No Bowell Movements in Last 18 Hrs??

Hi C.,
I used infant glycerine suppositories with my daughter at night after a nice warm bath and massage. She had issues with going poop when she was a newborn, even though she was breastfed in the beginning. After using a suppository each night for a week she would go poop as soon as I lifted her legs up, no suppository needed! I agree with Moe's advice too, probiotics are wonderful! It wouldn't hurt for you to take some too. I found my daughter's at Whole Foods in the refrigerated section. I didn't find pumping her legs or massaging her tummy to help.
Sincerely,
L.

1 mom found this helpful

We had tummy issues with my son too; not so much with constipation but overall tummy discomfort. Gripe Water and Mylicon did not help, but we kept trying them just because we hated seeing his discomfort. I solely nursed and wondered what I was doing or eating that caused the problem. Do not give up on nursing. I was at my wit's end and thought I was the cause, but I am so glad I didn't give up. I attended a meeting of new moms led by the lactation consultant at the hospital where I delivered and she showed me different positions which might help keep my son more upright. She thought maybe he was taking in too much air while nursing and I also had an overactive let down phase when beginning to nurse EACH time I nursed. Aside from the new positions, she recommended two things: 1)pump a little bit before each nursing session so that the baby isn't struggling to take the strong let-down while gulping for air 2)I got the name of a specific osteopathic physician from several new moms in the group and asked the lactation consultant about it. She ended up knowing exactly who I was talking about and found the number for me.
I'm not sure how your milk production is, but mine was over the top. The pumping helped tremendously. I know it sounds like a pain, but it made an enormous difference in that my son was able to relax while he nursed. I couldn't believe how noticeable it was, but he wasn't nearly as fussy during and after nursing sessions. During nursing, it was also recommended that I stop every 5 minutes to burp my son. This helped too, but it made for very long nursing sessions. I think time helped a lot in that his development and growth helped him grow out of the fussy stage.
I did go to the osteopathic physician and I think that made a tremendous difference too. She specialized in infant care and during her evaluation, she discovered my son had a pretty severe muscle stiffness on the left side of his neck leading down to his shoulder. Later, we discussed my delivery experience and the fact that my son was face up and that I pushed for a long time (I'm not exaggerating when I say it was ten hours of hard pushing). Anyway, after about a month of going to her his muscles had all relaxed enough and he wasn't screaming during her treatment as he did initially. My guess was that he was in pain and she said his digestive issues were probably related to his muscle kinks . She recommended Natren Life Start Probiotic Supplement for Infants. We gave him a supplement each day (I mixed it with some breastmilk and put it on a pacifier for him to take and he did it with ease). I continue to use it when: he gets sick and when he is due for shots. My husband got the stomach flu from someone at work and it worked it's way to my son and I. I used the probiotic and I really think it helped his tummy get back to normal. My stomach flu seemed to last far longer than his. Anyway, the probiotic is in no way harmful. It is simply a combination of healthy bacteria formulated to help the digestive system stay in balance. Check it out online. I was willing to try anything when dealing with my son's issues and was so thankful to have gotten the help I did. I'm sure you'll get great advice here; I know I always do. Sorry for the long response, but do know you aren't alone. Thinking of you and wishing you all the best.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi C.,

My friend and I had babies 3 weeks apart. Both were solely breastfed. Her baby was often constipated. Mine only was when using the infant vitamin drops with iron. So each little body is different. I would take her to the Dr. just to rule out anything funky.

I don't think anyone mentioned it but a warm bath also worked for my friend to help things along. It seems to help their bodies "let go".

Enjoy your beautiful baby!

xoxo,
T.

C.,

It is normal for breastfed babies to go for extended periods of time without having a bowel movement. Obviously, if she is uncomfortable, you want to help her pass it. Some ways to do this are: holding her over your shoulder in the exaggerated burping position, so that her abdomen is pressed on your shoulder. The pressure can help with a bowel movement. Other more effective ways are: massaging her abdomen in a clockwise direction (with baby oil or massage oil) and then pressing her legs, bent, onto her abdomen into a "squat" position. The last trick I would recommend is massaging the area around the anus with an oiled finger. This almost always does the trick.

S. Craig, Licensed Midwife
www.awakeningsbirthservices.com

Hi C. , not to worry you but I wondered since your like me being a mama having to use mylicon for tummy trouble if you had heard about the recall on it? The recall is for the dye free 1 ounce bottle. A friend called me about it last night and I checked the numbers on the bottle I have and it was not one of the recalled lot numbers. I don't remember what the numbers were but I am sure you can look it up on the internet. Just to be safe. Sorry your baby is having tummy problems. My 4 week old makes so much grunting and groaning,she sounds like a little machine gun trying to poop. I don't have any idea's to help except to let you know my baby is struggling with the bowel issues too. For myself I started taking Magnesium every day and I am very regular now. Dosn't seem to cross over in the milk and help baby though. Best wishes.

