Veteran Mommies!

[ICNJess]

Hi everyone! I've got a question for you...

Izzy's having some stomach issues. She gets constipated very badly. We switched her to soy, and she is allergic to that. We tried low iron formula because I don't care what anyone says, iron causes constipation!! She did so very well on that in regards to the constipation, but she didn't handle it well--come to find out she is lactose intolerant. So she's on the lacto-free Enfamil, and I have to give her a laxative in one bottle every day, plus prune juice in her bottles, and glycerin suppositories as needed.

Anyone else's babies have these many problems with their tummies? My husband has been lactose intolerant since he was a baby, which is hereditary, and I had iron sensitivities. I just feel so bad for her.

Other than that, she is thriving and doing well. I just hope I didn't pass my IBS along to her...

Oh--and this girl has got a HUGE bladder capacity! She pees a LOT. LOL

Thanks!!!!

[dancemomof2]

Jess, I used a glob of dark karo syrup in the babies bottles usually a couple a day until she gets going on her own. The sugar in the dyrup breaks down the poop somehow. Then after that worked usually 1 bottle a dayfor awhile until they go things moving on there own. Good Luck, this really was a life saver for me.

[ICNDonna]

It's too bad babies don't come with instructions manuals! It sure would make it easier for new moms.

My youngest son couldn't tolerate my milk, cow's milk, or soy formula. We finally ended up with a meat based formula --- I'm not even sure it's available any more, but I know how frustrating it can be to try to find a tolerable substitute for milk.

Sending gentle hugs,
Donna

[Emma's Mommy]

Emma had reflux as a baby so we had to put her on Enfamil AR and she would get constipated soooo bad i felt awful for her. For the first month or so i had to put a tablespoon of prune juice in 3 or 4 of her bottles and also give her an ounch of pear juice a day!

karo syrup also works well but some peds are leary b/c it's spores can have botchulism in them....so i suggest prune or pear juice.

don't worry it's normal for babies to be fussy and have tummy problems when switching formula's. it took emma a good 3 weeks to get her system use to digesting the formula.

[kdfurgi]

i had the same problems with my youngest. he was lactose intolerant and allergic to soy. we were finally able to find a lactose free, soy free, milk based formula. I think it was made by similac and it had the orange ribbon. now he is 2 and a half and is drinking a milk based lactose free milk that makes him constipated too. I have found that the glycerin and the kayro syrup works, light or dark, (my doctor was the one who sugested the kayro orriginally) a friend of mine also taught me a trick. when the little one is haveing problems if you can keep the suppository in and hold her with her legs bent at the knees and her feet even with her rear it may help her too. im not sure how it works, i have become a master at it at this point but trying to keep the suppository in can be a challenge at that angle, it took me about 6 months to get to the point i could do it by myself andget it to work. now i dont have to use the suppositories as much but fairly often i have to hold him like that. it makes it really hard to potty train him, but he has learned to pee in the potty, just need to find a way to get rid of the constipation, lol. good luck and i hope this helps.

kari

[Kara Isabel]

I used Karo syrup mixed with apple juice and water! WORKED magically in a few hours! Every time!

Good luck!

[Emma's Mommy]

I orgot to mention this earlier but both bright beginnings and parents choice make a lactose free milk based formula!!!! It is WAY cheaper than simulac or enfamil and is the SAME THING!! My friend's son uses this formula and it saves her a ton. Her ped told her that it's the same as the name brand!!!

Now i wish they would have made an off brand of Enfamil AR!!!

Kara have u tried giving your child pear juice durring the day???? It has ALOT of natural sugar and should help alot!!! give it a try you might be suprised :hmm:

[Babs RN]

Lindsey was on soy formula and once she hit six months or so I gave her watered down apple juice once a day and constipation was never an issue. I know when I worked mother/baby some of our pedi docs suggested the karo syrup, glycerin, or colace liquid. I wouldn't do the latter without checking with a doc first but quite alot of the kiddos did well on the stool softner.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[Dixiefireball]

Alex was that way up until he was a year and half old. what I did with his tummy problems was i would take one oz of apple juice and put two oz of baby water to it in a bottle twice a day. (Dr. told me to do this) be careful to hold her little head of kind of high while giving her this so she doesn't get chocked. if she seems to start to chock pull one of little arms up high and give it a gentle shake. this will help stop her from chocking.
this should stop the tummy problem. Oh and when she gets a bit older you can go to one oz of apple juice (Gerber) or any other baby brand. to one oz of baby water. then when you raise it to two oz only put one oz. of baby water to the bottle and so on.
pear juice seems to work well also, but apple was the best. If not for Alex's Dr. I would had been scared to death to try this.
Hope her little tummy feels better soon.
sending you both hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[ICNJess]

Thanks everyone. *Sigh* Well the doctor thinks the kyro isn't a good idea (we discussed this a couple of weeks ago) and she did suggest prune or pear. We went with prune and have been doing that, the laxative, and the glycerine suppositories as needed. We bend her knees up to her tummy to help relieve some of the pain, as well.

It's just so frustrating. I feel so bad for her.

Thanks, glad I'm not alone here.

[ICNDonna]

One way I used to be able to help with tummy aches when my children were tiny was to lay them across my knees on their tummies and gently rub their backs.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[ISONormal]

Did the ped doc suggest also giving her cool boiled water in addition to her bottle? A friend of mine had the same issue with her daughter. Some kids are just inclined that way. Older pediatricians are good at pulling out the old tricks which they have found have worked. I found one pediatrician who was like a magician; she just picked up on things affecting my kids so much better than other docs. She's in Virginia. I imagine you're keeping close track of everything that goes into her and comes out (much like we all do now, I guess, heh heh)? So you know how well it's all going?

Good luck with your adorable little one. We can all relate to constipation and bathroom issues, LOL.