Constipation? Prune Juice?

[Anonymous]

My 5 month old has had BM problems for about 2 months now, and we had been relying on the glycerin suppositories. However after consulting with our doctor, we decided to try some prune juice. She wouldn't take it in a bottle, so we used the mylecon dropper and she was happy to take the whole half teaspoon. Within 3 hours or so she started trying to push, and her tummy was making TONS of noise. She looked to be in some pain, so I helped her by stimulating her tush with a Q-tip and vaseline. It didn't take long for things to move, however it was a different consistency than when we use the glycerin supp. It was like thick peanut butter--does that mean she is still constipated? The doctor said if it wasn't like little pellets an we got it out, not to worry, but she didn't seem comfortable.

Additionally, she was kind of fussy after taking the prune juice. Could it be the prune juice didn't go too well with her system (she's EBF) or was it just getting her BM started and that's what was uncomfortable?

Any experience with prune juice/constipation would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I've never used prune juice.. but if my DD (who's now 1 yr.) doesn't have a full tub (gerber organic size) of prunes every day, she gets stopped up. And the ped said that was fine, just give her the prunes every day. And yes, all of her poops are like thick peanut butter. Perfect description. But on the days we run out of prunes, they go right back to little pellets.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

PP--maybe I should give her the prune juice every day?

[Anonymous]

might want to consider possible causes as well.

is she on rice cereal? more fiber in your diet perhaps?

once she starts solids- berries tend to be good at getting things moving, as well as the prune baby food. she should be fine to have some baby food prunes or prune juice now so i wouldnt worry about giving it to her.

[Anonymous]

pp here:

i meant more fiber in your diet may help her.

i'd guess the fussiness was due to how her stomach/bowels were feeling.

[Anonymous]

The first poop after a period of constipation is never going to be fun. We add some prune juice to our toddlers' milk every day to keep her regular. If you are starting your baby on solids you could add some prunes juice to the rice cereal or feed some prunes a little down the road - or get the fiber some other way.

[Anonymous]

OP here-thanks for all the advice. DD is not on solids yet, but I'll plan on adding some prune juice to the one bottle she gets a day (when DH feeds her at bedtime to give me a break).

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-thanks for all the advice. DD is not on solids yet, but I'll plan on adding some prune juice to the one bottle she gets a day (when DH feeds her at bedtime to give me a break).

Thanks!

OP - you may want to consider diluting the prune juice with water. The taste can be overwhelming especially to a baby who doesn't know anything than breast milk. Plus, as you can imagine, prune juice may really open the flood gates so to make it a little more comfortable you may want to dilute to sorta "pace" the flood gates.

Hope it's been resolved by now.

[Anonymous]

I've heard that having the mom of a breast-fed baby drink prune juice can help the baby. Anyone have any experience with that?

[Anonymous]

we do the prune juice via a squirter because in the bottle she seems to resist

[Anonymous]

OP again--DD doesn't seem to mind the taste of the prune juice when we give it to her using a little dropper--I think she accepts it's medicine like mylecon or tylenol? She has had a BM each time we've given her the prune juice but neither time has it opened the flood gates. In fact both times I had to stimulate her tush because she was having a hard time pushing and was crying. As soon as I helped things along, she was much happier. I'm hoping if I keep giving the prune juice daily she'll eventually poop on her own?

The one time we gave her apple juice instead she had no problem letting the flood gates open...should I switch? I just don't feel that comfortable giving apple juice as I do prune juice.