newborn Constipation???

Question

my baby id 3 weeks old and hasn't gone poop since saturday...i breast and bottle feed (enfamil w/ lipil)..he has gas that smells really bad...could he be constipated or is it normal?? i am going to all the doctor 1st thing in the morning but i'm worried now since he wont stay asleep for more than 45 mins.

Answer 1

Breastfed babies don't get constipated generally. But formula fed babies can. My daughter is 9 weeks old and when I switched her to formula about 3 weeks ago, she got constipated. You might want to rethink the formula you are feeding you are feeding your baby, as if you are using an all ages formula, they are a little thicker than the birth stuff and can cause constipation. And don't worry about the gas, formula fed babies bowel motions stink worse than breastfed and the gas is worse too. Sometimes I think my girl needs a change cos she smells bad and then I get her nappy off and she has only farted. It's also pretty normal for formula fed babies to have infrequent bowel motions. If he seems to be in pain when taking a poo, then he may be constipated. I found with my daughter that if I held her legs up and gently comforted her she found it easier. You can also feed your son a wee bit of boiled water in a bottle.

Answer 2

It is quite normal. A newborn is not constipated even if he doesn't go poop in a few days, how were his bowels last time he pooped? If it is creamy and not hard, then he is OK even if it happens every few days. That is normal.
Only if it is hard and more human like then he is constipated.
I had the same problem with my daughter but she was not consipated at all. the doc said it is OK.

Try to help him though, do some leg exercise, you know, bicycle .... it will help.
He might have gas and pain thats why he wakes up. Also newborns start to change habits around that age.

Answer 3

He could be constipated. You should be able to call the doctor on call for your office, and speak to them about what could be done. At 3 weeks I would not give any over the counter remedy until I had spoken with a physician. Something you may be able to do is give him a bottle with some karo syrup and water in it, just a little karo syrup mixed in 2-3 ozs of water. Otherwise, see your pediatrician.

Answer 4

i had the same problem and still having it.
Is that formula have soybean in it?
u can go to the chemist and get a baby constipation stuff called Coloxyl Drops . have a look at this site first, i used it on my baby good stuff and gentle to there tummys but see the doctor 1st.. because your baby is 3 weeks old

Answer 5

When my son was about 2 weeks old he suffered constipation, my health visitor recommended I switch his milk to cow and gate omnio comfort which is slightly more expensive but its worth it if your baby is not constipated, she also suggested a teaspoon of fresh orange which I was not keen on trying.

Answer 6

Try to give him an ounce of Dark Karo Syrup in four ounces of formula. That is what the pediatrician told me to do for two of my children when they got constipated during infancy.

Answer 7

I know that this might sound gross but if you insert a rectal thermometer into his rectum just a tiny bit like only the very end and kind of wiggle it around it may help him to go. My son was like that when I was using both breast and formula and that is what my mom told me to do(but she said to use the tip of her pinky finger) and it worked. Good luck and be very careful!!

Answer 8

squeeze a bit of fresh orange juice (1 teaspoon) into about 4 oz cooled boiled water and let him drink it. that'll shift it within a few hrs.
It's probably the formula milk as this is common