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Question 1: (for Breast Feeding Moms): My 2months old baby is in full breast milk. but didn’t poo for 2 days and still counting. But he feeds regularly and for now he is not in pain. Can he be constipated? or sometimes it is just normal for breast fed babies to absorb all the milk they had.? Anyone who had the same case or experienced? we are a bit worried. pls help tnx

Best Answer: Breastfed babies are almost NEVER constipated, it is virtually impossible. It is also completely normal for a breastfed baby not to poo for up to 7 days. The only ways to diagnose constipation in infants is to see the hard poop or have a doctor conduct an exam. And another word of caution, while most home remedies are safer than medications giving juice to such a young baby is not a good idea, nor is more than 2oz of water per day. But in particular I want to warn you about Karo (corn) syrup, there is more and more evidence that corn syrup can carry botulism. Which as you know can be fatal to infants.

Question 2: My baby will be 6 months old and having severe constipation for 1month: He was exclusively on breast milk until we started gerber foods at around 4 months:  ( green pees , sqaush , carrots ) and fruits ( gerber prune , fresh peer ) . some people are suggesting me to feed banana , but i haven’t start it . I am concerened about this constipation . he has his poop for every 3-4 days and it is very hard . he struggles for 10-15 minutes to get it out. please suggest what food or anything can help my baby get over it Since last 1-2 weeks i have started giving karo syrup ( 1 tea spoon and 1-2 ounces of water ) . He is not interested in drinking boiled water . he doesn’t even take a sip of it. please advise.

Best Answers: Here is a momma’s mini-enema remedy if this has been going on for a long time. However a sliver-of-soap suppository may be all it takes to make him do the doo – bear that in mind. Or give him prune juice that will make him go. Or finally you can dissolve a little bit of ivory soap in warm water. and suck it up in a snot sucker and give him an enima with it.

Question 3: (for Breast Feeding Moms): I have a young infant and am breastfeeding but my baby seems to be struggling with constipation and having uncomfortable bowel movements? Can anyone offer us some advice?

Best Answer: If you are breast feeding mom you need to try eating dried prunes and raisins that could help the baby poop easier since what you eat will be passed onto your baby. Also, try not consuming dairy products (cheese, milk, ice cream, etc) for awhile as this could be causing the problem. Finally what you could do is put some olive oil or petroleum jelly (olive oil works Better) on a q-tip and gently stick it into baby’s anus when you expect that the baby is trying to go, you can do this up to 5 times a day but don’t over use it or you could put a little boiled water that is now warm in a syringe and once again gently push it in to the anus, that will water down the poop and allow it to pass easier, but that can be done about 2 times a day.

Question 4: I just spoke to my pediatrician because my 6 month old son has not had a bowel movement in 6 days, and she recommended using some Karo syrup mixed with water to relieve his constipation, but she didn’t specify light or dark and the office is now closed for the day and I’d like to get started this evening! Which should I use — light or dark?

Best Answer: The pediatrician that cares for my children recomended that we do this for two of them when they were babies becaue the soy formula they were on made them constipated. She specified that we only use the Dark one and that is the only one that works for constipation. It worked quick and helped them to stay regular. They loved it too. It tasted good and had no side effects.

Question 5: Can Overdressing Your Baby Cause Constipation? My Sister’s house is always cold and she lives in a cold climate: she also feels like the baby should be bundled up even at night. I have heard that this is not good but can this be causing the baby’s constipation?

Best Answer: It sounds like she is overdressing him. She does have worry if she is making the baby uncomfortable and making him sweat a lot. As a healthcare professional I am worried that he is not getting enough fluids. Also, continuous constipation can cause him to become impacted. This is when the feces has become so hard it just sits in the bowels. Finally, it is possible to get dehydrated by sweating alot ( if not drinking enough ). My son got dehydrated once when he was sick and he was very constipated for a few days after the dehydration was treated.

By: Edward Leon

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Eat a wide variety of food with a larger proportion of proteins, essential fats and oils rather than simple carbohydrates and sugars. This will ensure a richer more settling milk for your breastfed baby and a stable metabolism for the breastfeeding mother.

Digested food passes through into breast milk but only some foods will have an adverse effect on some breastfed babies.

The most common foods that can cause adverse reactions in your breast fed baby include:

- Cow’s milk products
- Soy and goat’s milk products (if allergy to cow’s milk)
- Wheat &/or gluten
- Eggs
- Peanuts and tree nuts
- Fish
- Foods eaten in excess
- A food not usually consumed in a mother’s diet
- A food not liked by the breast feeding mother but consumed anyway

Adverse reactions noticed in approximately 8% of breastfed babies include:

These may occur within minutes, hours or days depending on the type of allergy or intolerance and the degree of sensitivity.

