infant constipation

[Juicy Girl]

My sister's 3 wk old is having constipation issues. She is trying to breast feed but is not producing enough milk and has to use formula for about half the feedings. She has tried (doctor recomended) prune juice and apple juice. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[spicyfull]

An Enema......Carve a bar of Ivory Soap into a spindle, insert it with olive oil just a little bit, or rub the stomache on the right hand side and around.

[walnutty]

Poor thing...

A close friend of mine had this happen with her newborn.

The problem turned out to be that she was making the formula with bottled water. Does your sis use bottled water or boiled tap water? You may want to ask her just on the chance that she is using bottled since so many adults drink it these days. When my friend switched to boiled tap water the problem was resolved.

[shakti17]

one of alissa's teachers, dr. ritamarie, in austin, she made her own raw formula for her 2 kids....i d check that out.

[Conscious Midwife]

Moomy needs to incerease her water intake and even consider green smoothies, oh andd yes she needs more fat ( avos and nuts).

For baby:

Distilled water

Distilled water w/ olive oil

Glycerine suppository 1/2 the size that comes in container for children

NO COMMERICAL FORMULA, If she must supplement then she should make her own fromula

Warm Bath

Lower back massage

Prayer

[Clare]

Since she's dealing with formula anyway, if she can get raw goats milk (or any, but obviously raw is best and anything is cheaper and better than formula), then a great basic formula is:

2 cups goat milk
1 cup pure water
1.5 T lactose (or organic sugar or rice syrup - NO honey!)
1/8 t cod liver oil
and a daily dose infant liquid multi to ensure C and folic acid

My adopted babies were both constipated when we traveled and had to use pasteurized milk, but with raw no problems. And they did fantastic on this formula, which I slowly transitioned to straight raw milk from 9-12 months.

[Tiffany]

I'm editing this because I forgot to mention the breast milk banks! Does anyone know if they pasteurize? Another mama's milk would be a great way to supplement if her supply is low.

Otherwise, I agree with Clare. The truly experienced and educated long term raw food vegans that I have asked regarding this issue do reccomend raw goat's milk since babies were designed to eat milk and not to be vegan. I know that Dr. Cousen's also developed a raw formula. Don't know if its vegan. But, if I had the choice between a safe, clean source of raw goat's milk vs. a vegan formula developed by a raw foodist I would choose nature's formula. Even though its from a different animal, still a closer approximation than what the vegetable kingdom can provide. Yes, even closer than coconuts though I do love those cocos.

[Clare]

Yes, sadly those breast milks are pasteurized, not to mention insanely expensive, even compared to hypoallergenic formula. Besides, would you want just any SAD mom's milk if you could get it fresh from cute little goats in a grassy field? I have read that raw homemade formula from grassfed animals is superior in nutrition to poor quality breastmilk. In studies done by Pottenger, the bones and growth of children raised on breastmilk were not as good as those raised on certified raw milk, EXCEPT in those mothers who ate a large amount of raw foods themselves. Not surprising..

[NuttyRawMom]

Try fresh carrot juice, in small quantities, diluted with a little water.

We drink carrot juice almost daily and when my 3 year old was younger, still fully nursing and eating small quantities of food, she would get diarrhea if she had too much. I had to limit her carrot juice and she wasn't happy!

[juliebove]

This is a 3 WEEK old. I would not give any juices, water, enema or any of that stuff unless the Dr. told me to. There could be some sort of other medical problem. I had a cousin who appeared to be consitpated. Turns out it was a problem in the way he was formed and he needed surgery to correct it.

[NuttyRawMom]

This is a 3 WEEK old. I would not give any juices, water, enema or any of that stuff unless the Dr. told me to. There could be some sort of other medical problem. I had a cousin who appeared to be consitpated. Turns out it was a problem in the way he was formed and he needed surgery to correct it.


I agree with the thought that you shouldn't give enemas or other means of relieving constipation for a 3 week old.

But, the doctor did recommend prune or apple juice. There is nothing wrong with trying fresh, raw carrot juice. I have also read an alternate form of formula using goats milk with diluted carrot juice as an option. Knowing that information and the laxative effects on young children, I don't see anything wrong with suggesting this diluted juice. Pureed carrots are a standard (cooked) first baby food, too. Doctors recommend feeding babies as young as one month in some circumstances. I wouldn't follow that doctor's order!

[4forme]

This is a 3 WEEK old. I would not give any juices, water, enema or any of that stuff unless the Dr. told me to. There could be some sort of other medical problem. I had a cousin who appeared to be consitpated. Turns out it was a problem in the way he was formed and he needed surgery to correct it.

I completely agree! You should not be giving enemas to a baby that young and alot of the suggestions may be fine for an older baby, but not for 3 weeks.
Infant massage may be helpful. Also, what is the mother eating? It could be a reaction to something in her diet, dairy perhaps, or just the addition of formula. Maybe trying goats milk or another formula alternative.
Hope baby's feeling better soon!

[Conscious Midwife]

Glycerine suppository is different than an enema, but I admit I missed the 3week old part.

So stick to massages on the babies lower abdomen and increasing mommies raw fatty food intake and water.

[Pookietooth]

The formula she's using is probably the issue, especially if it's iron fortified. I would say definitely try making your own formula from raw goat's milk if you can get it, or get some expressed breast milk from another mama. If she uses raw goat's milk, she will need to supplement B12, folic acid, and vitamin C (I think), since goat's milk is deficient in these. At the very least she should at least temporarily switch to a low iron formula to see if it helps, or to another type of formula (cow vs soy or hypoallergenic). But it would be far far better to make your own. I think Gabriel Cousens' formula had almond milk as the base, but I'm not totally sure as I don't have his book this month.

