My 4 week old baby screams and cries for 30-45 min everytme she has to poop. What could be the problem?

Question

My daughter is usually so content but the past 2 weeks have been a nightmare. Everytime that she needs to poop she screams like someone is murdering her. I've tried massaging the tummy, moving her legs around, rubbing her back, changing posiions, cradling her close, talking/singing to her, giving he apple prune juice during the day, and more I'm sure. When she is able to poop finally (It has taken up to 3 days - then I have given her a suppository) it is like a hunter/army green color. I am breast feeding but not producing enough so I am also feeding her formula about 50% of the time. We have went from Similac advanced regular to good start supreme + DHA and ARA, to Enfamil Lactose free (that I tried for a day but she wouldn't take it), and now I am trying smilac soy formula. I am at a loss. There has to be a solution to her problem and my heart breaks everytime she gets like that. If you know what it could be or have any advice what I could try I would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

We went through the same thing, at the same age. Do not give your baby any juice or mixed water, she is too young for that and you could thin out her blood. Try eating dried prunes and raisins that could help the baby poop easier. To not consume dairy products (cheese, milk, ice cream, etc) Also what you could do is put some olive oil or petroleum jelly (olive oil works Better) on a q-tip and gently stick it into her anus when you expect that she is trying to go, you can do this up to 5 times a day but don’t over use it. You can also put a little boiled water in a syringe and once again gently push it into her, that will water down the poop and allow it to pass easier, but that can be done about 2 times a day. With my baby she started going on her own and normally after a week.
You say that the poop is green, it should be yellow or if bottle feed brownish. Green poop in babies is not normal, I would see a doctor for that.
Good luck.

Answer 2

DON"T TRY ADDING ANYTHING ELSE TO WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING YOUR BABY.

***Don't add gas drops, juices, or any of these other insane things that some people are suggesting. Adding MORE new things to the diet, or adding drugs can make matters worse! You may be frustrated with the crying, but since she can't tell you what's wrong, you can't self-diagnose. Leave the diagnosis to the doctor! Our little ones are too precious!

Those who are pointing out the various formulas may be right on the money. You need to stick to a formula if it is working. If it is not working, consult the babies doctor before switching.

My baby's doc told me that it is highly unlikely for babies to be lactose intolerant. Babies are born with the lactase enzyme needed to digest lactose. If there is an allergy, it is more likely to be related to a milk PROTEIN. Lactose is a sugar. So save yourself the $$ and don't get the lactose free unless it has been determined by the doctor that she's lactose intolerant.

Before my baby's doc had me switch formulas, she had me try again, but burp more often. When that didn't work, we switched to soy and it works great.

I am not going to tell you that you should switch to soy just because it worked for me. EVERY BABY is different. And bear in mind that their digestive system is not mature enough to handle frequent changes. All the switching could be the source of the problem, but it could be something else.

Call the baby's doctor's office. Speak with a triage nurse. They will often be able to talk with you and give you some guidance. They will also tell you when it sounds like you need to bring the baby in for a visit.

Oh and for the breastfeeding, if you actually want to build up your supply and feed the baby more breastmilk, keep in mnd that it is a demand-supply issue. The more demand, the more supply you will have. You could invest in a GOOD electirc pump and pump in between feedings. Even if it seems like you aren't getting much, keep at it. When I started pumping, I would be lucky to get three ounces. Now I can get up to 8 ounces.

*** I just saw the answer that says green poop is not normal.... YES IT IS. My guy had some greenish looking poo and the doc said that it is normal

Answer 3

anytime you change a babys formula it takes a few days for their body to adjust and catch up. My daughter was colic for the first 4 months. (she is 6 1/2 months now). So all she did was scream when she was awake. I had to give her a suppository because the dr chanded her to similac allimentum. even switching her to that colic formula didnt help. find a formula you are going to stick with and then give the baby a few days and she how she does. she may be colic and if that's the case then I'm sorry and god bless you for the next 2-3 months. but if she improves then you will know she just needed time to adjust. talk to her dr and see what they recommend.

Answer 4

my daughter did the same thing and it was so frusrating. Try giving her gas drops in her bottles. If you are breastfeeding and bottle feeding it could be upsetting her tummy to have both. Maybe try sticking with one or the other. My daughter is on similac soy and that helped after a few days of having her on it she had at least one BM a day and there was no crying, just grunting. Also you can give her gerber pear juice dilutited with water. this works better than apple or prune ans babies tend to like it more. hope this helps i feel your pain

Answer 5

try giving her regular prune juice about an ounce in her formula my son has that same problem and since i started doing that he's been doing a lot better. hope you have good luck my son takes 6 oz of formula and i add the prune juice into 5oz of water or you could give her half and half 1oz water or formula 1oz pune juice works don't do it at every feeding though like once a day

Answer 6

a friend of mine just had a daughter this year and when she was born she had the same trouble come to find out her opening wasnt big enought to let much come out the doctors had to go in and make it wider.she was 5 or 6 weeks . but her mom said she would cry like she was hurting and wouldnt use the bathroom for days.
also i notice you have changed milk a few times,did the doctor tell you to change it.some times you can mes up their digesting by changing the milk so fast.when my son was a baby and the doctor changed his milk he told me to mix the two milks for a few days until his body got used to it.
hopefuly the doctor has some idea the poor little girl so little.hope you two get some peace of mind and pain free days..

Answer 7

sounds like her body is trying to catch up with all the changes in formula (7 changes and shes only 4 weeks old!!!!) - you need to pick one and stick to it - changes in formula can cause upset tummy / constipation etc..
personally i would not give my 4 week old child apple / prune juice - but boiled water (that has cooled down)
also soy milk can cause digestive problems - particularly if there is no need for your baby to have it.
get 1 formula and stick to it / get some colic bottles to reduce the flow that your baby feeds at (maybe he / she is drinking too quickly) - and I seriously suggest you speak to your health visitor for advice about changing milks

Answer 8

Try dark caracao syrup, the dr recommended it for constipation, mix 1 tsp a day with formula. You can put a whoe teaspoon in one feeding or spread it out during the day.

Answer 9

If you are that concerned you really should be taking her to the doctor, or calling the doctor and letting them know about the problem, at the very least.

Answer 10

every child is different , maybe try Gripe Water in her bottle. this worked for us.Try a regular formula with out the DHA.