Question About Breast Fed Baby

Yes. My son went through this for several months until I started baby food at 6 months. I was worried but they said it was normal. My daughter never did it so it was new to me.

Yep, it's normal. I took my daughter to the doctor on the 9th day and I think the pediatrician really wanted to laugh at me because she thought I should have known better. Good luck!

Breast-fed babies don't have as many BMs, it's true, because they get more "quality" stuff -- not as much waste. Is the baby acting normal? I wouldn't worry yet.

This from family.go.com:

How Often Should Your Baby Poop?

An easy rule to follow: If your baby's happy and acting normally, he's pooping the right number of times. This might mean explosive bowel movements ("projectile poopy") every 15 minutes, or no poop for over a week (beware when it finally comes).

Some babies poop in their sleep, some as they nurse. Some worry their parents for weeks and then have five explosive super-stinky poops in half an hour (oh joy!). As your baby's intestines mature, he will probably poop less frequently. Try not to get hung up on your baby having "regular" bowel movements. It's worth repeating again: As long as he seems happy, he's pooping the number of times he needs to.

Is he or she fussy at all?
My doctor said some breastfed babies only go once a week, But If he or she is uncomfortable, I would help him out.

Yes. I've heard of breastfed babies going up to 10 days without a bm. Giving a little apple juice in a bottle will not undo the breastfeeding if you feel he is straining, bloated, uncomfortable or passing a lot of gas that seems painful. Work his/her legs like bicycle movements and place him/her on their belly. We get up and walk around which stimulates our bowels to move, they are laying and sitting supported for most of their day at that time so sometimes they need a little exercise to help things along. My 6 1/2 month old went stretches like that and is also exclusively breastfed. Even now that she is also eating a variety of homemade baby food like fruits, veggies and cereals, she still goes a few days sometimes without one. The reason for all this is that their little bodies use the breastmilk because it is the perfect food for the and their is little to no waste except urine. Kudos to you for doing the best for your little one. Keep up the good work and if he/she is a supported sitter try some cereals, solids got really well with breastfed babies because they get the flavors of different foods from your milk. (Sorry about the extra info, I just LOVE breastfeeding moms like me.)

My recent experience with my 1 month old daughter, is that is is normal for a breastfed baby to go an entire week and to only have 1 bowel movement. The nurse told me that almost everything in breastmilk is digested and there isn't much left over as waste. She told me not to be concerned unless my daughter looked like she was constipated. (in pain, writhing, kicking legs, crying, etc) But as a precaution, you could always call your pediatrician and ask the nurse line. I have also found that when she does go after an entire week....it's usually an entire weeks worth. :) We call them "explosions" around our house.

That happened with my son. Same scenario. He finally went after 10 days...his pediatrician said that he was just using up all that he was getting, rather than eliminating it.

I understand your concern!

Best wishes.

It is normal for it to be as infrequent as once a week for a totaly breastfed baby. 8 days is a long time though so you could try stimulating the anus with a q-tip covered in vasoline or some lubricate. Just the edge and barely inside. It is just to try and stimulate things. You might really watch your water intake as this can help in the future. You might try and contact La Lache or look up a La Lache league webiste for more ideas or information. I nursed all 11 of my kids and sometimes it was a week but they were healthy and it is normal. Hope that helps!

Sincerely,
K. B

Totally normal! Breastfed babies can go as long as 14 days without one. Check out kellymom.com for more information. And carry a change of outfit for her when she does go, because it'll probably be a blowout. :)

I went through the same thing with my first child. I took him to the doctor just to check things out. She gave me suggestions to help him get some movement if he was uncomfortable, but assured me that it is normal with breastfed babies. She told me that breastmilk has more nutrition absorbed by their systems, and therefore less waste (as opposed to formula). If you are concerned take your child to the pediatrician, especially if your child is uncomfortable.

Yes. Right at 4 months, the baby is using more of the milk and does not have very much to waste. Just to make sure, when you start introducing food at 6 months, include plenty of "P" foods, such as Pears and Prunes along with watered-down apple and prune juice. If, however, this makes you uncomfortable, check with your pediatrician.

