Constipated?

[MommySarah986]

Ds used to poop several times a day, but now he hasn't pooped in 2 straight days. Is this normal? I'm kind of getting worried. He does seem to be pushing and is very gassy. I've been giving him gas drops, gripe water, moving his legs like a bicycle and even put a thermometer in his booty but he still isn't going. He just seems so uncomfortable, I feel so bad for my little man. He is 10 weeks by the way. Can anyone help?

[gdiamante]

Not pooping is not constipation. Passing hard dry pellets is. At this age, they start stretching out the time between poops. Group record is 20 days of no poop. Normal breastfed blowout at the end.

Don't put anything in his butt again, OK? Not only due to the risk of damage but also because you don't want him dependent on anything to make him poop. If his belly's not hard, then you're OK and this is a normal transition.

[mostlymaydays]

By the time each of my 4 breastfed babies was 12 weeks old, they were only pooping once every 3-10 days. They become very efficient little machines and just don't have that much waste product to move through all the time.

[MommySarah986]

So is the gas and him pushing all the time normal too?

Quoting gdiamante:

Not pooping is not constipation. Passing hard dry pellets is. At this age, they start stretching out the time between poops. Group record is 20 days of no poop. Normal breastfed blowout at the end.

Don't put anything in his butt again, OK? Not only due to the risk of damage but also because you don't want him dependent on anything to make him poop. If his belly's not hard, then you're OK and this is a normal transition.

[gdiamante]

Yep. All normal stuff. The infant digestive system is still a work in progress at birth.

[mostlymaydays]

Yes, nothing is broken! No need to fix anything! In fact most of the "fixes" can cause problems themselves, either from dependence, or botulism (Karo syrup), juices ruining virgin gut of ebf baby, or possible rectal perforation from insertion of any object.

[mostlymaydays]

And you'll notice the gas will become stinkier as poop spaces out. When a person is constipated the gas can't pass through either, causing severe pain. If the gas is moving through, the piping is clear. and prepare for an epic poop after a few days pass. I'm telling you, so many moms are going to chime in here how their babies will go a week with no poop. Completely normal for a breastfed baby.

[MommySarah986]

Thanks momma's, I didn't know that this was normal. I'm more relieved now. So I shouldn't give him anything then?

[mostlymaydays]

Nothing needed. Some babies are just truly uncomfortable with the workings of their bowels. It's an unpleasant sensation, to have your intestines cramping along, trying to move that liquid poop through. It's hard to "push". Keep nursing as breastmilk has natural laxative effects. Sometimes a warm bath helps move things along, or at least makes it more bearable. Google the "I love you" infant massage. but it really is so normal. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe our group record is 21 days with no poop.

Quoting MommySarah986:

Thanks momma's, I didn't know that this was normal. I'm more relieved now. So I shouldn't give him anything then?

[mostlymaydays]

A quick copy from kellymom.com (bookmark that website if you haven't already!)

Older breastfed babies (after the first 6-8 weeks) can go several days without a stool. Ten days or more is not uncommon! The long periods between stools in a baby who is obviously thriving is not a cause for concern if the baby's abdomen remains soft, and the baby is content and alert. As long as the stool is no thicker than toothpaste when passed and profuse if several days have gone by, it's still within the norm. Keep in mind that ANY formula or other supplemental foods given to the baby can alter the color, consistency, and frequency of the stool.

[larissalarie]

Breastfed babies can go weeks without pooping. Constipation is almost unheard of in an exclusively breastfed baby, but not pooping for days is incredibly common. My youngest went from pooping so much I literally couldn't keep him in a clean diaper to pooping less than once a week around 6 weeks old. My older kids did this too, but not as extreme. Breastmilk is perfect food, there's very little waste.