[Raw Angel Mom]

My daughter had the same problem with formula. We found an organic formula and still caused her trouble. So i just started to pump more often to increase the milk. Your friend need to nurse more often if her breast can take it and the milk will come. Greens will increase her milk, nuts etc.... If she eats cook food then also brown rice. If she is raw food, brown rice will decrease. I know it seems crasy, but raw food give more energy and therefore more milk. Cook food decrease the energy and less milk.

When i managed to get the right amount of milk for my daughter, i didn't need to use formula ever. The milk truly will go up! I was pumping every 2 hours, then 3 and i managed to do it every 6 hours when she was exclusively on milk. 20 min each side. A lot of work but so worth it when you see your little one happy. The child will have many period of burst of hunger, then, it is time to increase the milk.

All is well!

[Pet01]

Juicy Girl

There are many farms in your area (providing your sis lives in the area as well) that sell Certified Raw Goats Milk. Check out www.homesteadfarms.com. I have purchased their milk for my 18 month old and he loved it.

[Arijel5]

My sister's 3 wk old is having constipation issues. She is trying to breast feed but is not producing enough milk and has to use formula for about half the feedings. She has tried (doctor recomended) prune juice and apple juice. Does anyone have any suggestions?


Hi Juicy Girl

You didn't clearfy in your original post (or maybe you did you did in your later posts but I haven't had chance to review other posts), like I said you didn't clearfy in your original post or how long the contipation lasts (for how many days) and is she farting - here's why I'm asking 'cause it's commonly accepted that constipation is tolerated up to 8 days in continuum for the babies who are only breastfed, and when she's constipaded, you have to feel her tummy (if it's hardened by constipation) and you have to observe if baby is farting (which is actually a good sign, 'cause even though she's constipated if she farting she's releasing gasses - so ifhopefully thtt's the case. don't worry much about it, 'cause as long as she's farting she's freeing herself from gasses)

And do not give up on breastfeeding, first try enhancing the milk supply to the breasts, there are some foods or teas (ask in pharmacy) that enhance the quantity of milk

And also you have to enhance fluids, drink lots and lots fluids

[Carol S]

Juicy Girl, many good rememdies given to you on here.

Look for this book at health food store or book store: Prescription For Nutritional Healing. Great book with many herbal rememdies in it.

For your information and other moms, an enema should not be given to infant under two years of age. For infants and children over 2 give a mild soapsuds enema made with goats milk soap. Use a 3 or 4 oz bulb syringe. Great place to buy the enema bulb and soap at is Kristina's at optimalhealthnetwork.com

The Glycerine suppository 1/2 the size that comes in container for children rememdy given below is a very good one, or you can make the soap stick enema as suggested below.

Good luck.
Carol S.

[oceanluv]

I wholeheartily disagree with the enema, and suppository suggestions. newborn hospital nurseries and peds are taking axillary (underarm) temperatures now, because the risk of injuring a newborn is too high. trying raw milk, or making diluted juices is much easier and safer. mothers milk is still the best. hope the baby feels better soon.
when I followed my drs. advice about how to breastfeed my first son, (many moons ago) my milk dried up at 3 months-due to formula given between breast feedings. when I followed my own heart and instincts, with later children, I nursed them well past 3 months. 2 1/2 years to be exact, when they were ready to wean.

[Carol S]

OceanLuv, agree with you that enemas and suppository for 3 week old is not good idea.

I was stating that enema, a small infant/child 3 oz bulb syringe, is ok for a child over two (2) years of age.

Not under 2 years old.

[lrpurro]

Hi Juicy Girl,

Here is a link to Dr. Sears web page on constipation in infants:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T081100.asp

"CONSTIPATION IN INFANTS UNDER A YEAR
In addition to the above general tips for preventing and treating constipation at all ages, try these infant-specific tips:
If formula-feeding, experiment with different formulas to find which one is most intestinal-friendly.
Feed baby smaller amounts of formula more frequently, which gives the intestines a better chance to properly digest the formula. An easier rule of thumb is to feed half as much twice as often.
Delay introduction of solid foods, especially more constipating ones, such as rice and bananas. Instead of rice cereal, try barley cereal. Good starter high-fiber foods for constipated infants are pureed pears and prunes.
Ease the passage of stools using glycerin suppositories or liquid glycerin (as described above).
Add one teaspoon of flax oil once a day mixed into baby cereal or baby's bottle.
Watch for about-to-go signs. As soon as your baby begins to grunt, grimace, look bloated, or show signs of straining, quickly insert a glycerin suppository to ease the passage.
The Bath and Bowel Movement Technique
Here is a Sears' family trick that helped us ease the passage of stools in several of our constipated babies. Although it's messy, it works. Immerse your baby in a warm bath so that the water is around chest-high. When your baby is relaxed in the bath, massage baby's abdomen and get ready for the mudslide."

By the way, I know of no dangers to an infant from short-term usage of glycerin suppositories or CAREFULLY administered enemas and many pediatricians recommend both them and baby enemas, with no ill effects. The "dangers" are from using too frequently and/or giving enemas unsafely [too forceful or too much fluid].

Does mom want to work on increasing her supply? Being able to eliminate the formula may solve the problem!

The previous posts had lots of great supply increasing ideas and there are numerous other threads on here that discuss increasing supply!

:)
Lisa