Peachy’s Awkward Secret

As you probably know, I’ve been discovering solid foods. So far, the experience has been exhilarating. So many flavours and textures to explore. It’s been one of my greatest adventures. I can’t wait to try the next new thing.

Unfortunately, all this great new food comes at a price. It’s something we ladies often avoid discussing. We all know that everyone suffers from this affliction from time to time, but we prefer to pretend that it never happens to us. If we never talk about it, we all suffer in silence. I’m going to do my part by sharing my awkward little secret. Sometimes, I get a little….constipated.

Now that my secret is out there, we can start talking about a cure. My mommy has searched the internet for remedies, and the good news is that the solution is more delicious food! We have been testing the suggestions and we have a pretty good idea of what does, and doesn’t, work for us. Hopefully some of these remedies will work for you as well, so that you can have some relief too.

For me, one of the best ways to get things moving, is a good serving of pear. I love pears! I can eat them raw and with the skin on, without having any problems. Mommy puts a ripe and juicy pear in the food processor and prepares a delicious puree. I usually manage to eat the whole thing. My favourite pears are Bartlett and Anjou but I suppose any pear would do.

Another remedy is oatmeal. That’s great news for me. Oatmeal is my favourite! However, I eat oatmeal every day and I still have trouble sometimes. Maybe it helps, but oatmeal alone isn’t doing to trick for me. I wonder how much trouble I would be in if I didn’t eat oatmeal every day.

If I need a bit more help, prunes do the trick. Mommy prefers to make my food at home, instead of buying the prepackaged stuff, but we always keeps a few pouches of organic prune baby food in the cupboard for emergencies. The pouches are very convenient. Prune is ok by itself but it’s even better mixed into my oatmeal.

If pears, oatmeal, and prunes are not to your taste, here are several other great suggestions from Wholesome BabyFoods. Along with prunes and pears, fruit such as apricots, peaches, and plums should help. If you prefer vegetables, peas and spinach are good options. Finally, if you’re looking to replace your cereal, but you don’t like oatmeal, try a barley cereal instead.

I have been lucky enough that my issues haven’t been severe, and just a small change in my diet is enough to get me back on track. If you need more help, a warm bath is another option to consider, and it certainly couldn’t do any harm. More persistent cases can benefit from specific exercises and massage. Here is a pretty good video we found on YouTube which demonstrates some of these techniques.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWFg0ODAQvE

If none of these remedies work, it may be time to go see a doctor and get some medication. There is no reason to suffer. In most cases constipation, though unpleasant, is harmless and will subside on its own. However, in extreme cases it may cause harm, and it is better to be safe rather than sorry.