Holding on to poop for days at a time

Can anyone help?  My 2 and a half year old wont poop unless she absolutely must.  She will go 5-6 days sometimes longer without pooping even though she is in pain and complains of tummy ache.  Its not that shes constipated its more like shes afraid to go.  She holds on to me or furniture and squeezes her bum in an effort not to pooh and finially gives in when she cant hold on to it any longer.  We have tried to potty train her but had to stop again because of this problem.  What should I do .. I'm at my wits end!

[abqmom]

Have you tried rewarding her when she does go?  This may help her see that it's okay.  When you see her trying to hold it you might want to take her to the potty and help her relax so she can go.  My son went through something similar, he even would not want to eat because he knew it would make him have to go the bathroom.  He eventually grew out of this.  She may not be constipated, but if her pooh is large it make be causing her discomfort.

[greengeeny]

Some children are afraid of the toilet when they are first learning.  It can be a scary thing.  Potty training is one of the hardest things we ever learn in our lives.  Have you tried feeding her raisins, or prunes, or other fruit to help soften her stool?  Sometimes that helps.  Offer a book while she is sitting on the potty, or something else that might take her mind off of it.