4 Week Old Not Pooping

She should try some abdominal massage. If she is uncomfortable doing this she can find a person who is knowledgeable in infant massage to help her. Aslo, she can try some flaxseed oil in the bottle.

It's not a terrifically uncommon thing at that age, but if he's in pain it's not good either way you slice it.
Sadly, I don't know of anything else she can do...perhaps a saline laxative? Mix up a little salt water and put it in his bum, this tends to help adults and I can't imagine salt being harmful to him, even at this age...though it might cause trouble with him learning how to poop on his own. Catch 22 there.

Now, what is more likely the problem is an imbalance with the breastmilk. It's something many mothers doesn't realize and 99% of doctors don't dare to tell a mother. Bascially, breastmilk is like cow's milk in that there are different fat contents. Foremilk is like skim or 1% milk, low in fat ut bascially the same lactose content. Hindmilk is like whole milk, high in fat and calories, with the same lactose content overall as other forms of milk.
What essentially happens (especially in first-time breast feeding moms) is that they are afraid of undersupply and pump to be sure they have an abundant supply. This causes an oversupply of foremilk and the baby ends up eating more foremilk then hindmilk, and thus fills up on less fatty liquid. The result is that they have to eat more often and get less actual calories, but more lactose then they should be getting and it causes troubles pooping, colic-like symptoms, and excessive gas.
If she has a good pump, tell her to pump one breast (the fuller one) as much as she can get out of it, changing bottles when it goes from being the thin (bluish-gray) foremilk to the thick white hindmilk. Compare the two amounts, and the ratio should be close to 2:1...2 ounces foremilk to 1 ounce hindmilk. this is just an estimes, it's not the final word on it or anything, but at that age it's what I've found to be the average.
Hope this helps, but if not, you cam always visit LLLi.org for info, they are THE experts on all things breast.

Good luck!

Sure it may be normal from the doctor's perception--he sees this a lot, but remember normal does not necessarily mean healthy! I would start looking for a new pediatrician, because of his dismissive attitude though. Many breast-fed babies do go several days between bowel movements, but this is not ideal and if the baby is in pain then he is definitely backed up.

Things you can do do help the baby feel more comfortable are massages, keeping his belly warm (wrap a stretchy fabric lightly around his tuummy or make a belly warmer), warm baths, carrying him in an upright position against mom's body and nurse like crazy. These are only for helping with the discomfort.

The most important thing to do is to start looking for WHY the baby is having slow bowel movements. The first thing I suspect is the formula--many have a high iron content and are filled with hard to digest stuff (that's why the baby's supposedly sleep longer-the formula takes time to break down . . . ). Even so called "hypoallergenic" formulas are full of high allergen substances. Remove the formula completely from the baby's diet and then have mom pump some extra, so maybe the dad can do a night feeding with the expressed breastmilk so mom can sleep. Second thing to check out is if mom is taking an iron supplement. Most iron supplements cause constipation. I'd suggest stopping the supplementation for a period to see if that's the cause, if it is, try a lower dosage of a more bioavailable supplement like floradix (sp?).

IF that does not resolve the problem, start looking into other foods in the mom's diet. Family allergy history, dairy, and gluten are a starting point, but allergies and sensitivities vary from person to person (my daughter's is soy). Mom should eat lots of veggies and nutrient dense foods. (Other possible signs of allergy are red ring around the anal opening, "colic", frequent uncomfortable nursing sessions, excessive urination, eczema. . . .)

Feel free to PM me if you'd like more info of sussing out intolerances in babies.
*EDIT*
I totally forgot one thing--my daughter would NOT poop in her diaper at ALL at that age, she would make a huge fuss and it sounded like she was in serious pain. As soon as I took off a diaper she'd poop all over :/ I learned pretty quick to hold her over a potty-bowl and let her poop into that instead ;) Babies are born not wanting to soil themselves and contrary to popular medical opinion they can and will "hold it" as long as they can to avoid getting themselves dirty. Just hold the baby over a diaper or bowl when the baby seems to be in distress--if the baby eliminates better, you can find out more on this method by looking up "elimination communication."

Our ped told us sugar water but if he is in real pain I'd call the ped again.

