My baby seems to strain a lot to go the bathroom?

Question

Whenever I feed him he goes to the bathroom and strains and squirms and sometimes cries, is this normal? Also when he goes he has loud gas

my baby is only 7 weeks and is breastfed.

Answer 1

Sometimes my daughter does that (she's 2 1/2 months). She's breastfed so I know it's not constipation, but if you formula-feed that may be the problem. Formula does that. My daughter kind of grunts and makes odd faces, and gets upset sometimes.

Answer 2

It's normal. He probably has a gas bubble. Babies do a lot of grunting, squirming and straining at that age. They are just learning how to work their muscles.

You can't compare it to the way an adult works because babies' bodies work differently. As long as baby has wet diapers throughout the day, he's fine!

Just wait until he takes 7 days between bowel movements, that's normal for a breastfed baby too.

Answer 3

I'm not pediatrician but I'm betting that babies are just mini adults when it comes to GI function so more fiber in his diet would probably help ease the straining and the gas.

Answer 4

It is normal for babies to have to poop right after they eat. Kind of like puppies. They do the same thing. Is your baby eating rice cereal? It definitely constipates. Try switching to iron fortified baby oatmeal and things should get a lot better.

Answer 5

it's constipation. is he formula fed?
if you do give him formula - try Enfamil GentleEase .. it has the proteins broken down for easier digestion. That's what I give my son and he no longer has to strain when he has a bowel movement.
(also, Mylicon works for the gas!!)
good luck. God bless.

Answer 6

yes it's normal he or she is constipated