daughter constipated not sure what to do.

[HayJay0408]

my daughter is 3-1/2 she has been on movicol since she was a baby she has 1 sachet a day but every few months she get constipated and doesn’t go for a week or so. Over Christmas she was constipated again the doctor advised upping the sachet so she had 2 each day and then 3 til she went to the toilet. She had a few days of very soft poos now she hasn’t been for a day do you think she is cleared out or still constipated I’m unsure of what to do. As don’t want to give her too much laxatives. Any advice would be grateful

[Yaleamanda]

Have a read and watch of these

ERIC are a bowel and bladder charity, great website and fab helpline/email

eric.org.uk

There is also bladder and bowel UK they are similar to ERIC. bbuk.org.uk

NHS poo nurses taking about movicol and how to use

thepoonurses.uk/

Great article

bornready.uk/blog/the-mecha...

Different video about constipation

youtu.be/pNagQup0Upg(Not working as expected?)

[HayJay0408 in reply to Yaleamanda]

thank you very helpful

[ERIC-Charity Partner]

Dear HayJay0408 , We always advise that children receive a full physical examination when diagnosed with constipation, especially if constipation was diagnosed at an early age; it's needed to rule out any underlying condition.

Have you completed a disimpaction recently? When constipation is diagnosed, it's important to clear out the backlog of poo by using an increasing dose of macrogol laxatives (movicol, cosmocol or laxido) in accordance with NICE Guidelines. This is called a disimpaction. Have a look at the advice sheet and the guide to disimpaction below which includes dosage:

eric.org.uk/advice-for-chil... eric.org.uk/childrens-bowel...

We have a great podcast which explains this: eric.org.uk/podcast/episode...

Once you've cleared out all the old poo, you'll need to find a daily maintenance dose, the podcast and information sheets explain how to do this.

It's not unusual to need to disimpact every now and then. Macrogol laxatives are completely safe as they aren't absorbed into the body, just make sure you are mixing them correctly: eric.org.uk/how-to-use-macr... They must be mixed with the exact amount of water to work.

Because this liquid is delivered straight to the bowel, you can expect to see the poo get more and more runny. this is exactly what it's meant to do and is again completely safe. You do need to ensure that your child is also drinking 6-8 cups of water or squash a day and can't include the movicol in that number, because it's not absorbed into the body.

We currently have a full recording of a recent Wee & Poo webinar we ran for parents and carers on our website, which you might find helpful , we're also offering another free webinar on 17th January 7pm which you are welcome to join. eric.org.uk/helpline/

Please contact our free Helpline if you need any further advice

best wishes, ERIC

[14crosstitch14]

It could also be diet and fluid intake. Lots to drink and fibre foids. Sweet corn will also and lots of veggies. Carrot stick brussle sprouts beans, if she's farting most likely needs the toilet. Routine before and after meals. Helped us.