Ms. Mary Kay
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Mother of 10.5 month breast-fed baby

My baby went almost 2 weeks without a bowel when he was a few months old. It turned out to be fine. Some children use absolutely everything that is in the breast milk and therefore have no waste. As long as there are the right amount of wet diapers, I wouldn't worry about it. Hope this helps!

I have a 3 year old, 17 mo old, and 3 mo old and all three of them at one time or another had such an issue. I don't think it was 8 days ever but that may still be in the realm of normal for some babies. If your baby is eating, active, happy I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe he/she is in a growth spurt and is using more of the energy from the milk than previously and therefore there is less to come out. If he/she is more fussy, kicking, acting like there are gas issues then.... The trick I have learned is to take their temperature / put pressure on the anal area. Sounds gross but having something cross that sphincter has helped stimulate a BM within minutes every time one of mine has had an issue.
My poor 2 mo old this Christmas was having her first bout of not having a BM daily... it had been 3 and a half days and she suddenly was very fussy... wasn't time for her to nurse but I offered anyway, she tried but then was still all upset, kicking/thrashing, throwing a complete fit. I decided to try to thermometer trick. Held it in there for a while and then a few minutes later, massive BM and then cooing, smiling, happier than she'd been in days.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

That happened to my daughter too. I read in the book "Caring For Your Baby And Young Child" that "some breastfed babies have only one bowel movement a week and still are normal. This happens because breastmilk leaves very little solid waste to be eliminated from the child's digestive system. Thus, infrequent stools are not a sign of constipation and should not be considered a problem as long as the stools are soft-no firmer than peanut butter- and your infant is otherwise normal, gaining weight steadily, and nursing regularly." So just keep an eye on your baby. When my daughter went through that I would look out for signs of irritability, abnormally large stomach, and/or changes in appetite. If you are still concerned, take her to the doctor. In my situation my daughter finally had a bowel movement on day nine, and boy was it a big one! I hope this eases your mind.

No, that is not normal for anyone. I don't care how old they are. Breast milk is easier to digest than anything you can give your baby. Your baby should have at least one BM a day if not more. With that said, would suggest you take your baby to see a Dr.

Best wishes

Y.

I would say no. Breastfeed babies normally have a bowl movement with every feeding. I would call your child's dr and ask them about this. Have you changed your eating habits?
Something that you have eat could have upset the babies tummy.I would check with the Dr. just to be safe.
Good luck

It can be normal...but it doesn't hurt to check with the pediatrician. My son had a GI problem that was caught at age 9 months only because I relied on my intuition and went to see a doctor for reassurance. Your doctor will give you what timeline they accept as normal for your child and you will then have peace of mind!

Absolutely not. Baby needs something to help it go. Take it to a doctor now!

Apparently so. My neighbor has a 2 1/2 month old that is going thru the same thing. She asked her pediatrician and he said yep, very normal. I'll tell you one thing, she passes gas and burps like a man though! :) If your concerned, call the doctor.

Dear C.,
If i hadn't gone to the restroom for 8 days i would be taking laxatives. I don't that it is healthy for the baby. I think you should call your childs doctor or a pharmacist and see what you can do to get you baby to have a bowel movement. You could also give the baby some baby prune juice but not alot or the baby will get the squirts. But you should probably try calling the doctor first.

My Dr said as long as the child is EXCLUSIVELY breastfed not to worry. My son went 12 days. But he did seem uncomfortable and irritable so i used manual stimulation (put a wipe to his rectum hole and rubbed in a circular motion.) Well that got him going and going and going.. Needless to say his diaper got full under him and I had to "Catch" his poop in my hand while we were going for diaper #3.. That was the moment my husband turned to me and said "I think your officially a Mom" The things we do for our kids.. Just had to share the funny story and tell you that sometimes their bowels get lazy and it helps to help them.. BTW my son was 4 mos old.. Good Luck!!