Pooping question

Quoting hwifeandmom:

That drives me crazy when pediatricians act like chronic constipation is no big deal.  Grrrrr.  It *IS* a big deal. Hard bowel movements are painful, and painful bowel movements can lead to stool withholding (which makes the bowel problems worse).  It can lead to straining which leads to hemerrhoids, it can lead to potty training problems and probably other problems I'm not thinking of right now.

Some kids are just prone to more bowel problems than other kids.  Sometimes you can figure out why (digestive problems, food allergies, insufficient fluids, insufficient fiber, slow bowel motility, IBS, etc., etc), but much of the time you can't figure out why and just have to treat the symptoms.

Check the fiber content of foods you eat and try to select higher fiber versions, if possible.  Yogurt is good because of the probiotics which improve bowel health.  Activia yogurt has better probiotic content, but you could also just give your kids probioitic supplements instead of increasing their yogurt intake.  When my kids were little, I used Nature's Way Primodophilus powder, which I could mix into their food or drink.  You can also get chewables, if your children will eat them.  Check a natural foods health food store or check online.  For my kids, it took a couple of weeks before we saw much benefit from probioitics.  Because my kids' bowel problems are so severe, although we saw initial benefit from probioitics, it was insufficient on its own to help my kids maintain good bowel habits.

You can try using fiber gummies or stool-softening laxatives.  There are two basic types of laxatives:  stimulant and non-stimulant (stool-softening).  The stimulant ones have a bad reputation because the body can become dependent on them (they are often senna-based products, though there are other types).  Non-stimulant, stool-softening laxatives are not habit-forming (the body does not become dependent on them), so they are safe for long-term, daily use.  They help hold water in the stool to prevent it from getting as dry and difficult to eliminate.  Some good ones are Miralax, Benefiber, Milk of Magnesia, Fiber Choice, and Metamucil's new Clear-and-Natural in the BLUE bottle.  The new Metamucil in the blue bottle, Fiber Choice, and many fiber gummies have Inulin as an active ingredient and have worked well for my kids.  Inulin comes from chicory root.  You'll often see Inulin or chicory listed as an ingredient in products with added fiber (cereal, bread, etc).

If you still need to follow up with a doctor, you may want to look for a pediatric gastroenterologist (GI doc), tho' it took us a couple of GI docs before we found one who listened well and provided adequate treatment for my kids (two of my kids have significant bowel problems for which they have to take several stool-softening laxatives daily).

Quoting mommaaim12:

Ive talked to their peditrician, and he doesn't seem to think its a problem. I HATE seeing them strain like they are.

I will try the juice and see if that helps. Ive tried prune juice, with no luc

"rabbit poop" is a sign of inadequate water... increase their water intake and fiber intake.  and  constipation doesn't mean that they don't go period; constipation is typically difficulty going and your kids have difficultly going.  make sure they drink plenty of water and eat foods that are rich in fiber.