Breastfed 10 Week Old Has Not Pooped!

I'm on my 2nd breast fed baby and as long as the baby is eating basically as always and peeing regularly I wouldn't stress it. Especially if when he does poop it looks pretty much like it has all along. Breastmilk pretty much guarantees he won't have constipation issues. - Caveat, if he's getting an iron or other vitamin supplement that might cause some constipation, especially iron.

That is very normal. My son who is breastfed only only poops once a week. There tends to be lest "waste" from breastmilk.

Yes, it's normal. Breastfed babies can poop several times a day or just once or twice a week. If he's acting like he's in pain or it goes on much longer call the doctor, but otherwise, just wait it out. One thing my peditrician told us to do was to take his temperature rectally, as this can make them go. Just watch out for when he finally does go, it will probably be a blow-out!

I think my son was a little older than 10 weeks, but about 3 months or so he started pooping about once a week or so (sometimes life every 10 days). It was a beautiful, but short-lived period. The lactation consultant that I worked with said that constipation is NOT related to how often they poop, but instead the type of poop (it is hard, are they straining) and that exclusively breastfed babies are almost never constipated. Does he seem unhappy or uncomfortable? I will warn you, when my son did go...it was a huge, huge mess!

if he stops eatin g well and you don't feel his bowls moving when he eats take him in as soon as possible for an emnema...basically a reduction in eating is not good. We had this issue with our third at 4 weeks. she ended up with an enema and wow she was holding a lot of $#*&...lol

It is not unusual for Breastfed babies not to poop everyday, but to go 4 days is concerning. I am sorry to frighten you, I am sure it is not a huge deal but please call the baby's Doctor today.

Good Luck.

We went through this from about 1 month until I stopped breastfeeding. My son would go through phases where he would go every day for a couple weeks then have a span of up to 5 days with no poop. For other reasons (not just the lack of poop) we ended up seeing a pediatric GI specialist at Children's Hospital and discussed this with them. They said it was very common for breastfed babies to go up to a week without a BM. They were not concerned at all about this. Once we started solids and formula things really regulated themselves. I would consult with your pediatrician, but don't worry too much right now. You will look back fondly at days with no poop :)

As long as he seems comfortable and his poops aren't hard when they do finally show up, it's probably normal. Lots of breastfed babies have a phase of infrequent pooping at some point in infancy. Both of mine had about a month of only pooping once a week...I enjoyed the break from messy diapers while it lasted! But as always, you know your baby best and if you have a concern just give your doc/nurse a call.

You should get him checked that he is feeding properly. There are specialists in Framingham and they weigh the baby to the nearest gram before and after feeding.

Hi B.,

Same thing happend with my daughter. My husband and I didn't realize it was pretty normal for the BM rate to change so drastically (our daughter used to go multiple times a day, then she went a 5 day stretch and it freaked us out) and we did the rectal thermometer thing. She was very calm and it didn't seem to bother her at all. She went a lot though when we pulled the thermometer out! And it came out with force so be prepared if you choose to do it. We only did it once and now we just let her poop in her own time since we realize it is normal. Hang in there and remember; everything is just a phase.

Totally normal! This used to freak me out too with our son, but the pediatrician explained that breastmilk has no "fillers" and therefore minimal "waste". It's not abnormal for them to go for long periods of time (as long as a week) w/o a BM. He said not to worry as long as there were still wet diapers and the baby wasn't straining. Apparently, babies aren't considered "constipated" until it's been at least a week!

i would call your pediatrician for sure.

The idea that breastfed babies will poop everyday is a long held myth. Breastfed babies can go a week without pooping and it is completely normal. It just means your milk is well suited to your child and the vast majority of it is completely absorbed.

My son used to go 5 to 7 days without pooping when he was about 2 months old till he was 4 months old.

I wouldn't worry too much. Breastfed babies can go up to a week without pooping, and it's normal! Breastmilk is so easily absorbed, that usually there is very little left over for baby to poop out. My son, who is currently 4.5 months and excusively breastfed, used to poop after every feeding. Then all of the sudden, he stopped pooping. We got on a stretch where he would poop once a week (always on a Saturday morning...LOL). Lately, he has been pooping every 3 - 5 days.

If you are really concerned, give your pediatrician a call. I'll bet they will tell you it's normal. As long as he is feeding normally and having wet diapers, everything is probably A-OK. =)

If you want him to poop, eat graham crackers or prunes. It's been 40 years, and I still remember that one! Whoa, Nellie!

My daughter was like that! Her doctor said not to worry until it was a full week. I did try tummy massage and "bicycle legs" for her. Be sure to call the pediatrician for advice, but it can be "normal."

How has he been acting? Is he alert, happy? Engaging? If he doesn't seem uncomfortable, then he's fine. Dr. Jack Newman said the longest he's seen a breastfed baby go without pooping is 30 days!!! If you're not familiar with him, he's THE authority on breastfeeding! http://www.drjacknewman.com

I would call the pedi too or call the emergency dept to speak to a nurse. She would have the best advice. Are you getting 6 wet diapers a day? GL

I had twins 2 months early and delivered milk to the Nicu for a month and a half. One of my babies pooped at first once a day but when he was a month old even suppositories wouldnt work very well. Soon after that he sortof crashed. They had to send him to a higher level nursery to run tests. come to find out he had an intestinal infection it wasnt what they call NECK but it was bad enough where they had to put him on oxygen, antibiotics, and stop feedings. it was very scary he lost weight but they wouldnt have caught it without the tests and imaging. if it becomes worse or he becomes lethargic i would take him to an ER

Normal! My son once went 8 days without a poop. I was so worried. The nurse said not to worry and that the body uses up all the breastmilk so there isn't much waste. But, my younger son would poop multiple times a day and he was breastfed too. I guess every little body is different!

This happened to my LO a few wks ago (she is 11 weeks). May want to give ped a call, mine did finally poop, and how, at 4 days but that was about the limit everyone commented on.