Infant Constipation - Milpitas,CA

Hi H. - If this were my child, I would look at my diet and see if I needed to balance it in respect to fruit and veg, caffeine etc... You could give her some extra water to drink in a bottle.

You could try some gentle massage of her tummy in a clockwise direction.

Good luck!

How much milk is she getting? BM has a lot of enzymes in it, and if she's taking enough, it should help her go...try to feed her a little more often if you're going by time, or feed on demand...

-J.

hi H., i know people say it is "normal", but it has never seemed right to me. when my baby would go more than 2 days i didn't like it. i massaged my baby's belly with castor oil, most evenings after bathtime. starting at 4 months,he poos once every day when he wakes up. and because i know its coming he poos in a bowl and i don't have poopy diapers to deal with.
good luck,
M.

I think that I would call the advice line and maybe make an appointment, but I believe that it is an issue if the baby goes without a bowel movement for five days, then it is definitely a concern, hope this helps.

I'm sure everything is fine, but I would call your Dr. to be sure. 2 1/2 days is a while for a 2.5 month old to go without pooping. Like us, babies don't always poop everyday, but at 2.5 months I would call.

It is completely normal for brestfed babies to have anywhere from a bowel movement with every feeding to a bowel movement every week. I have had four breast fed babies my first pooped all the time. Starting around two months my second was every other day. My third went as long as eight days. My fourth was a couple times a week. Breastmilk is highly digestable and some babies are bale to absorb so much of it it takes them awhile to produce a bowel movement. Our doctor wasn't concerned until it had been two weeks unless baby was in distress. Just be ready for an explosion when she does poop. My third the time he went eight days we were at the library for storytime and lets just say it wasn't pretty. I had three moms running to the bathroom to get me paper towells etc... as I was afraid to move. I ahd been holding him facing out in front of me in a little shorts outfit and he went up the back an d down both his legs. I had baby poop from my breasts to my toes. The poor, shocked, childless librain didn't knwo weather to laugh or cry. I ended up leaving my older two children at the library with someone while I went hoem to shower and change.

Hello H....

You should be concerned when she's in pain and how she does it ... try to buy "What to expect the first year"... that would definitely help you understand also how it works with babies having BM, because it is not the same as adults or children... sometimes they go for a week , 2 weeks and that doesn't mean they are constipated... My son is almost 13 months and when he was 2 months (breasfed as well) it happened to us the same, my husband was way worried than I was so he called the doctor and they told us to give him 2 tspoon of water with syrup karo whatever, if we wanted but that was normal.. I decided not to and let him be in peace because he wasn't showing any symptoms like pain or discomfort ...

you know... babies are not considered to be constipated unless those infrequent movements are firmly formed or come out in hard pellets, or if they cause pain or bleeding. If your baby's movements are soft and cause no problems after 3 days, 4 days, even a week, don't worry.

hope it helps

Nope. This is totally normal for a breastfed baby. Just--when she does go, be aware that it's likely to overload the diaper!

Hi,

First of all congrats on the little one! My daughter was the same way. I was told by the Dr that some times babies can go up to a full week with out having a bowel movement. My daughter was really bad with constipation until she was 7 months old. When she was about 3 1/2 months my husband and I were told by my cousin that we could use Glycerin suppositories (pediatric Laxative) to lube her a bit. It worked great.. once in a while when my daughter needed some extra help I we would shave it down to a small stick and gently slide it up her rear (only half way) and she would end up passing a bowel movement. Also if you have started your daughter on any cereals I found that Rice, Barley and mixed grain, plugged her up... So I now stick with Oatmeal, and every once in a while I would give her some of the others...

Also I was told By the Dr that you can give them prune juice,,, 2 oz water to 2 oz prune... or apple or White grape juice.. if that doesn't work you can try giving the baby just Prune baby food it she is ready for that... if none of that works You may want to contact your Dr.. but I know that We tried every thing!!!!!! Good luck and let me know if this helps!!!!!

not sure if you have the book what to expect in the first year my friend uses it all the time and uses it as a guide when to call the doctor. I would say to call the doctor they will tell you if it's a concern, and if you need to come in. Does the baby also have a fever?

