6 Weeks and Poop Problems

Updated on April 18, 2011
M.M. asks from Charlotte, NC
6 answers

Hi, my baby just turned 6 weeks old. He is exclusively breastfed - for eight days he has not pooped: as his belly was firm and as he seems to be in pain, we tried massaging his belly, we did the thermometer trick but nothing happened. So we went to the pediatrician who told us to give him glycerin suppositories. We gave him half of one and he pooped a LOT - I'd say one pound ! It's been three days since we gave him a suppository and he had not pooped by himself yet. I am scarred that he gets accustomed to suppositories and I would like to know if I should wait before giving him another one - he seems again to be in pain, lots of gas, etc. I watch my diet carefully and changed things here and there, but it does not seem to work (I eat lots of veggies, no gassy foods, etc.) I always read that they use "all" the food and that's why they do not poop: it is not the case with my baby, since he pooped a lot (meaning that he was bothered by the amount of poop in his belly.) I am very stressed about this issue. Thanks for your help !!!

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S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Is he fussy? Passing alot of gas? How is his poop when he goes, normal breastfed poop or is he constipated?

Veggies are gassy foods.I would cut back if you are eating alot of them. I agree with Kate, do not use any more suppositories. I have heard that it is normal for them to go a week without pooping. But since he seems to be in pain I bet it is more of a gas problem than constipation.

**I also used the Karo syrup with my daughter, but I think it's only suggested for babies over 6 months.

I would try drinking alot of water and cutting down on the veggies.

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

CONGRATULATIONS on your new baby!!!

Veggies - broccoli, cauliflower are VERY gassy foods!!

I suggest a teaspoon of maple syrup - however, check with your pediatrician to see if he is too young for that.

Warm baths always help too. Routines also help a lot.

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

We went through that with my son and the pediatrician instructed us to put 1/2 tsp of dark karo syrup into a bottle if he would go more than 3 days without going. It worked every time!

1 mom found this helpful

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

I agree fully with the ladies. My milkshake in the middle had issues with the poop. He would get blocked up and just turn red when he was trying to go. I never used the laxatives. It scared me. I ended up having to use some vaseline and a q-tip and when i noticed he was trying to poo i would lube up and help him out. It was the hardest thing to watch. I am surprise the doc didnt give you very strict guidelines to use with the laxative. Your little man is so young still. I would follow the other mamas, water water water, fruit and then some more. you may find you are more regular too!!

I hope he gets to feeling better. My other thought is if it continues he maybe sensitive to something youre eating. My little sister was so allergic to dairy as a new born that my mom couldnt eat it while she nursed her. She has grown out of it now thank god and is a happy 21 year too. It just could be you are eating something that is still to much for his little track to digest.

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K.P.

answers from Memphis on

My firstborn would poop 2-3 times a day when he was young; my younger son would go about once a week. *But* it didn't seem to bother him. (And he still only goes about every 2-5 days.) Every baby is different!

It is extremely unusual for an exclusively breastfed baby to be constipated, even if they don't poop every day, but only every week. Breastmilk is usually considered laxative, and sometimes the baby absorbs the breastmilk so perfectly that there isn't much waste to poop out.

Check with your pediatrician before giving him anything by mouth, though. Giving a breastfed baby water can mess up his system (weird, huh?), so make sure that it's okay in your baby's case.

I'd do daily belly massages, and "bicycling" his legs, and other things to encourage him to go. Check his belly for firmness, and if he seems to be uncomfortable, you may want to do another suppository now. I don't think he'll get accustomed to suppositories (though you may want to check with your doctor on that), and it's possible that his bowel became used to not pooping, so he may need a few suppositories regularly to get him regular again, and then you can discontinue it.

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K.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Drinks lots of water! Avoid the veggies or eat just once a day, cause they cause gas, eat a lot of fruits,....and is pretty normal if they poop every week even 10 days is normal but if you think he's on pain, the poop is hard or something else you need to talk to your doctor again, and also I don't like the suppositories because I believe can make his body to "need "one each time to poop....

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