4 week old constipated?

Question

my little boy usually poos between every feed. I noticed today that he hasnt gone since lunchtime (it is midnight here) he is straining and his little belly is all hard, so there is stuff there. He is still weeing, but is eating a little less than normal, not enough to worry about just a tiny bit less. What can i do to make him feel better? how long can a baby go without going?

Answer 1

mix just a little bit of apple juice with the formula... just a little! this should do the trick.... But you should consult with the doctor first...

Answer 2

I have to say, ALL of the advice here is uneccessary.

If you're feeding your baby artificial milk, I have no advice as I've only breastfed.

If you are breastfeeding, RELAX. This is NORMAL. At around 4wks babies begin to retain more milk for longer periods. My daughter once went 10 whole days without a bm.

We must understand the TRUE definition of Constipation. It is hard, dry, pellet type poop. If your newborns stools are still soft, he is NOT constipated.

Babies make all kinds of grunting and straining noises...sometimes during bm's, other times for no reason at all.

As long as he's got 6+wet dipes you're doing great. If your Mamma instincts are really setting off an alarm and he's not acting normally, go and see a chiropractor. All a doctor is going to do is tell you to give a suppository or some other useless device.

Nurse him more, breastmilk has a laxative effect and this will help pass things through.
Now, be prepared for a blow-out of his diaper if he goes for more then a couple of days!!

Answer 3

Whatever you do, do NOT feed him soda pop as someone else has written. What a foolish thing to advise.

You can can him 1/2 an ounce of water in the morning, and another 1/2 ounce in the evening. Make sure you boil it to sterilize it. If that doesnt help, 1/4 of an ounce of white grape juice with 1/2 ounce of water (dilution is important) may also help. But always try the water first as juice is not good for baby yet.

Also, lay him on his back and carefully hold his feet while you rotate his hips. It would be like an adult walking, which will break it up and help it to come out easier.

You can also carefully massage his stomach (lower stomach) in a 'U' to help with this discomfort.... even better done while he is in a warm bath (not hot!).

Babies need to go everyday, as do adults. But more so with babes.

Gripe water will not help in this either, so no need to try that.
Try the water, then the water and white grape juice mixed, as well as the tummy massge and moving his legs in rotating circular motions.

If by tomorrow he doesnt pass, or his discomfort gets to be too much, call your doctor.

Also, please do NOT give him any type of laxative. You can very seriously harm your baby in doing so.

Good luck!

Answer 4

If he's acting like he needs to go, but can't. (Looks like he's straining.) Try taking his temperature rectally, or go get some Glycerine suppositories. Sometimes they need a little stimulation to go.

If he doesn't act like he's having problems, it's okay. Babies' bowel habits change a couple of times before they're a year old. What's normal this month may not be next month.

If he's acting like he's straining and using the suppository or taking his temperature doesn't help, at least speak to his doctor. With a baby this young, you don't want to try much of home remedies because I know of a baby who had a bowel obstruction at your son's age and needed surgery.

Answer 5

it is normal for a baby to a few days with out going! if in a few days he still hasnt been see your doctor! in the meant time try some cooled boiled water betweens his feeds that should work, that is what i was told to do when my son was only a few days old and was constipated! Good Luck

Answer 6

When my babies were constipated, I mixed a formula of 1/2 diet coke and 1/2 water. Diet Pepsi doesn't work. I don't advocate giving young children soda, but this worked so well that I have recommended it to other moms. It works every time, but be ready for multiple and frequent diaper changes.

Answer 7

I would advise uyou to talkt your ped. Mine sometimes will go 24 with out doing anything my ped said don't let em go more the 48 hours after 48 call me, then he usually recommends prune juice. But in small amounts like 1/2 and ounces to 4 regular ounces. but again my girls were premmes

Answer 8

My daughters would go 1 whole day with out going when they were new borns. I was told by the doctor that it was normal. On the 2nd day when they poop. It would be Alot.