Hi N.,

I had the same problem with my daughter, the screems were horrible. I did all your friend is doing, the thing that helped me was a little water with a drop of corn syrup. (ONLY A DROP) They sell the droppers at Pharmacy. Every two hours I give her 2 oz. of water. She finally started to go. Since this worked after I fed her I would give her a little water no syrup. This would keep her a little regular. She was this way for 1 1/2 years. ;) I hope this helps. If by day 4 nothing, and this is just my opinion I would take him to the hospital, something else maybe happening. :( Good Luck! :)

I'm not an expert, but maybe the pain is from something other than the pooping issue. My son was allergic to the first two formulas he was on. What is your friend eating? Maybe the breast milk is giving him a problem - meaning, I had a friend that discovered when she ate onions it really affected her baby's reaction to her breast milk. Like I said, I'm no expert, just offering ideas. Good luck.

Give a little bit more suppository. It'll come out in a few hours for sure. My girl as a baby was solely breastfed and pooped every 5 days or so. Doctors said its notmal but there was def some constipation. Good news is less messy diapers when breastfed, but obviously baby should not be in pain!!

I did vaseline on a rectal thermommeter too..and a warm bath.

Good luck to your friend.

N.,

If he hasn't moved his bowels in 3 days, then he may be constipated, but if so, from what? He's only eating breast milk and formula, so unless he's allergic to something in the formula that is constipating him, then I would say that this is coming from something else.

Usually, if a baby has constipation, holding a glycerin suppository in his rectum for a few minutes will always provoke a bowel movement. My son, when he was that age, couldn't tolerate the iron in his forumula, and was constipated constantly, but using an infant glycerin suppository ALWAYS made him go.

If this baby is in pain, and constantly crying since he hasn't been able to go, then my guess would be that something else is going on, and, if so, and his pediatrician is just brushing off his mother's concerns, then she needs to get another pediatrian! A mother knows her own child best, and if she thinks that something is wrong, then it usually is!

I would try contacting his pediatrician's office one more time, and insist that he needs to be seen. If they still insist that this is normal, then I would take him to another doctor for a second opinion as soon as possible. If she can't get an immediate appointment with another doctor, then take him to the hospital emergency room and have him checked out. Constant pain from constipation in a child that young is definitely NOT normal!

Hi, agree that it could be something else that is bothering him, my son was alergic to several formulas until we finally put him on the Alimentum. Good luck

The first think i'd suggest to your friend would be to find a new pediatrician - secondly, my oldest daughter was like this from birth & what would really work would be to fill the kitchen sink w/some warm water & let her sit in it for a little while - the warm water would often times help her have a BM - or we would hold her w/her face in the palm of our hand w/her arm & leg dangling over each side of our arm and most times that would allow nature to take it's course. Sometimes my husband would use the rectal thermometer dipped in vaseline w/her legs pushed up by her feet to allow her to get started. Is your friend taking any typle of iron pill or anything like that b/c even with the formula too much iron, eventhough it may not be too much for most can cause this. Good luck!

I don't know if this will work it did with my son. Take a bit of Vicks and rub it around his belly button in a U shape. The heat from the vicks stimulates a motion. Hope this helps.

We went through this too and it freaked me out. I called the doctor daily until he finally went. My doctor suggested mixing 1 Tbl of Karo syrup with 2-3oz of sterile water to help draw moisture into the digestive track and Mylicon drops to relieve pressure. He also let me know that babies who are breast fed literally have no waste b/c breast milk is the perfect food for a newborn. They use it "all" and have no solid waste to excrete. He also said that an infant is not considered constipated unless it has been over a week. They do not experience the same digestive issues as adults and it is absolutely normal!

My littlest one is almost 7 months and for the first 2 months of his life, he only pooped once every 3-4 days. He passed a huge amount of gas though. I tried everything (he was breastfed too) - changed my diet, did the gas drops, gave him juice, massaged his belly, etc. and nothing worked. He eventually matured and his digestive system caught up with him. I think it's "normal" in that all babies are different as will their pooping schedule be. If your friend's ped isn't taking her seriously though, I'd find a new one...

Hi N.,
Tell you friend not to panic. My daghter was the same way. She would only poop every 3-7 days. She was peeing fine so it did not disturb me. She was taking in enough food for herself. The hurting came from the gas build-up inside her tummy from the food I ate. I eat lots of leafy greens(gas producers), She was very sensitive to that. If he is on the formula as well as being breast fed, he could be having a reaction to that or is sensitive. I know when I switched my daughter to formula she was colicky for weeks. Do not give him laxatives because his diet is liquid it is unlikely that he is constipated. In stead, gently bring his legs up to his chest while massaging his tummy to help work the gas out. Hope this helps and tell your friend congratulations!

