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4 Month Old With Constipation . Started On Rice Cereal.

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Posted on Sun, 14 Apr 2019
Question: 4 month old with constipation. started on rice cereal. No bowel movement for 5 days. Strains and lots of gas. sometimes pain. When to worry and when to get help.??? Bowel movement before this were army green and very thick tarry. Changed quickly from yellow loose. I've heard rice cereal can cause constipation??
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Nothing to worry please.

Detailed Answer:
Hi...nothing to worry.
Babies tend to show some signs of constipation after starting rice cereal - it is expected.
But it is not advisable to start rice cereal before 6 months of age completion.
Please continue exclusive breast feeding till 6 months of age (recommended by WHO).
Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.
Best regards - Dr Sumanth Amperayani
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (11 minutes later)
how long do we let it go before we seek help from a doctor? What are the systems of a blocked bowel.
He is pale and gets dark circles under his eyes is that normal with constipation
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (13 minutes later)
im sorry to bug again. He is not gaining weight. only 1 pound in 2 months. He spits up all most vomits every feeding. The pediatrician said to add rice cereal to each bottle … He is breast fed....pump and give a bottle... Could you give me some ideas how to stop this. Mother is off all dairy. that helped a little bit. And can you please give me a good dairy free formula to use when we need to.
We will try to find a new pediatrician. thank you for your help
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Suggestions on milk allergy

Detailed Answer:
My suggestions for you -
1. Mother should go off cow's milk protein completely. This means that you should avoid consumption of anything and everything related to cow's milk - like - milk/ curds/ ghee/ butter milk/ chocolates/ biscuits/ ice creams etc. Even while buying commercial food products, you need to see the ingredients and if they contain milk - do not consume them.
2. Feed you baby only exclusive breast feeds till 6 months of age and then start rice based feeds.
3. If this is followed scrupulously - the baby will stop having diarrhoea in another 3-4 days and then start gaining weight too.
4. If you feel your feeds alone are inadequate for the baby, then Zerolac is the only option till 6 months age.
I request you to keep me posted about the recovery of the baby and follow of the case.

Symptoms of intestinal blockade - severe abdominal distension, green colored or bilious vomiting, not passing even flatus.

Best regards - Dr Sumanth Amperayani
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 8339 Questions

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4 Month Old With Constipation . Started On Rice Cereal.

Brief Answer: Nothing to worry please. Detailed Answer: Hi...nothing to worry. Babies tend to show some signs of constipation after starting rice cereal - it is expected. But it is not advisable to start rice cereal before 6 months of age completion. Please continue exclusive breast feeding till 6 months of age (recommended by WHO). Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry. Best regards - Dr Sumanth Amperayani