Go to the safeway and get a bottle of Karole syrup( I might be spelling the syrup wrong) Antway put 2teaspoons of the syrup in with 8oz of water and give to baby (make sure to shake well) and baby should poop in no time. From : a mom of three boys.

My baby girl did the same thing- she went 5 days! I was freaking out, but since she was just breastfed and was eating like normal, the doctor said there was nothing to worry about and not to give her anything. She may be growing and therefore using more of her meals, and she is surely adjusting to life outside the womb. Call your advice nurse for reassurance, but it sounds normal!

My kids both had this issue. The longest without a movement was 1 week, (I had friends who went 2 weeks). My doctor said as long as there were plenty of wet diapers and in good spirits everything should be o.k. I got a little freaked out and put a thermometer tip in her buns and this made her push and go, finally. Tummy massage seems to help. Both my kids were breast fed and from time to time got backed up for up to a week. If she seems healthy she should be fine.

My pedi said that it is not just the time since last poop, but also poop texture combined that make up whether a 2.5 month old baby is constipated. She doesn't typically worry if they are still soft liquidy. 5 days would be the earlier end, and 7 is more typically when she starts being concerned. As previous moms have noted, the decreased frequency shows that your child is absorbing more out of the breastmilk (more efficient). Still, I know that as a mom, I cheer each time he had a bm. I just started an infant massage class with my 3 month old and I swear he frequently has poops right after. There was a time he had 4 poops in less than 24 hours! Good luck!

Kaiser told us that they can go a week without pooping! Now if your little one is in discomfort or pain, call the doctor!

D.

It's normal. They can go up to 10 days without a BM and it's fine. Please don't give her anything (suppository or Karo syrup). If she seems uncomfortable or in pain, call the advice nurse, but it's unusual for a breastfed baby to be constipated.

Its normal at that age. If she is fussy and crying I would call the doc. But if she is still eating fine and having plenty of pee diapers she is ok. My doc said that as they grow older they are digesting their food more and will have less bowel movements. If you are breastfeeding try drinking apple juice or eat something with more fiber, it may help her in your breast milk.
www.helpmomstayhome.com

Hi H., a day or two is no cause for worry but if she goes another day she will need some help. Normally the procedure is to try about 2oz. of water with one teaspoon of Karo syrup mixed in - the sugar stimulates the bowels. If that doesn't work there are infant suppositories but they should only be used if nothing else works. Sometimes just taking off her diaper and touching gently around her anus can cause her to push :) Good luck!

Just like clock work my little baby started with this same pattern at your babies age. But the time between each bowel movment has gotten longer and longer. 11 days last time. I've started writting it on the calender or I'll lose track. Our Doctor says it's normal. She said I could give her a small amount of water or juice. Not to keen on the juice idea. I know it's scary when this first starts happening. When my baby is over due and seeming uncomfortable I give her a bath and tummy massage. We were also told that inserting a thermomitor can help stimulate a movment. Last resort for us is a suppository, sometimes it's the only thing that works. uuggg!! Good luck and congradulations on your little baby.

Hi! I wouldn't worry unless this is a very different pattern from before. Even if it is, her intestines might be maturing and she may not have to go as much. My baby boy only had a bowel movement 2 - 3 times per week for the first 2.5 months, then it increased. One way to try and increase it is for you to take lots of vitamin C, that seemed to increase my baby's bms.

Check with your pediatrician, but if I'm remembering correctly, a breast fed infant can go up to a week without a BM.

I have a 4 month old, and when we visited the pediatrician at his 8 week appt. we were told this could happen and not to worry. The pediatrician said it was normal and said it's possible for him to not have a bowel movement for up to a week or so. I do understand you concern, but I think it's okay. You could call your pediatrician just to make you feel better.