N.,
Normal for strictly breastfeeding, and small amounts of cereal, I believe.

Pain MAY be simply gas, MAY not be.

Pediatrician should be taking her in, or your friend should be re-evaluating their decision. That being said, other than pain, is her baby exhibiting anything else for symptoms other than gas pain?

It may be the formula giving the baby gas. Gas is painful, and unrelieved by the methods she used.

There is the I love you massage, Dr. Sears & Sears demonstrate it in their book. You can find it in your library most likely, just look up the authors (may have something on a website).

Good luck to your friend,
M.

N., I don't like the response of the staff at the Dr's office. That is worrisome, but then, you will get a variety of opinions from doc to doc. I would begin to suspect some sort of obstruction in the baby. If the baby is in pain it needs attention. Pain is a signal that something is not right.
R. Conte

This happened with my daughter ... try Mylicon Gas drops (or the generic kind) for helping with gas pain. They worked wonders for us!!! My daughter went a whole week before going. With the drops, tummy massage and bicycling legs, she would have lots of "tooting" but only go poop once a week and it came out fine. If you relax, the baby will relax too. Mine is 3 and a half now and goes once a day, like clockwork! :)

This happened with my sisters baby too. The doctor said diluted prune juice -one oz purne to 2oz water or the suppository. It did take a few agonizing days, but finally worked. She is def doing the right thing with the massaging the belly-if she can feel the BM, she should gently massage in down. She could also try gas drops and "bicylcling" his legs to relieve some of the gas pressure. Breastfed babies aren't normally constipated as it is a natural laxitive, so she may want to consider changing the type of formula. NEVER EVER use laxitives with babies and don't overuse the suppositories or they may not be able to go on their own anymore.

Hi

This happened to my daughter. I was freaking out BUT he did it on the 5th day, and it was a nice texture. My awful ped had recommended suppositories, but I didn't listen thankfully. I would recommend:

A new pediatrician!!! ASAP---there are people out there who have an integrative approach and don't try to bully parents or make them feel stupid.

ensuring a high fiber diet for mom (and eventually baby)---we eat flax seed, hot oat bran, oatmeal, whole grain breads and pancake,

Unfiltered apple juice and prune.Keep a frozen cascasdian farms on hand, warm it up a bit for the little one.

reading some infant massage techniques or taking a class. Massage can help keep it moving and is a nice way for mom and baby to connect after bath.

get the book Naturally Healthy Babies and children by Aviva Jill Romm! This is a great book. I refer to it all the time to treat things at home ranging from constipation to fevers. The author has chidren, is a professional and gives a good spin on illness and treatment. She's super practical and nurturing. I use the book for my baby and my other loved ones!!! Highly recommended!

Good luck and tell her all will be fine.

it is not at all uncommon for breastfed babies to stop pooping. breastmilk leaves very little "waste". even if they do strain if and when they try to poop as long as the BM is not hard they are not constipated. she can try bicycle kicks and tummy massage for the gas, look into LaLeche for fabulous advice and a new pediatrician that will spend 5 minutes educating a new and tired mom.

how long ago did he start the formula. If it's only a couple of days to a week, even if it's only a little bit, that could be what's causing it. And by the way I don't think you're supposed give infants herbal remedies, and I would have tried a little prune juice mixed in with the formula first before any of those things. That always works although it makes the poop smell horrible.
And to the lady who said her ped recommended sugar water, I would get a new pediatrician.

Same thing happened to my son when he was just a little baby. (now he's a big baby!) When he was just 10 days old he was having a similar problem. My pediatrician said that we could give him an ounce of apple juice in his bottle or mixed with breastmilk. Up until one month they can only have apple juice but 1 month and over then can have prune. She can do a 1:1 dilution. 1 oz prune or apple juice to 1 oz water or breastmilk or fomula. I would suggest not using formula as it is constipating in itself. That should help move things along. She can also try to put vaseline on a Q-tip or put on a rubber or vinyl medical glove and vaseline her pinky too. Try to coax it out with anal stimulation. Hope I am of some help!