New Baby Won't Go #2

Hi M.,
My son had trouble going when we first brought him home and the doctor told us to give him Gerber pear juice mixed with water (1 ounce juice, 1 ounce water). It worked very well. We gave it to him every morning for 2 weeks and we have not had a problem since. Buy the juice that comes in a 4 pack since you are using so little. The big jar only lasts a week after being open. Try it and good luck!

Call the babies doctor. You might have to stimulate her to move her bowels. I know it sounds bad, but it really works.

I had the same problem with my daughter. I was told by a RN that it was completely normal for a strictly breastfed baby to not go for up to a week. As long as it's not thicker then the consistency of peanut butter, she's fine. Good luck.

Hi M.,

I am also a new mom, breastfeeding a 3 week old. Because I am a bookworm, I read all sorts of things before having Meg about breast feeding. I have not experienced, yet, what you are describing with your daughter, but the La Leche League book on breast feeding says this is normal for exclusively breast fed babies. I was also told this last week from a friend who has a 3 month old boy who was only going #2 once a week. Her pediatrician said that breast milk is used very efficiently by the body and therefore leaves little to be expelled. Also, breastfed babies will not get constipation; so there is no worry of that.

Gas will make anyone cranky and it could be a result of something you are eating that is not agreeing with the baby. I am also having this problem at the moment. At the suggestion of a pamphlet on breast feeding from the hospital I am keeping track of everything I eat or drink as well as when Meg is fussy. On the left side of the paper I write the time and everything I put in my mouth. On the right side I write the time Meg eats and the times she is crying. By doing this I may be able to see if there is something I'm eating that is affecting her. It says I may need to go back 2 meals to see anything. Citrus fruits, garlic, peppers, spicey food, and chocolate are very common "problem foods." I'm wondering if it is kiwi or chocolate. I had no idea either of these might cause gas.

You might want to contact a La Leche League leader in your area. They are very knowledgeable on everything related to breast feeding and more than willing to help at any time. You can find them by going to their website http://www.lalecheleague.org/ click "find a LLL near you."

I hope you soon will experience primarily peaceful nights and days.

Blessings on You and Baby Girl,
D. B

M.

My strictly breastfed daughter went 11-16 days between each of her bowel movements (starting around your daughter's age), but when they came they were explosive and generally required a bath after. Whereas my son had a smaller bowel movement with most every diaper change. Every baby is different. The nurse told me that both cases are perfectly normal. Breastmilk is so perfectly compatible with baby's digestive system that they tend to break it all up and absorb the majority of it so that there is nothing to excrete. Also, breastmilk is a natural laxative, so breastfed babies almost never become constipated. When she does have a bowel movement, is it firm and well formed or the seedy mustard type. If it is firm, then she may very well be one of the rare exceptions. If this is the case, some Gerber prune juice diluted with water (about 2 oz, every other day) should help to get things going again. The nurse also said that their record was 26 days. So you still have a ways to go before you worry about that part. As for the painful gas, try mylicon drops or doing a bicycle motion with her legs as she lies on her back. Keep track of your diet also, it may have been something you ate. Give your doctor a call to ease your mind. That is what they are there for.

Hi my doctor told me an ounce of pear juice and two onces of water. I worked and boy was he happy (me too). I also used Grip Water I got it at whole Foods but alot of organic places carry it. It has fennel seed in it and that helps with digestion. I swear by this stuff!!

M.,
Congrats on the breastfeeding! As far as the pooping, she's perfectly normal. Both of my boys settled into a routine around 3 months where they'd only go once or twice a week. I can always tell when Jake (5 months) is about to go, because his gas is stinky enough to clear a room. Just fair warning, when they build it up for a few days, it'll come up the back, out the legs and up the front.

hi, M.. i have friends whose babies went up to 8 days without pooing. as long as they are breastfed, they are fine. i think it's nearly impossible to constipate on the stuff. it has a very laxative effect. in fact, breastfed baby poop is quite slushy and will blow out the backsides of diapers.

now, if she were formula fed to any extent, all bets are off. and watching a constipated baby strain herself is one of the most heartbreaking things for a mom (well early heartbreaks). mine was breastfed, but once weened, his system wasn't too happy about it for a while.

congrats on nursing your baby. it's not as easy as you would think for most moms.

M.,
My baby girl is 11 months (almost a year!) and until she started getting food she only went once a week or so. (she's been breastfed this whole time). DON'T PANIC! :P The bicycle exercise seemed to help, but she will go when she's ready. I always thought it was around the time she was going thru a growth spurt that she would poop less. She seemed to eat more at those times too... Trust me, it will happen! and when it does be prepared! She usually pooped while we were out too!
Good Luck!!
Jess

hi M.,

My first was like that. When that happened my peditrician told me to dilute an oz of prune juice in a bottle and I would say within an hour she gave me a big poopy mess.

good luck.

