I recently wrote an article for KC Parent Magazine July 2010 about the challenges of constipation with children. Right now I have one child that gave us a year of frustration, but she managed to work it on out...so to speak!
I posted a link to the site on my FaceBook account and the comments were endless and hilarious. I thought people didn't start talking about bowel patterns until they were in their 80's. Boy was I wrong!
Do any of you have any questions regarding this issue? Or do you have any tips for poo-ing? Tricks to regulate? Ideas for movin' and groovin'?
This topic needs to remain G-rated please, but humor is always appreciated!
Tagged: constipation, fiber, kids can't poop
Comments
jayhawkanne (Anne Bracker) says…
When my sister gave birth to my nieces (now 7 and 5-1/2), I spent a lot of time around them, which meant I also changed a LOT of diapers (I don't have kids of my own, but I'm close enough to them that I feel I've earned the right to be in this group). Before one of us would open up a more-than-just-wet diaper, my sister and I would often bet (no money actually ever changed hands) on what color the poop might be. One of her girls didn't really enjoy breast feeding and was slowly transferred to formula by about 3 or 4 months. We found that the breast milk produced a fairly consistent poop coloration, but different brands of formula would turn the poop into different shades (kind of in the green spectrum - chartreuse to dark teal green) and we surmised that perhaps the amount of iron was the cause of the color change - more iron meant darker poops, and often, um, firmer poops (SO proud of myself keeping this G, but amazed at the number of times I can use the word "poop" in one paragraph).
Were we correct? Or could it have been some other vitamin/mineral?
NurseMommyLaughs (Stacey Hatton) says…
Thanks for getting the poop discussion off and running! *Groan*
Six "poop" mentions in one post is most impressive! It can't be definitively said if the iron in the formula was what made the stool darker green, but I would say that is a good guess. When babies take iron supplements the stools take on a dark green tinge and usually are more sticky to the tush. Iron also has a tendency to constipate humans if the body can't handle the amount - so firmer bowel movements can occur if the formula was fortified with extra iron.
My guess would be you were correct, but there is no way to prove it. Good thing money wasn't involved! :)
Thanks for joining the group and for being the brave soul to write in first!! I will send you a can of SPAM in the mail for being the winner!!!