V.H. asks from Kissimmee, FL on December 05, 2006
No Bm's - Breast Fed Only
My daughter is breast fed exclusively but she is not having a BM in week long stretches. She did not go for a week so the pediatrician told me to give her a laxative and I did. She had a very large bowel movement. Now one week later, the same thing is happenening and now she isn't wetting enough diapers either. I tried giving her diluted prune juice. I don't want to give her Karo syrup. Am I jumping to conclusions here? She is not in pain. She is healthy otherwise and gaining weight. Any suggestions?
So What Happened?™
Thank you everyone for all your help! My daughter had a BM last night after I tried stimulating her with a rectal themometer. That tip worked! And her stool was soft which let me know that she is alright. Breastmilk is so efficient! And she is having plenty of wets now and is going on her own!
Thanks again!
Featured Answers
L.C. answers from Norfolk on December 06, 2006
I had the same problem. My daughter's Dr. told me to give her 2oz of apple juice ever day for a week, and see if that helps. And if it does, to keep doing it.
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M.R. answers from Charleston on December 05, 2006
Try giving her more water, sometimes that's all they need.
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M.L. answers from Charlotte on December 05, 2006
Hi V.,
Even though your daughter isn't in any pain, it is not healthy for her not to have BM at least daily. Continue giving her a laxative and/or stool softener, because she is so young it can result in to a bigger problem later. If she continues to have problems speak with your peditrician and maybe she may be having trouble getting rid of her body waste. You don't want her to develop UTI's. Just keep monitoring her progress and see what your doc recommends if this persist.
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J.K. answers from Raleigh on December 05, 2006
My baby girl did the same. I was told it is normal w/ Breastfed babies. Mine is 10 months old very healthy. Keep up the good work w/ the breastfeeding!
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K.R. answers from Raleigh on December 05, 2006
I would be less concerned about the lack of BM's when reading the advice of the other mom's. However, I'd take more concern in lack of wet's. Talk to your doc about that. However, if she starts having pain due to no BM's here's a little trick that I learned from my childbirth coach. It's kind of scary but it worked. Take the end of a crochet needle or even a rectal thermometer and place it inside her rectum. Pull GENTLY to the side. It forces those muscles to relax and VOILA! relief. I was so nervous the first time I tried it, when my son was 2 months old. But it worked and we haven't had a problem since. But if she's not in any pain, I wouldn't do it. I would worry about the lack of wet diapers though. That seems like a definite reason to call the doctor. They always ask me how many diapers he's going through when Aiden goes to the doctor.
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A.D. answers from Charlotte on December 05, 2006
I would ask your Ped. about the wet diapers and monitor that. I have a set of BB twins who are now 3 1/2 and one is very petite (only 26 lbs.). He had constipation a lot as a baby. We gave undiluted Gerber Pear Juice. It took about an ounce for two days and things started to come. Good Luck!
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D.H. answers from Charlotte on December 06, 2006
Hi
My son is now 6 mths old and is a very healthy and happy little man. Up until 2 mths ago he was a breast milk only baby. At 6 weeks old he went from having a daily BM to having one once a week. He was not in any pain and I was told by my Ped. that this was normal. My Ped told me that as long as when he did have them they were soft and he passed them with ease there was not a constipation problem. Hope this helps :)
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A.K. answers from Charlotte on December 05, 2006
I have read that some babies can go a couple days without a BM, but weeks? I'd be worried too. My pediatrician told me that when babies are about 1 month old they develop the nerves around their anus, so when they go to the bathroom or pass gas, they get scared & try to hold it back. Maybe that's part of the problem. She also said if we notice her holding back, to use a rectal thermometer to help stimulate it. I had to check my babys temp the other night and it did just that.. I hope this helps!
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T.B. answers from Norfolk on December 05, 2006
V.,
One thing that I dont know if you have tried is to use a themometer to stimulate her. This is what my dr told me to do when my baby started showing signs of constipation. What you do is put a little vasaline on the end of her themometer, and insert it just like you would to take her temprature. This worked for me (for a little while then we ended up having to put her on a mild oral stimulant because nothing else was working for her).
I hope this helps.
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