No bowel movements

Christine - posted on 08/18/2009

I guess I NEED to reply that it should have read NEXT to impossible, :P It is incrediby rare, though. If you are truly concerned, post originator, then take benefiber and it will go through your breastmilk. Watch out, though. It will be messy.

Elizabeth - posted on 08/17/2009

i've been told that anything up to 10days without a bowel motion can be normal for breast fed babies. my mum reckons that when i was a baby, i went through a phase of only pooping at about 10pm on thursdays. and woe betide any nappy that got in the way!
our little one seems to sometimes be gassy and *wanting* to poop without success - i either feed her, or give her my little finger to suck. the sucking action seems to stimulate her gastrointestinal tract and usually induces a bowel motion. then again, putting on a new nappy often does as well, but i think that's just Murphy's Law!

Kate - posted on 08/17/2009

Amber, I just need to reply to Christine's comment as it IS possible for an exclusively breastfed baby to be constipated. (Although it is uncommon) I had this problem with my second child, We tried everything suggested my by doctor and health visitor, but nothing worked. In the end, I had to drink prune juice and take natural laxatives so they would go through my breastmilk, for my son. He was almost 6 months old before he started a regular routine with his bowels.

Tina - posted on 08/17/2009

Hi all.. Thank you for all your postings. They really help. I have a premie who does get constipated. It was suggested to me by my dr to put some rice cereal in her breastmilk (bottle from pumping obviously) to help with her reflux. She forgot to tell me she might get constipated from it. She is now in her second bout of constipation. I have tried the 2oz of apple juice to 2 oz water and also a drop or two of corn syrup in her milk/formula bottles. She does seem to be in a bit of pain as the crying is followed by short relief from gas release. What do I do to help with the pain? I do also try Mylocon.

Amber - posted on 08/17/2009

Thank you all!! Very helpful!

Kimberly - posted on 08/10/2009

there are times that your breastmilk so pure that the baby doesnt have any waste from it, dont worry if the baby isnt distressed, it will happen and just watch it

Amber - posted on 08/10/2009

just something to add to all the other girls i used with my daughter when she because constipated she would go 3 days and get cranky so at first i used baby supositories (sp) and that would work good but it also made her unconfortable until she pooped so i switched to giving her a lil bit of prunes in her cereal. your baby might not be on cereal yet but i would imagine that the prune juice would work just as well.

just a few more ideas to add to the others but like they said it is normal the only reason i gave my daughter suppositories is because she would become cranky and as soon as she pooped she would be back to her normal sunny self.

Ciera - posted on 08/10/2009

its perfectly fine if she does not seem in any pain. my nephew is a year old and he only poops once maybe every 4 days. and he has been like that since birth.

Jeni - posted on 08/10/2009

I know it's hard not to worry but it's normal. My daughter did the same thing! And my dr told me not to worry that she could even go up to a week without pooping- and my daughter did do that. The only thing that kept me from worrying about was hearing from other moms that it was normal so I hope that these messages with make you feel better. I also found out that Breastfed babies can go either way- be very poopy or like our little ones not poopy at all. Don't worry soon she'll be giving you so many poopy diapers you won't be able to keep count. Hope this makes you feel better and get some peace on the subject.

Christine - posted on 08/10/2009

You are doing all the right things!! It is impossible for an exclusively breast-fed baby to become constipated. Breastmilk is incredibly digestible (it's the only food that nature ever meant for your infant to have!!) by your baby and there is little to no waste when it comes to breastmilk poops. Especially if mom has a very well balanced diet. If she is passing gas I'd say she is totally fine, and having plenty of wet diapers. You were right to be concerned!



Be aware that when you do start solids, breast fed babies are more likely than formula fed babies to become constipated in the very beginning as their tummy's are used to the easy digestion of breastmilk.

Lisa - posted on 08/10/2009

Totally normal. Don't worry. Newborns can poop everyday, several times a day, or once a week. I went through the same thing with my daughter 2 years ago and my soon 2 months ago. Unless it becomes hard, like marbles, or there is blood or she is screaming!! (and I mean like you have never heard before) while pooping, don't worry!!! It's hard not to, but honestly, she will poop when she is ready. It could be a really bad diaper and it might be thicker, but she'll poop! Good Luck!

Topaz - posted on 08/10/2009

my daughter did the same...my dr told me to try diluted apple juice... it helped, then we hit another stretch with no poop and the juice didnt help.. he then told me to try diluted prine juice- within a matter of minutes she pooped... you can also try warm baths (its supposed to help relax them which will then cause them to relax and have a bowel movement or you can try rectal stimulation... get a thermometer with some lubricant of course and insert into her rectum.. not too far!!! it will stimulate a bowel movement also..