You've had some great advice and I just wanted to add that you could try gripe water. It is great for gas etc and my daughter poops within about 30 mins of being given it. You can find it at most whole foods and I recently found it at target.

C.

Hi C.
Since she is so young, I would try and get her seen earlier than tomorrow. I was going to suggest tummy massage, but she is so tiny that I don't think it would be wise to mess around here. I had also read Karen's response, which I think works very well, but probably better on an older baby. Sometimes you don't have to insert a finger, just gently but repeatedly wiping her bottom with a baby wipe is enough to trigger a poop. But I feel there is a little more going on here, and she should be seen by a doctor to get things moving. It's unusual for a breasfed baby to be blocked up, so she might be needing some extra fluids.
Good luck and best wishes.

Hi C.,

I hope that your little one is feeling better. I still have to watch what I eat because it does affect my son who is nursing. When I was first nursing I was eating banana's everyday. These caused me to be constipated as well as my son. Dairy also caused him to be constipated, so I had to go off dairy for quite a while. Take a look at your diet. My son would usually poop frequently during the day, sometimes after every feeding. Good luck with the doctor appt and congrats on your little one.

The only other thing I could suggest is doing some tummy massage. There are a few exercises that are supposed to help with this type of thing-- one is the I Love You method (you can find details online). I also did one to the tune of Row Your Boat where you basically stroke down the tummy with alternating hands, then make her legs "run" in place for the "merrily" part, hold her legs to her tummy for a few counts at the end, then lift her legs up. My son would consistently toot when I did the legs up towards his face at the end for awhile (to the point where some suggested I video it for America's Funniest Home Videos). I think this is not uncommon for babies at this age, but I'm sure your doctor will have the best advice. Good luck! My son is now 10 months old, and I haven't had to do tummy exercises in months.

No need to worry. If baby is happy, gaining weight, and producing plenty of wet diapers, everything is fine. Breastfed babies can go 3-5 days without a BM. When it does come....watch out. It's usually a blow-out. Breast milk is highly digestable and babies sometimes process it so well, they don't produce much stool. My son used to go about every 5 days. Unless the baby is uncomfortable or painful, enjoy just wet diapers. If baby is painful, go see the doctor right away.

Hi C.,
I agree with the previous writer. Tummy massage is a fantastic thing for baby constipation. I used the 'I love you' method, which I cut off of a web site and pasted below.

It will definitely help the constipation and she'll prpbably also love having your hands stroking her.
Good luck.
D.

- Make sure the room is warm enough (especially if removing baby's clothing)

- Warm your hands by rubbing them together

- Ask baby's permission to start massage by making eye contact and verbally asking out loud "Is it okay if I massage your Tummy?"

You can massage over clothing, but for tummy massage, I would recommend you use a little oil and massage directly on the skin. The warmth of skin to skin contact can be very helpful for constipation as well.

For oil, use all natural vegetable or fruit based oil, something edible. Good choices that you may already have at home include grape seed oil or olive oil. Put a small drop of oil in your hands, about the size of a coin, and rub together to warm. Show baby what you are doing, he'll start to associate the sight and sound with what comes next.

When doing these massage strokes, use a firm but gentle pressure. Always check in with your baby to make sure he likes the massage. Feel free to try a lighter pressure, use a different stroke or just stop if he's done.

To massage your baby's tummy, place warmed hands on tummy at or below the belly button. I know it's a small space, but important to target the bowels. Using flat palms gently stroke downward, using hand over hand, a paddling type motion. Next moving hands in a clockwise motion, (very important to move clockwise – if you go the wrong way, you'll create more issues), stroke baby's tummy in a circle.

Now we'll do a 3-part stroke called I Love You!

With baby laying on the floor facing you: (remember clockwise motion)

1. First trace the letter "I" on baby's left side

2. Next draw an "L" starting on baby's right side, across the top of the tummy and down baby's left side

3. Then draw an upside-down "U"

Finish on the tummy by stroking down with warmed flat hands a few times.

During tummy massage your baby may have a bowel movement or release some air – great! You may wish to leave his diaper off during the massage session. Babies like to have the freedom of movement they gain without a diaper, so if you decide to leave it off, just have something underneath in case of any accidents.

Hi,
Looks like you've had your dr. appt. by now, but my breast fed only baby went for several days without a poop and I was told that was normal. Hope she feels better soon. I gave my son mint tea, fennel, anise seed, etc. That helped him some. Spoon fed it to him.