B.

This sounds normal for many breastfed babies. My daughter didn't have a bowel movement for 10 days once (she was 4-5 months old)! I would say just keep doing what you're doing and hopefully she'll "go" soon!

Please don't waste time asking for advice here, This potentially could be a serious problem.

Please take your baby to her doctor or at the VERY LEAST, please call your doctor's office.

I pray that everything is okay with your baby but you must not ignore this.

Call your Dr. breast fed babies don't usually miss messy diapers. It could be a sign of more unpleasant issues so don't hesitate to get your Dr.'s opinion. My nephew went a few days without a movement & was spitting up more than usual & come to find out he had a collapsed intestine. (more common in boys but not unheard of in girls)
Never feel that you are doing anything wrong by calling your Dr for advice. That is what they are there for. You'll never regret it, even if they "pick on you" for being an over protective mom. It is always better to have a clean evaluation than to be wondering all night long.

Our pediatrician told us to mix some Clear Karo Syrup with water(1 part syrup to 3 parts water) That always helped both of my daughters go and relieved the gas

Hi M....
I went through the same thing with my daughter! I know that it was really hard for me to see sammie in discomfort. There were a few things that I tried that seemed to help.
*Warm compresses on her tummy and lower back to relax her.
*I really had to watch what i ate. Greasy food, spicy food, too much dairy can really bother them.
*Gripe water.
Good luck...I hope this helps!!

Hi! My baby boy just had this problem. He is only 11 days old and hadn't gone #2 in 3 days. I took him to the Dr. today for a routine visit and the Dr. said he could go up to 5 days without passing a stool. Only he is mostly formula fed. When I talked to an after hours nurse the other night, she said that if the baby was passing gas, it meant his gastro-intestinal track is working and that stool would most likely come on it's own (and it did the next day!). The Dr. told me that they sometimes advise that the baby drink A LITTLE prune juice and this helps. But before you do anything, call your daughter's pediatrician and ask what they suggest. Hope baby girl feels better soon. :)

M.,
Both my boys were like that. Their doctor suggested putting a rectal thermometer slightly up the bum and VERY gently wiggle it. Sure enough it started coming out. As they got older, I would put some dark Karo syrup in their formula and that worked great.

Amanda P is right, this is QUITE normal for a breastfed baby...when she does go...there will be a LOT...expect more of this pattern at this age!!
J. (Postpartum Doula)

Hi M.! Congratulations!

Although it could be perfectly normal for your baby who is breastfed to not poop, I would personally give the pediatrician a call to ensure there is nothing else going on.

Good luck.
S.

My son was the same way for a long time, probably about six months. He was going #2 only once a week and it was like a rock. The poor little buggah! Our dr. said to try giving him a little apple juice. Not too much just about one or two ounces. He was also a breastfed baby. Although this may seem weird that your little one is only going once or twice a week, its really not that bad for them. Just think of it as a few less dirty diapers and less time spent at the changing table. Hope this helps!

You'll probably have to use some kind of glycerin suppository. There may be something in your diet keeping you baby from going. Either call the pharmacist or pediatrician. My son had to use the suppositories, but he was also 6 months old. Good Luck!

give her a little mineral oil. she should b ok. also massage some vaseline in and around her butthole. she may just not have enough lubrication. I had that problem with my first born. This is what seemed to help with him. If it continues for another 2 days go to the store and get the children's enema. use half of the suppository.

Hi M..

My son Om, is 11 weeks old. He had a similar problem as well. He went 5 days without pooping and on the 6th day, boy oh boy did he make up for it. Breast fed babies utilize the milk so well that they won't need to poop. I kept reading this and even my pediatrcian reassured me with this fact. However, just for my sanity I did do the warm compresses, the bicycle movement with his legs, and gripe water. I give him gripe water everyday actually now because I have started to supplement with formula. He poops about once a day if not every other day. Don't worry, it is normal. He'll poop anyday now, just be ready. Good luck.

Hi M.,

Congratulations on your new baby! I called my pediatrician about the very same thing when my daughter hadn't gone in a few days. He didn't seem concerned but said to call if she hadn't gone for a week. Fortunately, I didn't have to call. Mylicon drops worked wonders for my little one's gas.

Good luck.

J. O.

you need to make sure you contact your pediatrician immediately. You want to make sure there is no bowel obstruction.