ASHA Blog

January 6, 2018
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Sep 21

🤦🏼‍♀️It’s not uncommon for picky eaters to also be constipated. I’ve been talking about the importance of regularity (yep, 💩!) this week. It’s important to talk to your GI Doc, pediatrician and/or an RDN about ways to help your child feel more comfortable going on a regular basis.

🚽Some options they may suggest include magnesium citrate gummies or powder, hemp or chia seeds (sometimes ground) or a fiber supplement that includes both soluble and insoluble fiber.

💕The take-away here is that each child is unique and it takes time to determine what will work best.

👉🏼Tomorrow will conclude this series on constipation and discuss MiraLAX and similar products .

📌The first , please give this post a❤️ if you’ve been finding this series helpful this week! Thank you! 🥰 Melanie

#melaniepotock #constipationinkids #ashaigers

👉🏼The content posted here is not medical advice. Please always consult with your medical professional. Should you have concerns about your child gut health. ...

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Sep 20

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😳Here are 5 signs your child is constipated that might just surprise you:

💩Large stools – like really large. Like WOAH. Large stools may indicate that the bowels are moving slower than they should, creating larger stools that aren’t easy to pass. Or if they are easy, it’s because the intestine has stretched around the stool and eventually pushes it out. Intestines that get stretched a lot STAY STRETCHED and that in turn, leads to constipation.

〰️Tracks on the undies: While you may consider diarrhea, usually diarrhea means lots of stool, not a track. That line of brown (sorry to be graphic!) may indicate that the poop is lodged in the intestine and the looser stool is leaking around it. It can also indicate muscle weakness around the anus secondary to chronic constipation.

😉Speaking of graphics and tracks… did you spot the Bristol Stool Chart graphic in this video? You can Google and pick your favorite to download. The first thing we do in feeding therapy is begin to track how often kids go #2 and what it looks like. Parents are often surprised to learn that it should be smooth and sausage-shaped.

🤢If your child has been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) then constipation may be the culprit. The pressure in the gut (from being stopped up) pushes the stomach contents upward, creating a wash of stomach acid into the esophagus (the tube in your throat for eating).

🚽Irregular stool textures is another sign – see the Bristol Stool Chart for an example

😞Poor appetite – in yesterday’s reel, I talked about the influence of pooping on appetite. Check that one out too!

👉🏼👉🏼Watch for 2 more reels this week on the topic of poop. Because if you’re here to learn about raising an adventurous eater, honestly, it often starts with regular 💩.

🤔What questions do you have? Ask away, I’m here to try and help! 💕Melanie

#melaniepotock #slpfeeding #feedingtherapy
Keep in mind, this is not medical advice. This is general information that any professional in this profession shares, but your child’s gut is unique, so ALWAYS check with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s gut health. ...

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Sep 19

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💩When a parent tells me this about their picky eater: “She ate like a horse yesterday!” my next question is always “Did she have a big poop yesterday too?”

😳1 out of 3 toddlers is constipated on a regular basis.* Watch all this week for my series on why and what to do about it. Want to know why it’s a BIG issue for picky eaters?

👉🏼Because if you’re constipated or not pooping on a regular basis, it impacts your hunger drive. Eating isn’t a comfortable experience.

😞When you have a picky eater, constipation is common due to their very limited diet. And, typically
developing toddlers tend to be constipated more than any other age…unless it becomes chronic after the toddler years.

🚽Kids need to have regular, comfortable bowel movements, ideally every day for the reasons noted in the post.

🧻This week, we’re talking about poop. Everybody does it, but it’s not always easy for some kids.

🤍I hope you’ll find it helpful – tell me in the comments what you need to know about constipation & I’ll post all week for you! I hope it’s helpful!🥰Melanie

#melaniepotock

*Source: National Institute for Health & Care Excellence Oct 2013
Royal College of Physicians (2010). National Audit of Continence Care, Combined Organizational and
Clinical Report ...

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