Constipation (extracted from BB Centre) for mummies' info:
What causes constipation?
If your baby is being fed only breast milk, constipation is rare. Talk to your baby's doctor if her stools are hard, dry, or painful: When combined with other symptoms such as vomiting or a swollen tummy, this could indicate a more serious condition like a blocked intestine.
If your baby takes only formula, the particular brand she's drinking may not agree with her. Ask your doctor about switching brands.
If you've introduced rice cereal to your baby's diet as a first step toward solid foods, the cereal could be the culprit — it's low in fiber. Try adding pureed fruits such as pears or prunes (not bananas, which are constipating) or vegetables to the cereal or switching to oat or barley cereal instead.
Constipation can also be caused by dehydration, so giving your baby more fluids can help. If your baby's already eating solid foods, try giving her some prune or pear juice. You can feed her 1 ounce of juice diluted with 1 ounce of water, or add the juice to her bottle of formula or pumped breast milk.
How can I help?
Aside from making changes to your baby's diet, here are a few more tricks for getting bowels back on track:
• Wiggle your baby's legs in a gentle pedaling motion while she's lying on her back.
• Gently but firmly massage her belly below her navel. If you feel a firm area, keep a steady pressure there for a few moments.
• If you see her straining to make a poop, place her in a warm-water bath to relax her muscles.
• Use a glycerin suppository or stimulate her rectum with a rectal thermometer lubricated with petroleum jelly as a temporary measure, but only with the doctor's approval. If the constipation doesn't respond to these interventions, the doctor may recommend a baby laxative.
