Breast fed infant and bowel movements?

Question

Everything was going perfect with my newborn and her bowels. She was having the right amount of mustard-like stools everyday. But now that she is 5 weeks, she has went for 4 days without having a bowel movement. She has been letting very stinky toots though! I called her pediatrician about it, but she said sometimes breastfed babies will only go 2-3 times per week at her age. I am still worried about her though. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. She seems content most of the time. But, I also noticed just yesterday that my breasts are smaller. They feel so much less full then I've been used to. I'm scared that my milk supply has somehow slowed. But, like I said - she seems content. She also has plenty of wet diapers throughout the day. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

You are experiencing what many women mistake for a drop in milk supply-- but is actually just several normal things happening at once.

1. Your baby is at the age where many begin to have fewer BMs, although it's perfectly normal to still poop at every feeding. There is a great amount of variety in breastfed bowel patterns, so almost anything is normal, as long as the poop doesn't come out hard & pellet-like, accompanied by pain.

2. Your breasts are still making PLENTY of milk-- they are just adjusting to your baby's actual needs instead of running the factory 24-7. They are beginning to slack of between-feed production, and will be making the majority of the milk on-the-spot during feedings.

3. If your baby seems fussier and less content after feedings, like she's still hungry, it is likely due to an upcoming growth spurt, or what I prefer to call "frequency days". The baby starts to nurse more frequently for a day or three, signalling the breasts to increase their production so the baby's body can fuel an upcoming growth spurt in the following days or weeks.

It's VERY common for all three of these things to happen together in a very short amount of time, sometime between 4 and 8 weeks (6 being the average, and possibly the most commonly reported age). For moms who don't know what to expect, and even some moms who do, it can really undermine the confidence to have a fussy baby who seems constantly hungry, while the breasts feel much less full than before, and far fewer poops coming out to reassure the old saying that "what goes in, must come out"...

You are already watching the most important signals, though-- your baby is wetting plenty of diapers, and gaining weight steadily, so there is NO indication that your milk supply is insufficient. Just keep plugging on, nursing when your baby is hungry, and your supply will adjust according to her needs.

BTW, expect this to happen again (maybe minus the change in pooping habits) around 6 months (give or take a month). In any case, nursing according to the baby's increased needs is the most effective way of increasing supply, and watching those wet diapers is the surest sign of whether she is getting enough fluids. Good luck, and congrats on your decision to breastfeed! You're doing a fantastic job!

Edit: OMG, onion juice?!?! No offense to the suggester, but PLEASE don't do this to your 5-WEEK-old baby! They are too young for anything other than breastmilk or formula at this age-- even too young for the blandest rice cereal! Onion juice, or any other juice, is totally unnecessary. With a breastfed baby, IF the baby were *truly* constipated, more frequent feedings is the answer, and also perhaps a trick called super-switch-nursing, where you only allow the baby to feed for a couple of minutes (literally) after the milk lets down, then switch sides every 2 or 3 minutes after that, in order to increase the amount of foremilk (higher in lactose content, therefore a natural laxitive) the baby gets during that feeding. It doesn't sound like this baby is actually constipated at all, though! So nothing like this should be necessary at all.

Answer 2

The bowel movements do slow down as they get a bit older. You have to remember that whatever you eat affects her also...so if you foods that are gassy she'll have the same reactions.
If she seems content and has plenty of wet diapers then I would not worry so much. Also, if she is gaining like she should that is a clear indication she is getting what she needs.
As for your breasts feeling smaller...this is what happens when your body adjusts to breastfeeding. You are not engorged anymore, you are producing the right amout of milk for her and your breasts realize this and soften up some.
There are more changes to come...usually around 6-8wks they go through a major growth spurt where all they want to do is eat and sleep...she may nurse every 1.5 to 2hrs. This is all very natural and it is her way of letting your body/breasts know that they need to produce more milk. You will notice this will start to happen about day 2 and you may get a little engorged but it will even out.
Always remember that milk production is based on supply and demand!

Answer 3

Don't stress. My daughter went 10 days once and I almost freaked. She is using all your milk. Your breasts are evening out. If you are concerned about your supply getting low, try to offer a few more feedings each day or pump a few times to up your supply. The more feedings, the more milk you'll have. Also, contact the lactation nurse at your hospital or your local Le Leche League person (you can find someone locally from their website). If you go in, they will take off babies clothes, weigh her, you can feed her, then weigh her again...it will show how many ounces she took in. It's also good to have someone to reassure you and support you in your nursing efforts! As long as those wet diapers are there and she is having a few BM's each week and she's gaining, she's fine.

Answer 4

I also breast feed the first 5 weeks had to stop cuase i wasnt producing enough to keep him satisfied so i supplemented for awhile eventually i turned to formula soley. My child had bowel movements every day when he was breastfed and i heard that is the normal never heard anything about when they get older it will slow. All peds have different opnions on all things so it is hard to tell you but 4 days is a long time but on the other hand if you dont think she is in any pain i wouldnt worry unless she goes for more days without going. My ped told me that nothing longer than 5 days but that is on formula they say breast milk is a natural laxative so not sure maybe i would get a second opinion. Good luck I hope i helped a little anyways Good luck!!!

Answer 5

At a certain age like around 5 weeks the babies bowl movements will change. Both of my children only had 3 to 4 movements a week for a while. If she seems ok then she probaly is. If she was constipated then she would be crying and if you didnt have enough milk she would also probaly cry for more and more and there wouldnt be wet diapers. If you think she is constipated try massaging her tummy with castrol oil or heating a onion and giving her the juice from the onion. Both will help her to relieve her bowls. No dr will probaly tell you that but it is what my mother in law told me and it works. I tried both.

Answer 6

Babies go through various frequencies of eating habits and excretion. Your breasts may feel less full because your body has regulated production to the demand of your child. As far as the bowel movements are concerned, your doctor is correct. But be ready for it when it finally comes. :) You will know if there actually is a bowel problem by you child's disposition. They will cry a lot and their belly will be tense. If you wish, you can lay your child on her back and move her legs towards and away from her abdomen alternating legs in a bicycle type movement. Often this will stimulate bowel activity.

Answer 7

if she has plenty of wet diapers she's getting enough to eat. the thing about breast milk is that it has exactly what the baby needs and not much else so there is usually not alot of waste product left over in the end. thus, the baby doesn't need to poop that much. and your breasts will get smaller. that doesn't mean your not making enough milk.

Answer 8

Your baby will be crying of hunger if your milk were no longer enough. Yes, babies sometimes go for days without pooping. It does not mean though that they are constipated unless their stool is hard. I suggest you just continue feeding her with breastmilk because it has a laxative effect. Also, continue observing her poop. Once you notice that it is hard then call her pedia to ask what to do.

Answer 9

Its normal.

Your supply has evened out and shes using most everything from your milk.

As long as shes happy and wetting enough diapers, shes fine.