My baby won't poo...?

Question

My baby is 3 weeks old. She is breastfed and formula fed. I recently changed formulas from similac advance to nestle good start soy. She was really gassy before the switch and after (she takes mylicon to help get them out). Im lactose intolarant, dont know if she is hence the switch (thought it would get rid of the gas and fussiness, but it didn't)

She hasn't pooped in two and a half days. She toots alot(!!) and pees alot. She's not crying but she looks ultra uncomfortable, and is pretty fussy. We called the doctor and they had us stimulate her bum hole with our finger :( she didn't cry at all and pooped a little. doctor said she's not blocked up and fine, but she seems miserable

I don't eat spicy food or eat dairy have been eating pretty much the same thing since she came home.

don't make enough to feed her on breast milk alone

Answer 1

It's apparently pretty common that soy-fed babies can get a little bound up. Two and a half days can be quite normal for some babies- just be ready for when it comes out and try to be at home! (: If it continues much longer though and you're worried ring a baby nurse.

Try giving her a little cooled boiled water, and if that doesn't work, try a tiny bit of prune juice in water, about 1 juice to 10 water. This worked a treat on our daughter and she loved the taste!

Try massaging her belly in a clockwise motion, the direction she digests. You can also try an "I Love You" massage where you gently massage an 'I' (one stroke down on her right side of tummy with the side of your hand), an "L" back-to-front, starting the opposite side (her left) then across, then a "U" starting from under the ribs on her left, going down to the bottom section of her belly then across and up to the ribs on the other side, all done very gently but intentionally, to stimulate bowel movements.

Gentle warmth on her tummy and lower back may ease the discomfort.

Breastfeed as often as you can to reduce symptoms, get things flowing and give her a little comfort.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

2 days isn't really considered constipation. I wouldn't be concerned until closer to a week, and even then I think many doctors say that it's ok.

First, I would say that it is ideal for you to ditch the formula altogether and try to pump your milk if necessary. Breastmilk is the best thing for her! She could be having a hard time processing the formula. If there is some special reason why you HAVE to use formula I would use a goats milk formula. You can do a search and find different recipes for it.

It could also be something that YOU are eating that is coming through your breastmilk. Try cutting dairy, wheat, nuts, and soy out of your diet. Also, gas producing foods like broccoli and cauliflower can be passed on to your baby, avoid them, too.

The source below has all kinds of tips on helping a colicy baby. Colic is really just a baby with stomach pains and gas. The tips are great, so check out the link!

Answer 3

be very careful, 1. all you need is the end of a thermometer with some plastic on it to to stimulate the rectom. Only put it in 1/4 on an inch. 2. When my son was 3 weeks old, he didnt' poop for 3 or 4 days and was bowel packed..what a nightmare. I had to take him to the hospital where they gave him an enema and it didn't even help. The doctor had to dig him out. And I felt so bad. You can buy infant supositories to help them poop. And sometime giving them an once or 2 of warm water from the bottle can produce a bowel movement. If she doesn't go today, I would try the suppositories. Good luck.

Answer 4

I have a 3 month old and when she went a couple days without pooping I breastfed her only. They say that Formula has a lot of sugar in it and can make it where they don't have bm as often. Also try massaging her stomach, I myself would never massage her rectum because that is a sensitive area and could hurt her.

I didn't make that much milk either when my baby was 3 weeks old. You will just have to feed her breastmilk more often. But formula is what is stopping up your baby. I have Destiny (my daughter) on breastmilk and formula so I have been through the same thing you have. Just keep feeding her booby!!!!

Answer 5

2 days really isnt that long to go without a major bowel movement for a baby her age. Some formulas are digested better than others, resulting in less solid waste.

Much like how breast milk can result in weekly BM's because everything is so perfectly digested.

If her doctor isnt concerned theres probably nothing to worry about.

Laying her across your lap with her feet hanging over and rubbing her back gently will help move her bowels.

Answer 6

I just read in a magazine last night that if they're constipated, lay her on her back and move her legs like she's riding a bicycle... this exercise should get things going... Haven't tried it yet myself, but it makes sense!

