My 10 week old son, who is mainly breastfed but has 1 - 2 4 oz bottles of formula a day, hasn't pooped in 4 days. Normally he goes every day, usually twice, so I'm concerned. I gave him diluted pear juice but that hasn't worked yet (and he didn't like it so it was tough to get even 1 oz into him).
Any suggestions? Is this normal? I have a call into my dr. but I wanted to ask for help now because he is uncomfortable.
THANKS!
Well, last night the flood gates opened. The little guy pooped up a storm. My doc said (as many moms mentioned) that it was OK for him to go up to 7 days without pooping as long as he wasn't uncomfortable. FYI: he said not to give him juice unless the poops were solid and needed to be loosened up. Here's hoping we're back on track! Thanks for all the advice!
Not to worry, they say with any formula in the diet that can happen. Just happened to my 6 wk old (I did abt the same 2 bottles of formula a day and the rest breast)... all I can say is WATCH OUT for when it does come.
good luck!
Hi there~ Try a rubber-gloved fingertip with a little vaseline and rub the anus gently to stimilate it. Or, try baby glycerine suppositories. Gently stimulation with a finger or from the suppository generally will do the trick, and pretty quickly.
Good Luck!
Trae
Check to see if the formula has iron. If so, change to a different formula. Don't give him anything to try to force it unless you speak to your doctor. A suppository is best. Giving him prune or pear juice will cause more discomfort.
If you are worried enough to ask us then you definately should be asking your doctor.
My oldest son had a similar phase for a couple of months. He actually got up to 8-10 days without pooping, but didn't seem bothered or uncomfortable. Our wonderful pediatrician said it was extremely rare for a breast fed baby to be constipated, and not to worry. We didn't change anything except around day 6 we'd start carrying him with an extra blanket wrapped around just in case we needed that "extra layer of protection". And boy did we. There's not a diaper that can hold that much baby poop. If he seems uncomfortable, one doctor said we could try stimulating his bowels with a couple of twirls of a rectal thermometer, but if he's not in discomfort, don't do anything. Our son grew out of it, and other than a couple of very messy diaper changes, it was nothing. Good luck - we played Hot Potato with baby at day 7 :-)
When my son was a baby he had the same problem for a while and my pediatrician suggested to give him Karo syrup and water. I just looked it up since it has been a long time, he's almost 16 yrs old now, and I found this online: http://www.colon-cleanse-constipation.com/karo-syrup-cons...
You should mention it to your pediatrician. I hope it works for your little one, good luck.
Perfectly normal, my doughter ( now 16 month) pooped only once in 3 or 4 days.
You should never give fruit juice to child onder 6 month, so be prepred for some kramps.
Have you tried babymassage, it can stimulate the digestion.
good luck and don't worry.....
Have you tried prunes? You can give him prune baby food and finish with diluted prune juice. He should be pooping within two hours.It worked with my daughter when she was eleven weeks.
Ithink that is ok my son had that problem but I give him some prume juice with water.I also massage his belly that also work and within hours he make a bowel movement.
If the baby has not gone, you should go to the doctor. I know you are to give them water in between feedings to make the stool soft. Also, the use of a small suppository may help your baby. Make sure you check with the doctor.
When my son was born the same thing use to happen to him. I changed his milk and that helped him. With the doctors ok that is.
I would always err on the side of caution and call the doc, even if you just get to talk to a nurse. many peds offices have nurses available just to answer questions.
that being said I used to add just a "splash" of prune juice to the formula. 4 days, he's pretty stopped up. You may want to alter your diet as well. Hope this helps!
Hi M.- Don't even worry about it. Your baby not pooping everyday is totally normal. Breastfed babies often don't poop everyday because they are using your breastmilk so effeciantly to grow,that there is no waste. My little girl poops about every four to six days. The only time you should worry is if you see that his poop is really solid and he's not just doing his normal grunting, but he's really straining-then you can always give him an infant suppository.
Best of Luck,
S.
in addition to the call into the pediatrician.....
try a very warm bath (half body immersion)for a little while
good luck!
You can try Cammomile tea. That was once recommended to me. Just cool it down and give it to him in the bottle. Good luck. I hope he starts pooping again soon.
Hi M.,
I went thru alot of problems with my breastfed son not pooping for 3-4 days a time. My son was having such a hard time with being constipated that I had to take him to his pediatrician a couple times. When he was 4 months old and constipated, his whole face would get bright red and his face would wrinkle up in pain each time I had to lay him on his back.
I was taking prenatal vitamins. I consulted a health food specialist. She looked at the high iron in my prenatal vitamins and recommended that I take a more natural easy to digest iron supplement called Yellow Dock instead. So I started taking an Iron-Free Multi-Vitamin called Nature's Life (Iron Free Mega Pack -can be purchased thru the Vitamin Shop, they might have to order it for you) and the Yellow Dock. She recommended that I take the yellow dock only every other day. After starting the iron-free vitamins and yellow dock. My son didn't have any more problems.
When my son did have problems, the quickest way to ease his constipation was to give him half of an infant suppository. Check with your pediatrican before giving him a suppository. There might be a certain age that they want your son to be before you give him a suppository.
Hi, I'm mom to two-- a pooper and a non-pooper so to speak. Isn't it funny how much we talk about poop as moms? anyway, my 1st pooped every time he nursed. And, my 2nd pooped (at 10wks until solids) maybe once a week. Sometimes, every 10 days. I was assured by every doctor, LC, doula, mom, website, etc. that this was OK. It drove me batty though. So eventually, I started giving her water with diluted acodophalis (pardon spelling). Your not at solids yet but now, I mix acodophalis yogurt with her food. That helps a lot. I think every baby has a different consitution. You may also find www.kellymom.com a great resource, I do. Congrats on you baby!
hi..
i remember my daughter used to have this problem but she would go about 2 days without pooping. And when she would finally poop, her face would get soooooooooo red, her veins on her forehead would bulge! supposedly when breastfed its o.k. if they go every 1 or 2 days... even every three days but i'm not sure about four days. you could give the baby some prune juice.... pear juice wont really activate the poop...
if you're nervous call the dr. and ask to speak to a nurse...
let us know what transpires, hope this helps!
Hi M.,
try giving him a little extra water by adding it to the formula bottles. my son who is 16 months, had a similar problem when formula feed (he was breast feed too) & we added about an ounce or two of water per day. Increase or decrease water until you get the right amount of consistency in the poop. Always start with less then go up. Also, try moving his legs - gentle bicycle moves - to help massage the colon area. & don't worry too much - talk with you doctor, and hope this help.
hi,
try diluted prune juice, that always worked!
good luck
L.
