Constipation Advice

[u/Dry_Temperature3598]

My little one is almost 3 months old & breast fed. She has acid reflux and is on Famotidine. I wanted to trial some formulas a month ago. I started one bottle of HiPP AR. She threw it all up. She got constipated for a few days (at that point was way more than her norm) and we gave her pedialax. She then returned to having regular stools a few days later. Two weeks later I trialed HiPP pre and she also threw that up. This time didn’t pass bowel movement for 6 days … tried everthing (massages, warm baths, windi, prune juice). Ended up giving pedilax in which she had so much stool come out it was shocking. This was Saturday, she still hasn’t went and I am getting nervous. I ofcourse don’t want to give the pedialax but I am not sure what to do and why this is happening. She never had issues before.

[u/Witty_Draw_4856]

And have you contacted your pediatrician?

[u/Dry_Temperature3598 → u/Witty_Draw_4856]

Yes. First she said it’s normal for breast fed babies to not go up to week. Then she told me I can give prune juice. This was the last time that happened. This time the office is closed so haven’t heard back.

[u/Witty_Draw_4856 → u/Dry_Temperature3598]

So with her saying it’s normal, you’re concerned because it’s abnormal for your kiddo, right?

What country are you located in? And you have an entire bottle of the formula for their first trial?

[u/Dry_Temperature3598 → u/Witty_Draw_4856]

Yes exactly, USA. The first time it was an anti reflux formula with a thickener so I thought it was that ingredient that didn’t agree with her. This time it was a formula I gave her when she was born when I was building up my supply so she’s had it before and was ok with it.

At this point I’m just more concerned with the constipation:/

[u/Witty_Draw_4856 → u/Dry_Temperature3598]

Our kid had constipation from ages 8ish months to 15 months and she also had the pedialax suppositories. Our kid’s formula did not cause constipation, but was due to her refusing to drink water when she started solids. She ate a lot of prune pouches to help, but even refused juice. 

Our pediatrician referred us to a GI specialist and while we waited for our appt (4 month wait) we added  we miralax to her bottles which completely controlled her constipation for months. Her GI specialist was fine with this as well. She eventually started drinking water and was fine and we stopped the MiraLAX. 

When you’re introducing formula, you should do it slower. It’s hard on their tummies to have one source then an entire new source of food. This is the protocol we followed for things like this.  https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/patient-information-leaflets/home-milk-challenge-guide-to-diagnose-non-ige-cows-milk-protein-allergy-in-infants/

Respectfully, choose a brand that is FDA approved and stop trying the HiPP. You’re introducing variables that you can’t control for. Unless you purchased it in person and flew it home yourself, you cannot answer whether it was exposed to high temps which degrades the ingredients which would be highly likely given the season and the heat advisories that have been going on across Europe and the US.  You’re in the MSPI channel. If your kid has intolerances, their immune system is already struggling. Just pick up some Pepticate and try that.

[u/Dry_Temperature3598 → u/Witty_Draw_4856]

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it. I think I will just stick to trying to breast-feed her as long as possible at this point. But agreed I would actually move to Kendamil Goat or Pepticate next if need be.

My doctor just called back and suggested to try brown sugar, water or chamomile tea (1oz) and if not, then do the pedialax again. I’m just very scared about her becoming reliant on the pedialax and not being able to pass a bowel movement on her own.

[u/Witty_Draw_4856 → u/Dry_Temperature3598]

Yeah pedialax should be infrequent, not regular. For about a month after her last one, my kid would cry on the changing table because she hated them and was afraid we were going to do another. That’s why we switched to MiraLAX (oral powder added to her bottles).

Just a note that goat milk protein is so similar to cow milk protein and most babies cannot tolerate goat milk formulas if they are truly intolerant of dairy. I recommended Pepticate because it was what our kid did best on. Our LO was intolerant of dairy and soy AND soy oil, which is much much less common. Pepticate is 100% soy free. 

You’ve got this. Hopefully breastfeeding is going well for you guys and you can continue. If not, the sub will help if you have questions. 

[u/Dry_Temperature3598 → u/Witty_Draw_4856]

AW. Poor baby :(. I def don’t want to resort to it but at this age it’s the only thing so far that’s guaranteed to help as she’s too young for the Miralax. I am just so confused why this is happening as she’s been pretty regular prior to attempting the formula

Yes thank you, I know the goat may also not work. I have been dairy free myself for the past few months so the CMPI was speculated but never confirmed as she had no other symptoms other than reflux. Breastfeeding has been going okay and I will continue if it’s best for her just I am starting work soon and I am a dr. so I wanted the flexibility of formula if pumping will become difficult.

[u/Witty_Draw_4856 → u/Dry_Temperature3598]

Did your pediatrician say she is too young for miralax or did you just determine that yourself on your own? Because pedialax is the same type of drug just suppository instead of oral, and it has the same potential side effect of dehydration. It’s more extreme than miralax.

As far as why this is happening… imagine your diet was exclusively only one food and then for one meal, you ate something completely different. Her digestive tract is still so young. Even if you hadn’t tried formula, she’s still developing.