warning tmi

Hi Ladies,

Emily is nearly 19 months old now and seems to have a problem with going for a poo. Its like she holds it in for as long as possible, then she will bang on her bits and say 'no poo poo' and generally tell us for 3-4 days that she needs to go, but she will only go when she has no choice in the matter. i went to the dr about a month ago, he gave her some lactulose to soften her poo up, but that has not helped with the actual going. He also said, see how it goes then if she does not improve then he will give her something to make her go. I dont want to make her afraid of going for a poo anymore than she already is. she has loadsa fruit, veg and protien, but im at my wits end. PLease, can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

Karen&Emily(18.5months)&Willia m bump(21w+5d)

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the replies, Emmy has not been embarressed in a public situation when having a number 2, i always praise her highly when she has gone for a number 2. I have not started potty training yet as i think she is too young yet and i dont want to put anymore pressure on her as it is, Thanks for the suggestion Elizabeth about the acupuncture, but i can t keep her still for more than 5 mins at a time. I will defo try the vasaline approach as its helped with my problem (sorry ) but i will be going to the dr's on tuesday to see what he can do to help as well, she is quite fussy with fruit and cerealsi have tried prunes and prune juice, fresh oj and things like that. She finally went yesterday and it was a lot, so it may be because when she was constipated when she was younger it was uncomfy and painful, so that may be the reason.

Anyway, im gonna stop waffling on and thanks again for your replies

Karen,Emily(18.5months)&Willia m bump(21w+6d)

Hi hun

just a quick message to say it isn't acupuncure - no needles are involved - just acupressure - so she can wriggle as much as she wants when doing this.
if you give my mum a call on 01943 607798 - christine hines (www.ilkleytherapies.co.uk) she'll explain how it can really help

hugs
xxx

Hi hun

it does sound like she has had a fright or a comment has been made that makes her think that poo is bad - it could be somehting as simple as someone making a scary face when she had a very stinky nappy - something has made her think that poo'ing is bad and we tell our kids all the time that they have to be good.

is it possible for her to be in the bathroom when you or OH are poo'ing? let her see that is it something that everyone does and it is perfectly healthy and in fact you feel much better afterwards.

the easiest therapy would be acupressure - EFT - http://www.aamet.org/main.php - you can find a therapist on there. make sure that the therapist is experienced in working with children.
best to deal with it now before it turns into IBS or something like that.
(btw alot of my clients who i used EFT with had IBS as a side effect of their difficulties and the IBS tended to clear up as a side effect of the work we did on those issues.)

good luck hun
hugs
elizabeth & siri
xxxx

Has she had a scary moment where she has gone to poo maybe in public toilets etc? I used to hold mine in when i was younger because i hated going anywhere BUT my house, even when we went on holiday for a week i would wait untill we got home like everyone else has said its probably a phsyoclocical thing. Even now i am fussy with going in public toilets or other peoples houses but i will go on holiday lol.

If it continues i would ask the doctor if there are any more options to find out whats wrong because if the lactulose softens it and she still doesnt want to go it sounds more like an issue to which toilet she wants to poo in?

I also suffer with IBS (irritable Bowl Syndrome) which is caused by stress apparently but it doesnt help when i need the loo when im out i just refuse to go untill i get home and its so silly because sometimes i can be bad for days after from holding it in. I hope your doctor can suggest something else for her?

Lucy & Rosie xx

Hi karen,

same as the other replies I have heard of it being a psychological thing with some kids, not much help when you don't know why or how to solve it though, sorry hun. Kaitlyn often goes 3 or 4 days between and then really struggles when she does go, heartbreaking to watch and I do think she puts it off cos it's uncomfortable for her although she's too young to tell me just yet so can't be sure. The only other thing I can think of apart from the other ladies suggestions (and you probably already know this!) is to put some vaseline on her bum so it's easier when she does manage to go, if it eases any pain after a few goes she might relax a bit about it. I've got into the habit now of putting a dab on Kaitlyn at every nappy change cos I can never predict when she'll poo and I have to say she's been a lot better lately, hasn't gone more than 2 days between and it's been soft rather than hard pellets so am wondering whether easing it along with the vaseline has stopped her being scared to go. Nothing else has changed in her diet or routine so looks it might have been her own reluctance causing it, hard to know for sure though! Sorry that's not much help but know how much it worries me with Kaitlyn so totally sympathise with you.

Love and hugs,
Clare and Kaitlyn (11 months) xxx

Hey hun

My cousin's little boy used to hold his in for days I would go hide in a corner & try to go, but would be in agony because it had gone "harder" for being in him for longer than normal, & therefore he would hold it in cos it did hurt to go - thus the cycle started. She used to put him in he bath to relax him & that seemed to help. Could it be a physcalogical (soz can't spell it) issue rather than a physical issue? Maybe give treats/praises when she does pooh?? I'll email her & find out how things turned out & see if she's solved it

Caz xx

Hey karen...

I have heard of this being a psychological issue with children before, although I'm afraid I have no answers as to why she would do it, what might have started it or how to help...just thought I'd mention I've heard of it before. Poor Emily. If it his a physical issue, is she also drinking plenty of fluids to keep everything moving along with her varied diet?
Have you started potty training, could that have upset her, maybe it's too early if so...
Otherwise, how about trying tummy massage after a warm relaxing bath and bicycle legs, like you'd do if she were a small baby again?

Sorry can't be of more help! Eleanor's quite the other way 2/3 poo's a day sometimes!

Good luck and hope you sort it soon!

Rachael