Maybe her system being so sensitive responded to your diet before your own. Your constipation is a good indicator something in your diet isn't working...Your baby WILL be affected directly.
I know vitamin C is a natural laxative, you know you have taken enough/to much, when you go. If you take Vit C or any other 'helper'she will benefit as well. Good luck!

No bowel movements for a few days usually isn't something to worry about, she's pretty young so you did a good thing to get her to a dr. Both of my son's have gone DAYS without BM's when they were young. One for 6 days and my now 9 mth old actually went 8 days....scared me to death. It just means they are using up all the nutrients you are giving them, that they are growing. If they stop having wet diapers, that's when you need to really worry.

If your gassey and constipated, than she will be too. make sure you're drinking enough water so that your milk is nice and thin and easy for her to digest. If it looks like she's in pain, I usually give my babies a tummy massage (firmly, but not painfully for them) and than I take both of their legs and roll them up over their chest so that their little bum's are sort of sticking up and their legs are almost over their face and let it sit there for a second or two (sometimes they think this is funny) and than sort of stretch them out straight afterwards. Than rub again and continue for a few minutes. This sometimes help move the gas in the belly so that it can get things moving.

I hope tha thelps
good luck at the dr.s
K.

Oh and I have also heard that if you "take their temperature" than that helps to stimulate as well. Oh and I noticed someone else said the same thing about WATCH out when your baby does decide to go pooo.......it will not be pretty!!

hi C., i didn't have time to read the responses but we moved our daughters little legs to get things going. alternating bending one leg at the knee and then the other. i also took daity out of my diet and some other things. good luck.

Hi C.- I looked it up in "baby 411" and it said not to be worried. It said babies take time off from pooping like we do. It said to be prepared for a big one coming and to be concerned with the consistency, color etc. That is what you should worry about. This book is only a resource that I use to help me figure out what is going on, not a definative answer. So, I definately think a trip to the doctor tomorrow is the right thing to do. I would have questions prepared ahead of time so you don't forget to ask anything or voice your concerns. I hope your baby girl feels better soon. Oh, she could be colicky. Is it at the same time everyday?

Hi C.- It is hard to watch them suffer...our little one had a few episoeds too. We got the over the counter suppositories and used them a few times...they work wonderfully and she pooped them right back out shortly after. Our ped said to not overdo them because they can get dependent on the assistance and she recommended prune or pear juice (i like pear better because if they spit up the prune juice is dark and stains). Anyway, hope that helps..its normal and it does pass (no pun intended although we have to look at things light hearted to get through sometimes)...good luck and take care!

My baby has always only gone poop once a day.and he wasn't constipated.

Is she still having wet diapers?

I knew a breastfed baby that went 21 days without a BM! Seriously! and she as fine. :)

Hi C.,

I have a 6mo. old who takes food and formula now but for the first 2mo. I breast fed him. A few times I went through the same thing you're going through so what I did was that I would eat prunes to help me and it would also help him. I also took him to the Dr. because I was worried and didn't want him to be in unneccesary pain and they told me that I could give him apple juice that it would be ok. There's one called Motts for Tots and it's already watered down so there's no need for you to do it. I recommend that you give her some, you can start out with 2 ounces and see how she does from there. I hope your little one gets better and that this can help you out!
Take care,
H.

Hi C., check with your doc first but my little one had the same issues when she was about 8 weeks old and the doc told us to give her 1 tablespoon of Karo syrup in 2 ounces of water. We were told to do it up to 2 times a day. It seemed to do the trick but check with your doc's office first as water cannot be given in "large" amounts to young babies. The glucose in the Karo syrup stimulates the bowels. Supposiitories should really only used as a last resort. Just pushing very gently around your baby's bottom can also stimulate the bowels as well - good luck!

There is a huge range of normal regarding elimination in breastfed babies. Some babies (mine included) go between every feeding, but others go as little as once every 5 days. My friend's daughter was like that and she took her to the doctor twice, and both times told that was just how her body worked. As to the advice of using your finger to stimulate a bm, you can do the same with a rectal thermometer, and it is much smaller than an adult finger. We did this a few times with our children when they were constipated, and it works right away, so the results are immediate. Be prepared for it to happen immediately, it can be quite messy if you aren't prepared. I also know that when my children were babies, lying face down across my lap always helped to ease any belly aches when they were infants while lightly rubbing their backs or tapping their backs. Gripe water always seemed to help my kids, but I don't think it works for everyone. For my daughter, it was a miracle liquid. If you are breastfeeding you may be able to find a food in your diet that is causing her discomfort, but the only way to find out is by doing an elimination diet, which can take time. For me it was garlic and dairy that I had to avoid. It took quite awhile to find that out though. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon.

