Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Severe Painful Constipation In A 10 Week Old Infant On Coloxyl
Question: My 10 week old has been constipated since she started on a lactose free formula when she was 2 weeks! She has to have coloxyl in every single bottle otherwise she will scream and scream in pain trying to poo. Last couple of days she is still screaming even with the coloxyl and pops and hard and painful! The last poo was extremely dark green with yellow specs in it! Never seen it before and she has been crying the last two hours! Just not sure if it's anything to worry about??
Brief Answer:
Glycerine suppository should help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Let me mention that for a baby of this age, it is normal for the child to pass stool once in 10 days. Alternatively, the child may pass stool several times a day or even after each feed and that is normal too. But if the child needs to strain or if the stool is hard and pellet like, it indicates constipation and there is reason to grow concerned. It is however normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. The green color occurs due to rapid transit through large intestine where the bile pigments do not get adequate time to convert to the yellow color of stool. It is also normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. The combination may occur as constipation alternates with loose stools.
As of now, in order to relieve the constipation you would need to apply glycerine suppository. That will make her pass the stool and will temporarily resolve the problem.
The formula is the source of her problems. All you need to do is to switch back to breast milk. Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. The hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. The more is the suck, the more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to switch back to exclusive breast feeding and the production will increase automatically. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate.
I would also insist you the specific indication for which the lactose free formula was started. Let me know and I would try to help further.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Pediatrician
Glycerine suppository should help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Let me mention that for a baby of this age, it is normal for the child to pass stool once in 10 days. Alternatively, the child may pass stool several times a day or even after each feed and that is normal too. But if the child needs to strain or if the stool is hard and pellet like, it indicates constipation and there is reason to grow concerned. It is however normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. The green color occurs due to rapid transit through large intestine where the bile pigments do not get adequate time to convert to the yellow color of stool. It is also normal to pass green stool or a combination of yellow stool. The combination may occur as constipation alternates with loose stools.
As of now, in order to relieve the constipation you would need to apply glycerine suppository. That will make her pass the stool and will temporarily resolve the problem.
The formula is the source of her problems. All you need to do is to switch back to breast milk. Mother's breast milk is produced on the demand of the baby. The hungrier the baby, more vigorous is the suck. The more is the suck, the more is the amount of breast milk produced. Giving formula automatically reduces the demand of the baby and thereby the production of breast milk. All you need to do is to switch back to exclusive breast feeding and the production will increase automatically. All you need to do is to monitor the urine output. If the frequency is more than 6 times in 24 hours, you would know that the amount of feeding is adequate.
I would also insist you the specific indication for which the lactose free formula was started. Let me know and I would try to help further.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Pediatrician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thank you! Every poo she screams and screams while she is trying to push! I'm unable to breastfeed so that's why she is on formula and she is lactose free as she had extremely bad tummy pains from normal formula and the doctor recommended lactose free which has been amazing for her tummy other then the constipation! Today has been worse then most but! She was so upset she didn't want to drink milk and after 7.5 hours of trying to get her to drink she had finally had 100mls! Is there an amount minimum before I should take her to the hospital because I don't want her to get dehydrated as well! All up today she has had 350mls and has been just wanting to sleep but getting so uncomfortable and upset that she wakes herself up! Completely not like her!!
Brief Answer:
Try to switch back to breast feed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Unfortunately for the constipation there are only two ways out. You would either have to switch back to breast milk (you need not really worry about the production, details mentioned in previous communication) or you need to give suppositories on regular basis if you are to continue the formula. If the urine frequency is more than 6-8 times in 24 hours she is not suffering from dehydration and you need not worry.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Pediatrician
Try to switch back to breast feed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Unfortunately for the constipation there are only two ways out. You would either have to switch back to breast milk (you need not really worry about the production, details mentioned in previous communication) or you need to give suppositories on regular basis if you are to continue the formula. If the urine frequency is more than 6-8 times in 24 hours she is not suffering from dehydration and you need not worry.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Pediatrician
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