Answer 7

Since you are still breastfeeding, eating spicy foods WILL help (I don't know why someone gave that one girl's answer a thumb down!) But you may want to consider soy formula. It contains the same nutrients and reduces baby's gas a lot! My son got so much better once we switched. Good luck!

Answer 8

I'd try to phase out the formula. Breastmilk is a natural laxative.
Do you have a supply problem?
Keep her on the breast and let her boost your supply.
3 weeks is a growth spurt usually, so she should be nursing a lot right now.

Answer 9

Newborn Baby Wont Poop

Answer 10

Once your baby passes the meconium out of his system, his poop will begin to change colors. If you are breastfeeding, your baby’s stools will be mustard colored, seedy, and runny. If you are formula feeding, they will be tan colored and soft. Formula-fed babies’ stools are firmer than breastfed babies but they should not be any firmer than a peanut butter consistency. Some moms say that a breastfed baby’s poop doesn’t stink. It has a distinct smell that some describe as sweet but it still has an odor. Every now and then the notorious green poop may show up in your baby’s diaper. You may take a look at it and ask yourself “how’d that get there?” There are many different causes for green poop. More than likely, if your baby has green poop, it’s nothing to worry about, but here are a few possibilities. Iron-fortified formula - Some formula-fed babies will develop a case of green poop from the iron in the formula they are taking. As long as your baby is happy and not having any problems with constipation, there is nothing to worry about. Jaundice - A baby that has jaundice may have dark or greenish colored stools. This normally goes away once baby is off of the bilirubin lights. Dairy Sensitivity - Some breastfed babies are very sensitive to certain foods in their mom’s diet. If your baby is having problems with green mucousy stools, blood in his stools, spitting up a lot, or a skin rash, he may be sensitive to something in your diet. Dairy products are one of the most common causes of food allergies in babies. If you think this might be the problem, try eliminating milk and dairy products from your diet. It may take a couple weeks to see results from a dairy elimination diet. You should see improvement in a week or two. If you’re not sure, you can always try it out for a few weeks and then try having a cup of milk to see what happens. If the symptoms come back, then milk is probably the culprit and you will want to avoid it. Foremilk/Hindmilk imbalance - If your baby is breastfeeding and has green frothy-looking poops, this may be a result of a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. To put this simply, when a mom breastfeeds the first milk that comes out (foremilk) is thinner and lower in fat. After you have nursed for a bit, you will start to produce richer, fattier milk called hindmilk. Babies that receive too much of the thin foremilk and not enough of the richer hindmilk sometimes have problems with green stools and tummy aches. If you have been switching breasts a lot instead of letting baby get a good feed on one breast, you may have problems with this. Other reasons - Sometimes babies just have greenish colored poop. The range of color in baby’s poops can vary. Any range of yellow, mustard to yellow/green is pretty normal for a baby. If baby is gaining well and happy then there is nothing to worry about. Black poop Black poop can be seen from iron supplementation. If your baby is taking an iron supplement or is on iron-fortified formula, he may have black or dark colored stools. Black stools, on the other hand, can also be of intestinal bleeding. If your baby has black tarry looking stools you should call your pediatrician. Blood in baby’s poop If you notice blood in your baby’s stool this may be alarming. Small streaks of blood in the stool are usually not something serious. However, if your baby has stools that look like dark red jelly or are streaked with mucous you should call your doctor right away. You should also call your doctor if your baby seems to be in pain or if your baby has persistent bleeding that does not go away. Some other causes for blood in the stool are: Small cuts or tears on the baby’s anus - Sometimes babies will develop an anal fissure (tear) from straining. You may notice small streaks of blood in baby’s stool Diaper rash - If baby has had a diaper rash that has resulted in skin breakdown, he may end up with tiny amounts of blood in his diaper. Food sensitivities- Dairy sensitivities may cause baby to have bloody/mucousy stools. Your baby's poop is going to change color and consistency depending on what you are feeding your baby. trust me my son sometimes has a lump poop... usually that is what he has since he started baby food at four months. if you noticed that your baby's poop is really really hard, then you can either try feeding your baby purred prunes, or put a teaspoon of KAYO syrup in his bottle (once in the morning and in the nighttime bottle) once you notice the stools have become softer and he can go easier, then you can stop putting it in his bottles. do not put it in his bottle all the time. def. consult with your child's pediatrician first!