Constipated baby?

Question

I am breastfeeding my 3 week old...I've called the doc 4 times telling them shes constipated and shes straining and they keep telling me with breastfed babies they can go a week without a bowl movement and thats ok. But my babe is very fussy. I've tried everything...bicycling her legs, rubbing her tummy, mylicon drops...I feel awful because shes the best baby when she feels well but she doesn't right now. Any advice?

Answer 1

My daughter did the same exact thing and my dr. told me not to worry that breastfed babies went for up to a week without going poop. But all she did was cry and strain, turn red in the face and scream. It was making me so miserable and I felt soo bad for her. I finally took her to another dr to get a second opinion. He told me that regardless of her age and what she eats she needs to go poop at least once a day. So he told me to give her 4 ml of milk of magnesium. 4 ml twice a day for 3 days. I did it and it worked so well, and she had no problems. My daughter was 2 months old when this happened. Since then my friend has been doing the same for her daughter when she got constipated. ANd whenever Emma gets constipated I give her the milk of magnesium. Try it and u'll see. Just maybe 2 ml since shes small. Good luck.

Answer 2

First of all, it can be normal for a baby 3 weeks old to go for a few days without a bowel movement. So much of the milk is used that there is very little waste, so sometimes it takes longer to fill up. Keep bicycling her legs and if she's passing gas she is most likely okay. Since she's still pretty young, I'm not sure at what point it begins to be concerning. Once they're about 2 months old, they can go 2 weeks or more with no problems (this actually happened to my friend recently-- and boy was it a huge poopie when she finally went!).

Second of all, do not give your baby anything other than breastmilk. Karo syrup or prune juice or anything else is just a bad idea in a baby this young.

Thirdly, using a pump to judge if you have enough is an inefficient way to tell. It is better to count wet diapers instead (6-8 soaked diapers a day).

Finally, if you are truly concerned you may be able to stick a rectal thermometer up her hiney and that may produce some poop. But this is a last resort measure and I wouldn't do it unless you are extremely concerned and she is looking really uncomfortable. I'd stay away from suppesitories, enemas or anything else invasive like that personally, it just seems like overkill.

Answer 3

If she is still passing gas, then you shouldn't be worried. It will pass eventually. My younger sister went a whopping 21 days and the doctor wasn't concerned at all.

Honestly, breastfed babies don't need to poop all the time - they're using everything that's in the milk, so there is very little waste.

Never give your daughter anything from a bottle - she's only 3 weeks and it could hurt your breastfeeding relationship, which is still in the, um, "uhg, arggg" stage. Also, nothing should be given to your baby to induce pooping (aside from an enema, but I'd avoid that unless she's going many, many weeks and even then, I'd take her in to the doctor for one to avoid damaging the rectum). Any doctor that tells you to give her something in a bottle that isn't formula, prescribed medication, or breast milk is very old school.

At 3 weeks, a lot of babies will go through a fussy period (regardless of if they're pooping or not). Walking around with my daughter worked best for her.

Singing, saying "Shhhh" into her ear, rubbing her back, walking around, bouncing her gently, baths, listening to music, tummy time - all of those have helped me handle my daughter in her fussier times of need.

Hang in there!

Answer 4

Do NOT give your baby molasses or Karo. They are things that people tend to have around the house but use infrequently and can harbor all sorts of bacteria that will make your baby ill. My daughter also had a hard time with BM's, I just did whatever I could to make her happy and tried comforting her when she was upset. A friend of mine gave her son a very little bit of fennel tea and that did the trick for him. Get a different Dr if you feel that yours isn't doing enough for you.

Answer 5

Read the Happiest Baby on the Block! It is the best book for advice on newborns...it really works...my baby is 4 1/2 months and she is always gassy and constipated and very fussy! I wish I could help, but honestly read this book and you might find a few new tips to help you survive the first months of your child's life!

Answer 6

All my babys were breastfed and they went for a week also without going. Its normal. I agree with what the first woman said about the Karo Syrup. Doctors say that is ok to do.

Answer 7

when my baby was constipated i gave him an enema i know it sounds crazy but the have some for infants and toddlers. I had to give him one because he was in so much pain and had a high temp and the doctor didn't help out at all so the pharmacist told me it was o.k and he made a bowel movement like 10 to 15 min later

Answer 8

i breastfed and my baby and he stayed constipated to.when it was time to make a bm he would scream and holler so they told me to give him more water and apple juice and that didn't work so they prescribed him very expensive meds that didn't work.finally after 4 years and 3 doctors i found one doctor who knew exactly what was wrong,my baby had an enlarged rectum causing bm to be painful so now she is treating him with an inexpensive prescribed medicine and he is getting back to normal after all of the different meds,home remedies,and doctors. good luck

Answer 9

Well Mylicon is only for the gas part, when my son had constipation the doctor said I could give him a glycerine suppository, which made him poop in 10 min!!!

But please call the doctor first and just ask if this is OK for your child, everyone is different.

Good Luck.

Answer 10

Make sure baby get the enough milk from breast feeding. Try to express milk and feed your baby, just to ensure the amount of milk your baby getting is right.
If the milk is enough, You can try feeding Gripe Water (5-ml, about 2 tea spoon). You can buy for most of the pharmacy.
If the milk is not enough, Try to complement with formula.
This is what happen to my baby girl also.