Hi H.,

My 5 month old just went through this! She went 9 days without pooping. She never seemed uncomfortable and I have Kaiser so I knew they would tell me to wait before coming in. She finally had one, all on her own. It was ginormous, but it happened! And she had another one yesterday, which was 3 days after the first. That seemed like a short time in comparison. I agree with the other moms, based on what our pediatrician has said. Don't worry for a week or unless she seems uncomfortable or her tummy seems hard/distended. They say it is extremely rare for exclusively BF babies to get constipated. They also say that when she does poop, if it's pellet-like and hard, that means constipation. If it's liquid-like, it is not. Some babies just burn through all that breastmilk before it can be passed through their system.
Enjoy your little one!

A.

H. be concerned did you call your doctor yet, have you ever been constipated she should have several bowel movements at that age if she's having none I would be concerned, I can't believe she's not acting strangely like crying or extra fussy please call your doctor in the morning it should be a simple fix like a suppository but I would check with your doctor before giving her anything like that you probably won't need to bring her in if money is an issue. I have four children 24,23,16,14, I've seen a lot I have never heard of a baby going a week without a bowel movement and not needing extra help to go.

Totally normal for a breastfed baby. Breastmilk just has very little waste. Her little body will catch up and work out all the kinks in time. My son went about every 10 days until he started solids. I would bring a change of clothes with you when you're out though, just in case!

Don't worry to much unless she looks like she's in pain. both of my children have gone very close to a week (one went 8 days) without a bowel movement. It most likely means she's growing and using EVERY ounce of nourishment up that there is no "waste".

If she is still having normal wet (pee) diapers, I wouldn't worry to much. I would note what day she did have her last BM just so that you don't forget if it goes longer.

If you are concerned (I was scared to death with my first one), call your doctor to confirm, or like I like to do, just so it's in their file.

But I don't think you have anything to worry about....

good luck
K.

Hi H.,

It is not healthy for your baby or anyone to not have bowel movements everyday. That is how the body rids itself from toxins and waste.

Are you drinking enough water? What kind of water are you drinking? Are you getting enough enzymes in your diet? This all matters as you have to get enough for you to be able to supply your baby.

I am a wellness consultant and work with many individuals to educate them how to maintain optimal health and it starts now with your little one.

If you are interested in learning more feel free to email me and I will share.

Have a wonderful weekend.

N. Marie

Both our boys (now 8 & 3.5 yrs) did the same thing at the same age. Just like others have said, our ped. said they were OK & could go abotua week w/o pooping. If she starts to get visibly uncomfortable: fussy, pulling up her legs then she may be constipated & should go back to the dr.

If your baby is exclusively breast-fed it is very common for them to have less frequent bowel movements around this age. My daughter was every 3 days. I would be concerned about constipation if your daughter seems uncomfortable or her bowel movements become smalll and dry (like marbles). Breast milk has very little "waste" in it and they digest most of it...hense less to excrete. You can lay her on her back and move her legs like she was on a bike and pump her legs up and down (like jumping) if you want to help move things along. As long as she is not uncomfortable this is very normal for breast fed babies. Enjoy the poop free days because the poop diapers will be bigger and messier now...

my husband is a chiropractor and he treats constipated babies often. Many new moms have thanked him because a simple gentle manipulation of the baby's spine frees the nerve channels to the bowels and the baby is pooping again. He says that the birth process, the poor structure of infant car seats, etc., can cause the baby's spine to mis-align, and the adjustment re-aligns the spine. No need for unnecessary drugs. We're in Santa Cruz, most likely you are not, but I could refer you to someone depending on where you live.

Unless she has hard stools, it is probably not constipation. My daughter (exclusively breastfed) only had a bowel movement once a week when she was under 6 months old (before starting any food). It was an amazing doozy of a mess that would flow over the top of her diaper and all over everything.

The doctor said it was totally normal. She was like clockwork and we knew to plan for a huge mess on Tuesday afternoons. Talk with your pediatrician if you are really concerned.