My daughter had a similar problem, although at 3 weeks she wasn't breastfed. Is she gaining weight alright? I didn't get my milk in, and since she wasn't getting any food she was dehydrated and ended up constipated at 1 week old. She still has constipation issues. We were told to do tummy time, although she hated it, bicycle legs, tummy massage and a warm bath all work. As far as ways to hold her, my doctor showed me a hold. I hope I can explain it. If you are holding her in your left arm, have her head facing (from your point of view) out and to the left. You put her head in the crock of your left arm, with her body resting on your arm. You hold her with your left hand, normally in the crotch area. It applies pressure to her tummy.
Best of luck, and if this continues, feel free to PM me, I've been dealing with this for 16 months now.
PS Congratulations!!!!

What worked for my son was about one ounce of warm water and a warm bath. He had a bowel movement the next day. We did this twice with success. His pediatrician suggested this and it worked well. Also, be prepared for blow outs. As for burping the baby she suggested sitting down, lay the baby on your arm with their head in your hand and feet toward your body, your arm should rest on your leg, then rock the baby side to side gently for about five seconds, and then quickly bring the baby up to your shoulder and pat them on their back and a burp should rise up quickly. This works really well for my son. Wish I would have learned it before his two month appointment.

You could try giving her a baby supository. Call the doctor back and ask what he recommends for at home before you see him. As for your constipation eat some prunes or drink prune juice, it usually works pretty quickly.

I've heard it explained that their digestive systems are still developing at birth and the first few months they have a lot to work out (no pun intended). It can be so hard for the parents, if the infant is in a lot of discomfort, but I think a lot of this just works out as they get older. My 3 month old breast fed baby poops very infrequently, sometimes goes 5 days without. She is gaining weight normally, has plenty of wet diapers (and so is not dehydrated). She has had periods where she had more frequent bowel movements, but then has periods where she has very few, and our doctor has said this is fine, totally normal. I think if you have an appt tomorrow you are fine, unless you see other worrisome signs (fever, dehydration, rash), but sometimes going to the doc is good if it allows you to relax and worry less.
This too shall pass (another poop pun!).

Oh, poor little baby.
My daughter had trouble going as well for a time.
Warm bath, tummy massage, moving the legs...those things can really help. But, I have to say that the only thing that really worked for my little angel was glycerin suppositories. When she was that little, I started with only using half of one. And you kind of have to hold their little cheeks together for a few minutes so it doesn't pop right back out.
18 hours can seem like a long time, but it's not really, in the scheme of things. It can take a while for their little tummies to adjust to things in the "outside world".
Our pediatrician suggested the suppositories and they worked great.

Best wishes!

If she normally has bowel movements more often, like 1-2 times per day, then she is constipated. Some babies do go less often, but the important thing is what was her normal pattern before this episode of seeming discomfort.

I would suggest giving her prune juice or 100% apple juice. I normally don't give juice to my kids, but it really does help when they are constipated.

Hi C.,
Babies can go up to 5 days with no bowel movements and still be fine. 18 hours is not long enough to be worried...UNLESS her stomach is hard, distended, she stops eating, cries uncontrollably and constantly, begins vomiting or having blood from her rectum. That would be signs of a bowel obstruction or other issues. However, babies don't have to poop every day or even every 2 or 3 days. The grunting and moaning are natural as her body begins to learn how to help the pooping process along. She will probably poop in the next few hours and relieve all of your concerns! But if she does show any of those other signs, RUN, don't walk to the doc or the ER.

I had the exact same problem with my son who is now 5. It sounds as if you are breastfeeding and if you are, NO spicy foods at all. I had to start from scratch with my diet. No spices or anything on food,not even pepper or salt, and I had to gradually add different types of food in until I knew that he was okay without getting an upset stomach. Even veggies can cause gas, so watch and research what you are eating and make sure that no spicy or gasey foods are in your diet or your baby girl will have an upset stomach or constipation. For bottle feeding. No formulas with Iron in it. It will cause constipateiond and gas. I learned the hard way with my son when I eventually switched him to formula.

Exercises that we did were taking his legs and moving his hips in circle rotations and extending his feet all the way to his head. So we would circle his hips and then move his feet up to his head and he would eventually relieve some gas or poop. We used Mylicon drops and you have to use it consistently for it to work, I would continue to use it. it helped our son alot. Making sure that she burps after each feeding helps alot too, b/c if they are not burping, they are not relieving gas.

Talk to your peditrician and see what they say. The advice I gave you above is what my Peditrician gave me when experiencing that problem with my son.