Posted on 05/12/2005 6:53:53 PM PDT by lafroste
Mrs. lafroste and I have a rather unusual problem with our two month old daughter and we'd like to solicit some suggestions on how to handle it. She was born on March 6, 2005. A few days after we brought her home, she displayed a most remarkable ability: she has full bowel and bladder control. She would hold it until we had her diaper off, and had her over a bucket. Then on a verbal signal, she would proceed to relieve herself. We told her perdiatrician about this at her 1 month check up. The pediatrician was skeptical, so we videotaped the phenomenon several times. Now the problem:
About three weeks ago she was a bit constipated. When she pooped that time it hurt. Now she refuses to poop and holds it in no matter what we do. We give her prune juice, but she is stronger. Now she poops only once every three days and really yells about it at that time. She'll buck and squirm, hold her body rigid, and generally turn going potty into a real ordeal.
Her growth is very good, she weighed 12 lb 6 oz at toady's checkup (7 lb 6 oz at birth) and has grown 3 1/2 inches. When we asked the pediatrician what to do about the problem, she didn't know. She said that western medicine does not recognize that an 8 week old baby can be toilet trained and thus has no experience with another case like our daughter's. The girl seems completely healthy, but is stubborn as a mule and still too young to reason with.
We've tried prune juice and massages, moving her legs like she is on a bicycle, nothing seems to help. The doctor said no to laxatives because of her age. She is causing herself pain by holding it so long and we are worried that she will end up "popping a gasket" or something. Any suggestions?
My niece was the same way. I say follow your doctors instructions and she'll be fine.
Probably not related, but you may want to monitor (and nurture) her for a higher than average intellect. As to the poop problem, you're still smarter........ outwit her.
This problem always solves itself in the end. As long as you keep the BMs soft (by means best recommended by the Doc) she can't harm herself.
An old mothers remedy...try a little Karo syrup in her bottle....she won't be able to hold that.....btw...are you sure that it's not you and your wife that is not trained?......ps...I have heard about this in other cultures...
I don't mean to be dense, but what do you mean?
You didn't mention trying baby glycerin suppositories. Have you tried those? It will totally frustrate her to have it inserted, but if you can keep her distracted long enough for her body temp to melt it a bit, it will lubricate her bottom enough to make the passing of stool easier. She will push to get the suppository out and my experience is that poop will come out with it. ;)
We tried that with little tiny slivers of Dove soap. I didn't know there were baby sized glycerin suppositories. I'll try that, and the Karo syrup suggestion.
Keep em coming! Is this a great site or what?
And, as gross as it may seem (I know you are going to hate thinking about this) - I often had to do this for our little dog who would get constipated: Coat your little finger(actually, your wife's would probably be smaller) with vaseline and put it in her rectum. You might have to "start" things for her. It is better for you to feel uncomfortable for a moment or two, than for her to suffer. My vet told me about this, I am surprised your doctor did not mention it. Cut your nails first!!
Don't freak out. It's just a phase. They will eat and poop and pee when they have to.
At one time I had a membership to www.momys.com. They have dozens of children apeice and many of them toilet train from birth.
My little guy is 6 months old and since he's my 3rd I realize how easy it is to catch him in time and take him potty. He is very aware of what's going on. Recently he was constipated for a while and the prunes worked great.
Is she nursing or on formula? Nursing babies have much looser stools, I think. Maybe change the formula. Iron is very constipating. There are low-iron formulas.
you know your child well and when she is about to have a BM, so you take her to the potty...she may not know what the sensation is all about.........btw..I potty trained my grandson, but he refused to have a BM at my house...he would wait 2 or 3 days, if he spent the weekend with me...he is just now, after almost a year, willing to go poopoo at maw maw's house....LOL
My second child is more predictable than my first, but I'd rather destroy the planet with tons of diapers than worry with a schedule. LOL
Move it, VERY GENTLY, in a circular motion once or twice, then withdraw.
This stimulation almost always got my little ones moving their bowels when they were having trouble.
Also, praise your baby and pay them special attention when they go potty. This will encourage your little one to go more frequently.
Finally, pray!
I think Dove soap would be irritating and might contribute to her not wanting to go. Glycerin would be better.
I don't really have any suggestions that others haven't given. I would think that consulting with the doctor on what type of diet would produce soft stools would be most helpful in the long run.
Rub her belly and maybe massage olive oil onto her belly. Lubricate and she won't be able to hold it in.
Reward her when she takes the dump.
First, I do not for a moment think that your baby is relieving on cue--I think it has been coincidental. Having a diaper removed itself is a trigger for a baby to relieve--sudden cold in a sensitive area.
Second, a two month old should not be getting prune juice!!!! At two months old, your baby's digestive tract is still quite immature. Breastmilk and formula, period. If your pediatrician says it is okay, you can add small amounts of infant cereal--the powder stuff--to breastmilk or formula, but only enough to make it a thicker liquid. If your baby is breastfed exclusively (apart from the prune juice) she is probably NOT constipated. Breastmilk is so well digested that a breastfed baby can go several days without a bm. That is NORMAL. It may also appear that a baby is having trouble or is in pain when passing a bm. What is more likely is that baby's immature muscles are in need of a little workout. Prop baby on a pillow, so she's laying at about a 30 degree angle. Gently move her legs in a "cyclist" motion, like she's on a bike. Do this for about five minutes, three or four times a day. Within days there will be better muscle control.
What say you, net?
Congrats, lafroste, btw!
Don't worry to much. When they have to really go, nothing will be able to stop it.
Try a warm bath. That will sometimes relax them enough to release the sphincter muscle and go with greater ease.
It always works for my 19 month old. He has problems with constipation.
No pun intended?
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