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Expert Q&A
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| By John Dorsey, M.D. Pediatrician | ||
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My 19-month-old daughter cries when she has a bowel movement. Besides adding more fiber, what else can I do?
The other key factor here is to find out how long your daughter has been having trouble with her bowel movements. If it's a situation that has recently popped up, there's a good chance that the increase of water and fruits will help. However, if she's crying that much and the problem has persisted for a long time, I would ask your doctor to do a rectal exam.
The most common problem that comes to mind is a rectal fissure or small tear in the skin. This will burn, causing children to not want to have a bowel movement. Then, after they hold as long as they can and do have a movement, it hurts even worse. It also could be the beginnings of a small hemorrhoid. The rectal exam should help rule out any potential serious medical issues."
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