baby that cries when pooping

Kellie - posted on 09/16/2012

Wow! I really thought it was just me! Most every nap she wakes up from she is straining either trying to poop or pass gas?!? She's also really hard to get a burp out of! I do infant massage as well as bicycling her legs, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't! She also turns beet red, crus and sometimes spits up all while trying to poop! She likes to nurse/pacifie herself while this is all going on!! She is 7 weeks and strictly breast feed ! Its so hard to endure , I end up in tears half the time as well! I have used milicone, gripe water I heard colic relief is suppose to be god, not just for colicky babies! I'm already a vegetarian do having trouble getting red of anymore food as its limited already! Going to start no dairy today for three weeks! I also started drinking chamomile tea! If anyone else can think of anything else let me know! She doesn't cry for hours just during these episodes! It's the waking up and herself up straining during naps and waking up from naps that's really gettin to me!

Julie - posted on 07/13/2009

As a chiro myself, I agree with Barish about getting adjusted. I also agree with Amy about massage; both are good ways of making the whole experience easier. The other thing that my lactation consultant suggested was trying a week dairy free and see how that changes the experience. Just something else to consider.

Lisa - posted on 07/13/2009

Thank goodness its not just my little girl that does this, she is 8weeks tomorrow. I find it really distressing to watch her cry and go red in pain.

The health visitors and doctors have suggested a little diluted fresh orange juice, rub her tummy clockwise, bycicle her legs and even rub oil into her bum. Still not sure if any really work as she still only goes 2/3 days. but when she does its a good 4wiper poop.

Traci - posted on 07/12/2009

i thought that was normal, making noises and grunting when pooping!

Diana - posted on 07/12/2009

I agree with a lot of the ladies here, as my son did this for the first month and a half/2 months and still does it occasionally (he is a preemie). Pooping and gas are very new sensations for babies, and according to everyone/everything I've seen and heard from, it's not abnormal to have a baby who grunts, turns red or almost purple when straining, and even cries while pooping. We have to remember too that they don't really have control of their abdominal/rectal muscles yet, so sometimes their tummy hurts but they can't just make themselves go like we can-they're still learning. Don't worry about constipation unless the baby hasn't gone in several days and the small amount that is passed is pellet-like and hard. Otherwise, baby is doing ok and will probably have what we call a 4-wipe job sooner or later. lol

As for gas-my ped says that formula fed babies have more tummyaches and gas in general, and that some babies are just gassy no matter what they eat or what their mother eats. She also told us that there is nothing in Mylicon to hurt them, so they can have it as often as they have gas during the day. It actually works well for us to give it as a preventative after every feeding, and Colin rarely has gas that seems to hurt him, as opposed to before doing this, when he would get it a couple of times a day and scream until the drops finally took effect. I haven't found gripe water anywhere yet, but I'm wanting to get some to see if it helps during his fussy time of the day, which is generally about 5 or 6 until around 7 or 7:30.

Amy - posted on 07/12/2009

Hi Wendy, my son (two months) is very grunty as well, and I recently tried baby massage which he really seems to enjoy. If he gets fussy (like he's trying to poop), I've tried gently rubbing his tummy (cup your hands and gently rub downward, or rub in circles) and that relaxes him and seems to help his digestion as well. I've also heard that lots of babies have big poops after going to baby yoga, although that's not something I've tried. Good luck! :)

Barish - posted on 07/12/2009

Hi I had exactly the same issue, my boy would go purple in the face and just scream - midwives said it was normal!!

My mom suggested a chiropractor, not as awful as it sounds, after 3 sessions he is pooping like a trooper, does not even bat at eyelid... All they do is very gentle manipulation, can even be done whilst you are breastfeeding. Theory is that if you child was in the birth canal for a while or had a traumatic birth something could have gotten out of wack. I swear by it, you can actually see the where they are hurting and how much they enjoy the release of pressure as the chiro works on them. If you would like contact details of the fantastic girl that made my life so much easier let me know.

Chanell - posted on 06/29/2009

My little girl grunts and starts to almost cry when she has to poop!! At times I feel just bad for her. I breast feed only. and at our breast feeding support group they said its normal. I also called and asked our Dr and he said that it was normal. As long as they are passing gas, and have a poopy diaper at least every few days that its all normal. I was alittle bit shocked and they also said that most breast feed babies dont get constipated, They also said it should pass when they get a bit older or when they start eatting baby food..

Keela - posted on 06/28/2009

My baby sounds like a man! I tried mylicon, she seemed to cry more, so i dont give it to her anymore.

Rebekah - posted on 06/28/2009

Quoting Courtney:

one book i read suggested that it is such a new sensation for them to feel that they find it distressing and that it should stop as they get a little older.

Agree completely.  I was told this is especially true for breastfed babies and it's part of their development.  My son did it when he was an infant, and my daughter does it now too.

Samantha - posted on 06/27/2009

Is your baby drinking formula? If so, maybe it's constipation. You can try doing the bicycle with the legs to help relieve some pressure. Also, gripe water is a miracle worker when it comes to any pain and discomfort that babies have.

Courtney - posted on 06/27/2009

Hi I have this same problem everyone keeps telling me its just wind but one book i read suggested that it is such a new sensation for them to feel that they find it distressing and that it should stop as they get a little older. My bub is 7 weeks and he is still doing it.