Painful Bowel Movements in 5 Month Old?

This is a common occurance for all babies...it's called dyschezia. It happens because babies use their abdomen, face, and every other muscle to stool, as their rectum is not very strong. Once a week, 8 times a day, I tell all my mom's is normal. The only time to worry is if your baby quits eating or the stool is blood red or black like tar
Dr. Mills - pediatrician

1 mom found this helpful

I have three children 6,5,3 and we used Soy Milk with for the kids bowel problems. I has made a positive difference.

I exclusively breastfed both my girls as well, and they always had a BM daily (or at least every other day). I think once a week sounds too infrequent. I would definitely call the pediatrician to see what they think. Good luck!

if after a week her stool is liquid you need to call her Dr. she may not be processing her food properly. I would not let it go her digestive system may be under developed or she may have a food allergy and she is getting it through your milk.

Try using a half a cap ful of karols syrup in her formula this will make her bowels softer and also help her push it through a little better this is what I use by doctors recomandations when he was this age .it does work great .

I think this is fairly normal in breastfed babies. I know our 8 month old son did the same thing before he started eating cereal about a month ago. They aren't constipated, they just have to work to get it out. I really don't think you can do anything to make it easier on her. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I really don't think you can do anything. I thin it's just them working it out. You might try to simethicone gas drops, but they may not help either. After all they haven't gone in a week : ) Hope this helps some.

And to respond to some of the other responses...breastfed babies pooping once a week is totally normal, as is liquid poop. Breastfed pooping is totally different than formula poop. Also karo syrup has a risk of giving a child botulism, so it's not really recommended for constipation. And this baby doesn't have constipation, just hurting when she poops.

My bfed son went through the same thing. I finally realized he had gas built up around the excrement in his belly and the gas bubble hurt. Sometimes he would toot right before "going" and sometimes not till awhile after, but either way, I think that was the problem. My ped seemed to think the same. Maybe some Mylicon or store brand simethicon drops would help?

once a week isn't normal. An adult with a healthy digestive tract should "poo" about 2-3 times per day. If I were you I'd see a dr. There might be something wrong internally. Or she may be allergic to her formula.
A.

Gas can get around loose stool in the intestine and get out where loose stool, they have trouble pushing out. The gas can be painful (as it can be for use when we get bloated). This COULD be it. I would just mention it to the doctor next time you are there for a well checkup.

I think you need to get her to a Dr. It doesn't matter if you're breastfeeding or not... she should be having bowel movements more frequently then once a week. Not to worry you, but she could have something wrong w/ her intestinal tract or digestive system. Good luck!

I had the same issue when I was Bfeeding my first son. I found that giving water in a bottle as a "snack" between feedings did wonders for his BM's.

J.,
I exclusively BF my daughter too....and she only went once a week...and usually got fussy the day before. Infants have to learn how to relax their anal muscles to allow a bowel movement to pass. As long as the stools are soft...she is not constipated. Constipation is dark, hard little pebbles. Usually....I rubbed her belly in a circular motion down towards her legs...and sometimes I would gently push her legs up towards her belly. It seemed to help her have her bowel movement easier. Once she started solids at 6 months....I found infant sweet potatoes to have a laxative effect....and no more fuss when she had a bowel movement anymore. I stayed away from infant rice cereal...because that is known to cause constipation....and I wanted to avoid that! -M.

I agree with the karo syrup. my little girl would constipated like that and her ped told me to pump a bottles worth of milk for her and add a spoon or 2 of the DARK syrup to the milk. it made it sweeter and she sucked it right up. she usually had a good poop with in an hour or 2. if she didn't go with in that time i'd give her another karo bottle the next day and it would definitely do the trick that time.

I have three children and I did this with all of them. If they haven't went to the bathroom in two days then I put a lot of vaseline on a Q-tip or the thermometer and insert it into their bottoms. I keep them relaxed and hold their legs up until they push it out themselves. Usually everything else comes too. Sometimes babies muscles in their rectom aren't completely developed and this helps to start the process. The longer they wait to go the harder the bowel movement appears and the harder it is for them to get it out. I do this process almost weekly with my 8 month old and he does great. Hope this helps...