is is normal for my one month old baby not to have a bowel movement every day?

Question

i am nursing and she gets one formula bottle (enfamil) at night because she takes more than I can make at night

Answer 1

First, yes, it is perfectly normal for breast fed babies to go even as long as 7-10 days between bowel movements. It is also just as common for breast fed babies to have a bowel movement every time he nurses. I've nursed 4 babies and each has been different in their bowel habits. I strongly encourage you to stop giving your baby the one formula bottle as that is interfering with the establishment of your milk supply. Frequent nursing, even as often as every hour around the clock, will be common in these first few weeks of your baby's life. Her desire to eat that often is her way of telling your body how much milk she needs so your body can produce it. Offering the one bottle in place of the extra nursing will actually tell your body to make less milk. Your body continually makes breast milk so there is no need to worry about not producing enough. Your baby's sucking is what will increase your milk supply.

Answer 2

""Some breastfed babies, after the first three to four weeks of life, may suddenly change their stool pattern from many each day, to one every three days or even less. Some babies have gone as long as 15 days or more without a bowel movement. As long as the baby is otherwise well, and the stool is the usual pasty or soft, yellow movement, this is not constipation and is of no concern. No treatment is necessary or desirable, because no treatment is necessary or desirable for something that is normal."" http://www.kellymom.com/newman/04enough_...

""It is also normal for a breastfed baby older than six weeks to have only one bowel movement every few days. Some healthy babies will have only one bowel movement a week. When bowel movements are less frequent, they should be more profuse in volume. As long as the baby is gaining well, wetting sufficiently, and is happy and content there is no cause to be alarmed by infrequent bowel movements, and it is not necessary to give the baby a laxative, fruit juice, or any other "helpers." In fact, attempting to force bowel movements can have harmful consequences to your baby."" http://www.llli.org/FAQ/bm.html

my daughter went 13 days once!!

her normal poop schedule between 2 months and 7 months of age was once a week.

when to worry and call the doctor:
if your daughter is having pain when she poops, not just some grunting or straining - I mean like if she cries in pain. and if the texture of the poop is hard, either one lump or in little marbles. also if her belly looks bloated and when mild to medium pressure is applied she cries, or if her eating pattern drastically changes....

the formula could be causing it though, so keep an extra eye on her for any changes in her demeanor, if any pain begins call the doctor...

if you want to drop that bottle, you can increase your supply... here's a few ideas on how: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

Answer 3

Yes it is very normal for both formula fed and breastfed babies. Our pediatrician said breast fed children can go up to 8 days without a bowel movement. I was concerned because my daughter at one month didn't have a movement for 3 days, even though he told us she could go for a while without going. We called him and he said to use vaseline and a rectal thermometer if she was miserable. She went within 5 minutes and was happy again.

Answer 4

The number of bowel movements their newborn has in a single day often surprises parents. You will find some more information here about bowel movement of newborn baby http://www.indiaparenting.com/newborn/data/newb04_02.shtml

Answer 5

the same thing worried me when my baby went on to formula .. but it was just me worrying for no reason. As long as she is otherwise comfortable it will happen when she is ready, don't fret.

Answer 6

Absolutely. Breast fed babies metabolize most of what they eat, and pass stool less frequently as a result.