Why is it that they get constipated? Is there an article on this that I missed? I don't understand. I can kinda understand pukers having this problem because they lose a lot of fluids, not just their food, but what about the non pukers? Maybe from all the drolling?

Our ped told us it's a common problem til their digestive systems mature.

Mine said the same and the feeding specialist said that it was all the rice cereal in the bottles. It is hard on the tummy to digest.

Shannon

Ya, I don't really think it's directly related to the reflux itself, just more so that's it's another common digestive issue, another thing with their digestive system that doesn't work 100% right yet. It's not a symptom and not caused by reflux but is commonly found with it.

There is no article yet, but it is on my list of ones to do (which is currently about an arms length long by the way... :oops: ).

My pedi told me that the Gavsicon could cause Matthew to be constipated as it thickens the formula. SHe said that you need to add a little more water to the formula, which I have done- by about 10mls a feed and it seems to make a difference.
I'm not sure about other meds though, and I would never change the formula mixture without asking doctor's advice first. But it is working for us.

Hmmm, don't get Minnie started on meds causing constipation... :wink: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Really though, she knows all about that.

LOL Roni!!! :)

Yeah, Gaviscon (and all the other antacids, and ACID BLOCKERS used to treat reflux) can cause constipation. Glad YOUR doctor was aware of it.

Sigh...

I kind of feel I've missed something here... did you doctor not say the meds could cause constipation Minnie?????

They insisted that Zantac could NOT cause constipation, only diarrhea. They also wouldn't help me treat it. It was very fustrating. Finally I faxed them BEGGING for a stool softener, and they gave him Reglan, and set him up with a GI. I think they were hoping that the GI would "talk some sence into me". They have been trying to tell me that we needed to act more agressivly, that they thought maybe Esophigitis(sp), or worse. They kept upping his meds to get him to eat, and things only got worse. Finally I took him off the zantac completely (what a hard week THAT was), so I could get him to pooh. Then it was off to the GI who was suposed to do an upper GI and who knows what all else, but after talking he agreed with me that things got out of hand and all he needed was something to counteract the side effect so he could go everyday. Things have been great ever since. It's funny the doc that got the GI referal set up for me mentioned NOTHING about constipation to the GI, and that's ALL I was complaining about. sigh some people are so THICK!

Minnie... I now recall your earlier posts about this. STUPID doctor!!! Sometimes I wonder if they get their medical degree out of a cereal box!!! :D

Several things can cause constipation, like meds (as you definately already know) rice cereal, and formula. But, like Roni said, a lot of GERD babies have it but it isn't necessarily a GERD issue. A lot of non-GERD babies have constipation, especially if they are formula fed. It is just an immature digestive tract.

Ditto to your post, Karen. I wad told by our feeding specialist that the constipaiton is caused by rice cereal especially if it is used as a thickener, and immature digestive system and I think sometimes meds.

Shannon