HELP! my 2 yr old holds her poop!

[aubsNryesMama]

my 2, almost 3 year old, hold im her poop on purpose. She is potty trained other than pooping and ever since she has been potty trained she has been holding her poop. She says she is scared to go poop in the potty, but now she isnt even going in her pull up. I have taken her into the doctor and the doctor pretty much just pushed it to the side. It seems every time i have to give her a suppository or enema. Is there anything else i can do??!! I hate forcing her to go like that. I have changed her diet and it seems to be in her head why she isnt going. Somebody please help!

[marah_rn]

i have the same problem with my nearly 3 year old daughter too. I am so stress as she hasn't poop for a week now. I have tried her with prune juice, prunes, weetabix with prunes, orange juice, glycerin suppository and lactulose. I brought her to the GP this morning and we were prescribe movicol 3x a day. She hasn't gone even with the 2 doses today. She said that if she hasn't gone till tomorrow that I have to bring her to the hospital. She is currently passing wind and I am hoping and praying that she would go at least until tomorrow morning. I am extremely worried about her.

[natesmom616]

Sometimes an emema is required after extended periods of holding.  However, long term use of Enemas  or suppositories to make the child go on a regular basis  ARE damaging, paticularly to children it can cause  damge as tschock posted.  They dont stimulate the whole intenstine, but they do cause almost immediate evacuation.  Enemas are meant for occasional rather than regular use. The frequent use of enemas can cause disturbances of the fluids and electrolytes in the body.  

Repeated use of suppositories can make the problem worse. Suppositories only temporarily stimulate the colon walls and do not strengthen the colon. If used over long periods of time they can actually weaken the colon muscles. When those muscles are weak they lack the peristalsis action necessary to keep fecal matter moving through the colon.

[sue_perfluous]

Just to clarify - Suppositories and enemas aren't "damaging" or "addictive" in the way that oral laxatives are, because they don't stimulate-irritate the whole intestine.  If a chemical crutch is really needed to maintain bowel function, these are the methods to use.

But they won't solve the problem - so take her to a ped gastro doc.

[margypops]

forcing an enema or suppository on her may frighten her more you should seek professional help.....

[AnnieBrooke]

Get her to a doctor, such as a pediatric gastroenteroligist, who understands the problems of impacted bowel and encopresis.  She needs an X-ray and maybe even a clearing of the colon and bowel, and then some long-term dietary approaches, so her bowel will return to its normal compressive function.  She is not being defiant, she has a medical problem.  A lot of pediatricians don't know much about the topic at all, and she needs to be checked for impacted stool.

[tschock]

She seriously needs to see a good pediatrician.

Giving her suppositories and/or enemas is only going to cause damage in the furure...she will become dependant on them...this will cause considerable damage.
Please get her in to see someone who actually cares.

She may need psychological help rather than medical...or rather a combination of both.
You need to find out why she's afraid.
If you can't afford help then perhaps you could try just giving her more fiber in her diet or perhaps some prunes...a little bit of diarrhea at this stage could not hurt. If her bowels are soft enough she won't be able to hold them in right?
Water, water, water as well...this will help with any constipation. If she starts getting tummy aches, take her to an emergency ward asap...she could develop a blockage.
Good luck and keep us posted.