The Scoop on Poop - Anoka,MN

breastfed babies will go through periods like this when they grow because breastmilk is so perfect, they use every bit of it up in their bodies growing! :) breastmilk is awesome. so just keep doing what you are doing! :)

its highly unlikely that it is constipation, but you would know; baby would be very agitated.
if you feel like it pump those legs in play or something. after a diaper change or whatnot.

otherwise, it sounds like everything is fine, and as long as he is still eating and sleeping and everything else is ok, just enjoy this "vacation" from poop. LOL

My daughter did the exact same thing at around 3 months---and it lasted until about 6 months (or when we started solids). She was E.B. and used to have regular poops---until she hit a mark where she would go DAYS. I would be so concerned...I eventually called the Dr. who assured me that breastfed babies cannot get constipated. Also, at this time they can USE up/metabolize all the breast milk---so there really isn't anything for them to waste. She often went 10 days (or longer) without pooping. Even though I was assured it was okay, I was pretty excited when she finally did poop! She never did seem uncomfortable though! (I remember it like it was yesterday!)

They absorb mostly everything in breast milk and it's very common for them not to have much poop. Has a lot to do with growth spurts as well. If his tummy isnt all distended the chances of him being constipated are slim to none while breastfeeding. His norm on bowel movement will fluctuate a lot within the next 24 mos. My granddaughter went 10 days one time without poop which got my DIL all crazy scared, and then on the 11th day she pooped enough for 3 diapers full and of course only had on one..... it was a mess, she sent pictures, lol!

I had one of those babies as well - I think he went 7 days at the most, and I also have pictures of the end result :-). My other son pooped all the time (also exclusively breastfed) - I guess it's really individual (and it's changed a lot since they were babies). I also read that as long as they are breastfed they don't normally get constipated.

Hi S.,

What Grandma T said is right.

In addition, If I were you, I would lay him on his changing station, open his diaper and check his tummy, the area close to his groin, with your two fingers. Just press lightly to see if it makes him uncomfortable. If not, then every time you change his wet diaper, hold his legs up towards his tummy so that you create a V with his body hinged at his butt and gently press his tummy area to encourage a bowel movement. That might give him the right angle and slight push if you feel he needs to go.

I am going through the exact same thing. Our 3 month old will go 3-4 days with nothing but a lot of toots. The doctors and the books have told us it is perfectly natural for a breast feed baby to wait several days up to 7days without, it means that they are obsorbing more of the food and leading to less poop. You only need to worry if they act like they are in a lot of pain or the poop becomes solid chunks. I know its nerve racking though. Good luck.

The others have it right - breastfed babies don't poop as often. My doula had a baby that regularly went a week. My son was every 2-3 days. I have to say enjoy it while it lasts because eventually they go back to every day :)

I exclusively breastfed my daughter also. At about 4-6 weeks old, she stopped having a BM every day. She went as long as 11 days, & on average 4 days with nothing. But when she went it was quite a bit. Exclusively breastfed babies just don't poop as much. Babies use pretty much everything that is in breastmilk, therefore is no poop being created. Poop is just the waste, excess material, that our body doesn't need. As long as your baby's poop is that mustard yellow color and the consistency of peanut butter, everything should be okay. If my daughter was feeling a little uncomfortable, I would rub her tummy and give her a nice warm bath. I also gave her some mylicon sometimes to ease the discomfort. My Dr. was never concerned. He told me everything that I just said.