Feb '10) , & DD (Sept '12) Expecting Joshua Daniel, Sept. 2013 I'm up to $150 in Amazon giftcards! Check out SWAGBUCKS! Last edited by ashley84; 03-16-2013 at 02:18 PM.

03-16-2013, 03:26 PM	#2
luvsviola Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 15,039 Ratings: 115 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Miralax is magic. Our pediatrician, our GI, and our developmental recommend it over Karo. Have you changed formula yet? That is not normal, and I would try a more hypoallergenic formula instead. __________________ Kristen Mommy to Abigail ~1/24/07 and Kendall~3/17/2011 and FINALLY adoptive mama to LEDGER~4/4/09!!!--G-J tube, asthma, oral aversion, reflux, SPD, drug exposure, and still searching for a diagnosis of the rest... Ask me about extended rear facing!

03-16-2013, 03:38 PM	#3
mommy2sammy Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 305 Ratings: 13 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Nutramigen formula is costly but gives ebf poops. Or 1 tbs of karo mixed in with the bottle can work in a pinch, but not something I would do daily. __________________ Sorry if I haven't gotten back with anyone via PM. Still learning the iPhone app and not very "techy".

03-16-2013, 04:39 PM	#4
Nickel+3 Registered Users Formerly: nickel+2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Posts: 4,026 Ratings: 65 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	When you see her grunting and trying to poop, take her diaper off, hold under her knees with her back to your stomach and hold her over the sink. It will give her a squatting position, and may help her get it out better. __________________ Nickel - mama to boys D 09 and F 10 and my girl H 12 #4 due in October!

03-19-2013, 03:42 PM	#7
aitorres821 Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 43	Re: constipation I'm glad you found a solution, I've dealt with my babys constipation for months!