Breastfed babies and Pooping

Missy - posted on 01/23/2009

I know some breastfed babies that only pooped every 10 days or so.  My daughter went five or six days without pooping until she was 4 or 5 months old.  After that she'd go 3 or 4 times a day and many diaper blowouts.  If your baby is in pain the thermometer trick works really well.  Going days without pooping is really normal in breastfed babies.

Miranda - posted on 01/23/2009

Mandy, I'm not talking about a child becoming dependent after just a couple times. But, it's a fact that if that technique is used TOO OFTEN that it can cause a child to become dependent. That's why I put "EVERYTIME" in quotation marks. Using that technique when necessary a few times is more than fine & a GREAT suggestion. I was just stating the fact that babies can become dependent on that 'trigger" if it's overly used.

Mandy - posted on 01/23/2009

These are all great tips! but I don't agree with your baby being dependent on the thermometer tactic....as I said before I mentioned that she will go eventually but it it persists you can try this..once babys fully develop their sphincter muscle there is no need for anything other then maybe prunes to help with constipation

Miranda - posted on 01/23/2009

2 days is NOTHING with a breastfed baby. My daughter would go (on average) 5 days between BM. The reason is, they're actually USING most of what they're taking in. There's not as much waste to be put out as with formula.

As long as she's not in pain & her tummy isn't distended, she's fine.

Don't try the thermometer thing until at least 4-5 days. Reason being, if you do it EVERYTIME she goes a couple days without a BM, she'll become dependent on the thermometer to trigger things.

I know how hard it is not to worry. But, really...there is absolutely no reason to worry at this point. If she gets to 5 or 6 days, then do the thermometer thing. If that doesn't work, call the pedi. There's a medication they can give you to give her to help.

Good luck...and try not to worry! Just be thankful you have fewer nasty diapers to change right now!

Christine - posted on 01/23/2009

You don't have to worry about it at all.  Babies poop every day several times a day for about the first month.  From there on, they could poop once every 5 days and it's completely normal.  The nurse at your pediatricians office told you correct- if it goes past i'd say call the 6th day, but don't worry till they tell you that you should.  At first their stomachs can't hold a whole lot, and typically they take in more foremilk which is way less caloric and empties into the intestines almost as fast as it hits the stomach (being that they are so small).  As they baby gets bigger, his/her stomach obviously grows as well, and then they begin taking in more of the fatty hind-milk which has more calories, is much more fatty a rich which takes longer to digest- which isn't so bad, a well fed baby is a happy, healthy, growing baby, and makes for a happy mommy too.  Just know that she's ok, and unless she is experiencing true discomfort, just give her time, she'll let it out... believe me... she'll let it ALL out!

Amanda - posted on 01/23/2009

Thank you so much Mandy!

Mandy - posted on 01/23/2009

Quoting Mandy:

My daughter wasn't breastfeed but would go a few days without going and the hard part is you need to try not to worry about it, but I know thats hard. a warm blanket from the dryer..warm bath, the legs to stomach is good place her facing down on knees and roll her back and forth..sometimes I would take a thermometer (the Vicks one is great cause the thermeter part is flexible) I would put vaseline and tip and lift legs up with one hand and place thermometer in bottom as if taking temp....sometimes this helps as babies have a hard time using their sphincter muscle as it is still developing and it is easier for them to push when they have something to push against.  Again try not to worry you are doing everything right and if the Dr is ok with it just wait it out for a few more days.

you do not need to place thermometer in very far only the grey part needs to go in..ust enough for them to feel it and push against...some people don't like to do this, I am a nurse and am comfortable with it so if you are not do not do it.  As well Taking a baby's temp rectally is the BEST and most accurate form.

Mandy - posted on 01/23/2009

Quoting Mandy:

My daughter wasn't breastfeed but would go a few days without going and the hard part is you need to try not to worry about it, but I know thats hard. a warm blanket from the dryer..warm bath, the legs to stomach is good place her facing down on knees and roll her back and forth..sometimes I would take a thermometer (the Vicks one is great cause the thermeter part is flexible) I would put vaseline and tip and lift legs up with one hand and place thermometer in bottom as if taking temp....sometimes this helps as babies have a hard time using their sphincter muscle as it is still developing and it is easier for them to push when they have something to push against.  Again try not to worry you are doing everything right and if the Dr is ok with it just wait it out for a few more days.

you do not need to place thermometer in very far only the grey part needs to go in..ust enough for them to feel it and push against...some people don't like to do this, I am a nurse and am comfortable with it so if you are not do not do it.  As well Taking a baby's temp rectally is the BEST and most accurate form.

Mandy - posted on 01/23/2009

My daughter wasn't breastfeed but would go a few days without going and the hard part is you need to try not to worry about it, but I know thats hard. a warm blanket from the dryer..warm bath, the legs to stomach is good place her facing down on knees and roll her back and forth..sometimes I would take a thermometer (the Vicks one is great cause the thermeter part is flexible) I would put vaseline and tip and lift legs up with one hand and place thermometer in bottom as if taking temp....sometimes this helps as babies have a hard time using their sphincter muscle as it is still developing and it is easier for them to push when they have something to push against.  Again try not to worry you are doing everything right and if the Dr is ok with it just wait it out for a few more days.