Holding BM!

I'd suggest increasing the amount of fluids and fiber in her diet to help her go. If necessary, sit in the bathroom with her and find a way to distract her while nature takes its course. We read "Everyone Poops" to Bella.

How old is your daughter? Has she been constipated in the recent past? You might try increasing her fluid intake...her fiber intake...and if she is old enough...give her some dried prunes...they worked WONDERS with my 14 month old grandson this week!!!
I wouldn't make a big deal of this with her...you don't want it to become a battle of wills because she will just become more constipated as she tries not to have a BM.
Not knowing how old she is...whether she is still in diapers or has recently been potty trained ( this could be an issue...sometimes bm's become a reason for concern on their part when they are starting to be potty trained), I really don't know what to suggest. If she is older...potty trained...you could just try sitting in the bathroom with her...talking to her to distract her..maybe read a book or discuss what you all have been doing that day. Anything to get her mind off of it and just let "nature take its' course".

Not enough information. I see from your profile that you've considered starting potty training over the past year (since your daughter was 18 months). If you have, that is probably part of the pattern. If you have not, then she may simply have experienced a difficult or painful poop recently, but that can be enough to cause hesitation about pooping in the future.

My grandson has had difficulties, and his mom taught him 'breathing' exercises to help him get it out. There's also a book called 'It Hurts When I Poop" that many families have found helpful. Physically, more fluids, more fruit (especially grapes or raisins, plums or prunes, blueberries) and perhaps a daily dose of Miralax could make her movements easier.

Did she have a problem recently where he had a hard bm? Sometimes if the bms are hard when they come out it can scare kids. Ask her,why she is scared to go. Let her know that she needs to get rid of it because it will wind up making her sick. May be sit in the bathroom with her when she goes. Read a book to her,so she will relax and go. Good luck.

both of my kids did this when i started potty training. with my daughter i stopped for a few months and it helped. With my son I too stopped but due to his constipation issues, I also gave him miralax and that helped him go without it hurting. I think from holding it so much he got more constipated and then it hurt to go and so he held it even more. You could give her some miralax, the GI Dr. said it was completely safe and then they can't hold it in because it gets too soft, then they learn to start going again. He said you can use it even if not constipated but just for holding poop in, because of how safe it is and that it will make the poop soft and they will have no choice but to go. IT really works.