- Rashes of varying types in various places
- Eczema
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea with or without blood or mucous
- Abdominal pain or colic
- Constipation
- ‘snuffles’ in the nose
- Chest “rattle”
- Cradle cap
- Recurrent ear infections

Diagnosis is often established by eliminating the suspected food source completely from the maternal diet of the breastfeeding woman for 48hrs then re-challenging it. If there is a change noticed, follow up assessment with a Paediatrician or dietician is strongly advised.

The diet for a woman who is breast feeding requires a variety of many nutrients; therefore it is not advisable to cut out any foods from their diet unnecessarily. Only eliminate foods as a trial until a confirmed diagnosis is made.

By: Jan Murray

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Yet, no man made concoction can duplicate the properties of breast milk, no matter how many supplements are added to it. Breastfeeding offers many benefits that formula cannot deliver.

Breastfed babies get fewer ear infections and other infections, due to antibiotics in breast milk. They get less diarrhea, constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets. They have a reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Breastfed babies tend to have straighter teeth and don’t get “baby bottle syndrome” (buck teeth from bottle). Breastfeeding satisfies the baby’s emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby. And breastfed babies smell better, from top to bottom, but especially the bottom.

Some benefits to breastfed babies are lifelong. In later childhood, there is a decreased risk of tooth decay, diabetes, and some childhood cancers. As adults, they will have fewer allergies. In fact, it has been estimated that 65% of bottle fed babies will develop a lifelong allergy. Adults who were breastfed tend to have lower cholesterol levels; are less likely to be obese; are less likely to have high blood pressure, and are less likely to have heart disease. They will have a reduced risk of: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, compared to adults who were bottle fed. The antibodies in breast milk seem to last a lifetime, as adults who were breastfed are less likely to have ear infection, or other infections;

Breastfeeding also benefits the mother greatly. It helps delay the return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies. It reduces the risk of postnatal depression, and helps to develop an emotional relationship and bonding with her child. Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding. Nursing mothers get more rest than bottle feeding moms, as there is no screaming baby in the middle of the night waiting on the formula to heat up; you can nurse while sleeping. Both mom and baby sleep better. Dad sleeps better to, since he never has to get out of bed to help with feeding. Breastfeeding mothers have less chance of breast cancer, as well as some other forms of cancer throughout life. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of osteoporosis in later years. Above all, breastfeeding gives you the satisfaction of knowing you are giving your baby the best start in life.

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.

By: Charles Browne

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Breastfeeding would be made easier for new mothers if there were more private areas where they could nurse their baby. Support groups and forums devoted to breastfeeding mothers have proven to encourage mothers to nurse longer.

More clinics solely devoted to breastfeeding mothers and their babies are needed countrywide.

Most women are convinced of the benefits of nursing their babies, they just give-up when faced with challenges they are not prepared or equipped to deal with. Among the many benefits for the baby to be nursed, there are: Breastfed babies are less sick, have fewer ear and pulmonary infections and are less hospitalized.

One of the greatest benefits of breastfeeding is the special bond it provides both the mother and the baby.

Breastfed babies have fewer allergies and are less prone to the dreaded sudden infant death syndrome. On the overall, breast milk provides the baby with the proper nutrients to its developing brain and is easily digested. It needs no preparation and is very economical.

For the nursing mother, there are also health benefits such as lowering their risk of post-partum hemorrhages, fewer risk of developing breast cancer later on in life and some types of ovarian cancers.

Our society needs to take tangible actions to facilitate breastfeeding and improve the long term persistence. Fathers can play a crucial role in supporting the breastfeeding mother by taking over the other tasks like preparing meals, changing the baby’s diaper or giving the baby a bath, etc

A long term plan is well needed is governments really want to help new mothers continue breastfeeding for longer periods and diminish the important drop rate after a few months.

Support groups and complete information web sites on breastfeeding and solutions to the usual problem encountered by breastfeeding mothers are a must. Such information as what to do if baby seams not satisfied? How to deal with sensible skin in the first few weeks of breastfeeding? The proper positions while breastfeeding, etc would be of great help to nursing mothers.

The overall benefits of breastfeeding are tremendous for the baby and the mother. By encouraging and supporting breastfeeding mothers, society would insure a healthier and happier generation of developing babies.

By: Nathalie Fiset

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