By Lydia Gehring
The topic was unlikely for a small group of professional women. We were enjoying a much-needed lunch break during a dietetic conference. The youngest in the group was a new mother. Her toddler was constipated and we were brainstorming.
The small boy had not pooped in four days and the mom was frantic. She had her hand on top of her cell phone and was eagerly awaiting a call from the daycare worker.
The little guy was teething and beginning to walk. Her mother-in- law was visiting from Seattle and they had a new puppy. She had been working extra hours at her job and her husband was involved with legal battles at his place of employment.
Each of these situations could cause stress in the family. The deduction over lunch was that the tike was reacting from the tension around him: physically, mentally and emotionally.
Constipation is not uncommon during times of duress. Stress can cause the body to become anal retentive.
Adequate fluids are vital. Whole grains and fiber from fruits and vegetables aid in elimination. Bulking agents, like Metamucil, will suffice but without adequate water, they can become concrete-like in the bowels.
I recommended the frustrated mom not resort to suppositories, lactulose, or other bowel stimulants at this point. I would only try these as a final resort. The last thing the family needed was a baby with the runs.
Pre- and pro-biotics may be the way to go at this point. Yogurt with active cultures (Dannon) and other over-the-counter biotics can be beneficial for the little boy’s intestines.
Another dietitian suggested trying to get the toddler to eat pineapple, applesauce and, of course, prunes or other dried fruit, like raisins. Pineapple has enough fiber to be helpful and some digestive enzymes. Applesauce has soluble and insoluble fiber. The mom was warned about prune juice. Diluting it 1 to 10 with water is a good way to start things moving.
The topic of corn syrup came up. Otherwise known as white karo syrup, corn syrup is a home remedy from Grandma’s day. Like many other tried and true homemade solutions, success may vary. In a pediatric population dietary changes, corn syrup, or both can resolve constipation in most children.
We talked about exercise. His little insides can benefit from physical movement. Crawling and first steps can stimulate those tiny intestines. Even laughing or giggling is like a workout for the gut. It may sound like torture to some people but a good belly tickle can help a person poop. When the new mom laughed I asked her to place her hand on her abdomen and continue laughing; she felt the internal gut gymnastics. Rubbing and massaging the belly should not be reserved only for the new puppy; physical belly rubs can also get things moving.
The new mom jumped when her phone rang. The caller informed her that her little boy had recently filled his diaper. She kept one hand on her stomach as she laughed with relief.
Upon hanging up she looked at her lunch companions, thanked us and excused herself to the restroom.
Bobbie Randall is a registered, licensed dietitian in Wooster. Contact her at [email protected].
(c) 2008 Daily Record, The Wooster, OH. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
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