8-Week Old Son Not Having Bm's

It's toxic not to have a bm... my daughter had a problem with it , maybe lazy, I put vaseline on a q- tip and rubbed it gently around the anal area and mildly inserted it, or you could get an infant suppository to soften any hardened stool.

maybe you should try a small enima they have them at the drug stores but I would ask the doctor or pharmacy first.

I had the same problem with one of my kids around that age (breast fed also). Here's what you can try...gross...but works. At times, breast-fed babies can become constipated and need a little nudge. Take a cotton swab with vaseline on it and insert it into the anus slightly (not too far). Once in, massage in a circular motion. Warning...have plenty of toilet paper or wipes for clean-up. OR, take your finger with vaseline and stimulate the anus the same way. Beware of the flying poop! If this doesn't work, go to the pedi. I took mine daughter to emergency because she won't poop and her stomach was so enlarged that I could see her veins throughout her abs. The doc used his finger and the poop exploded all over his arms, hands, the nurse, the walls and the floor. It was hilarious! Needlesstosay, I only had to stimulate her 1 or 2 additional times during this episode and she was fine! Don't let him get too uncomfortable as I did!

I took my daughter, now 15 months,to the doctor around that same age for the same reason. The doctor actually said that a newborn can go as long as 7 days wihtout a BM and that's okay. I was nursing, too. HOwever, she did give us some ideas of what to do to help aid in releasing a BM, esepcially since it concerned us. We tried both ideas, and the second worked. They said to take the baby's rectal temperature (stimulates that area) then sit them in a warm bath for about 10 minutes. The other idea, which whenever we felt the need, was to give them about a teaspoon of Karo syrup with milk or formula in a bottle. Just mix it in. It is a natural BM stimulator. It worked! It was within an hour she was all cleaned out! And it is totally safe!

Hope this is helpful.

Talk to your pediatrician and see what he/she recommends!

I also used the karo syrup with my little guy. But he was a bit older so I would double check with a professional before trying it!

My breastfed daughter would often only have a bowel movement every 4-5 days at that age. Her pediatrician said it was normal because breastmilk is full of nutrients and water which the body uses. There isn't much waste left. She was never miserable. It just became her schedule. However, one time after having a small amount of formula she was constipated. Her pediatrician recommended a suppository which helped her immediately. Call your doctor and get his/her advice.

When you reach 5 days, bring him to the doctor.

I do remember that babies that are breast fed can go up to 7 days without a bm. Check with your doctor to be sure since he does get formula too.

Both of my children have dealt with this, and I am pretty reluctant to try any stimulant, I prefer something more natural. My doc told me that you can put 1oz of juice in the bottle. Apple is good, pear is better and prune of course is the most stimulating. Prune can also cause cramping. I bought the pear juice in those small containers on the aisle next to the baby food, I think they are 4 or 5 oz. But if you and your little one get desperate and you don't want to do a suppository, you can stimulate your baby with a rectal thermometer. DON'T DO THIS OFTEN, or he will rely on outside stimulation to know how to use the proper muscles to make a BM. What you so is lube up the thermometer really well with Vaseline and insert like taking a temp, no more and GENTLY wiggle it around. If there is poop there to come out, it will come out. So make sure he is on a diaper. I have done this with both of my babies and it works great. No cramping or side affects. My ped told me to do it after my little one couldn't have a BM. Let us know what happens.

My first (breastfed only) baby went every day, like clockwork. The second (also breastfed only) went once a week, and it was a BLOWOUT! Our pedi said it was completely normal for breastfed babies, but you're adding in a little formula, so I don't know how that'll change things. It can't hurt to call and ask. Also, www.askdrsears.com is a great site for all things related to baby care!

I would check with your pediatrician first, but I always used glycerin suppositories on my daughter(per her pediatrician-once we determined it was not a problem with the formula). They are cheap and over the counter and you can even use the adult ones, but cut them in half long-ways. A little gross, but if you hold it in place for a minute or 2, they usually take care of the rest pretty much immediately. Good luck!

Hi C.,

First thing, what kind of formula are you feeding the baby? All of my children (and some children that I have cared for) have either had sensitivities or allergies to milk and even soy based formulas. You need to look at the core reason why this is happening...which is diet. I would suggest trying to give the baby either Alimentum or Neutramogen. Seriously! Many moms for some reason don't think of this, but it will help if this is truly the case. Changing the formula will not hurt the baby...but remember, you have to wait at least 3 or 4 days for the formula before you decide that it isn't working. Some moms don't realize that. Second, I would take a q-tip, dip it into petroleum jelly, turn the baby to his side, lifting his legs and then gently insert it into his rectum. DO NOT insert too far. Maybe about a 1/2 an inch. My mother told me to do this (and then Dr. agreed) and it worked for my children if they were constipated. Their bowels released soon. I also gave a warm bath to help loosen the bowels some. If your baby gets any drainage from the nose, congested, spits up allot, is gassy, not sleeping well, rashes or if he gets red or pink around the anus, then I would say the same, but simply being constipated may mean he needs to be switched. It's his diet. If he starts having ear infections also, I would say that you need to change formula for sure. I have many years experience with this issue. By the time my third child arrived, I kept her on Allimentum until 18 months because I knew better, and even then when I tried her on Similac...she was in so much abdominal pain and became constipated that we called the Dr and she said THAT was too soon to switch. She didn't transition until over 2 YEARS OLD! Worth the money though. Other than that, she never had ear infections, was never gassy or spit up, and rarely was sick. I learned from the first 2 what to do. She was a much happier baby! Consider my advice and then discuss it with your nurse or Dr. Let me know what you do and if I was of any help. Good luck.

Being constipated is pretty normal with cow's milk formula fed babies. Cow's milk is very hard to digest. Then, if you add that to the mother that is breastfeeding and drinking cow's milk, then that too can cause stomach problems for the baby whether colic or constipation.

I always had to lay off cow's milk while breastfeeding. I did have one child that I did not breastfeed at all and goodness (this was before I realized how bad cow's milk is for the body)...he had problems just as you are describing. What I did do though was give him an enema for immediate relief (you can buy the disposable at Walmart).

But I would definitely change the formula that you are giving him.

Hi C.,

I can feel your pain. My son did the same and I went to the old remedy. I remember when I was little and how my grandmother use to mix home remedies for my little cousins to make them all better. Try mixing a table spoon of Kero syrup in his milk.. Formula or breast. I did this for my son and as soon as he got it down it all came out the bottom. I think it was more of a relief to him than he could have ever imagined. Also try eating more salads and leafy vegetables. I found that to work as well. Especially the salads from Zaxby's. Good Luck!

A.

I was really worried about a few of my five children who had infrequent bowel movements as babies. I have been told by doctors that some babies can go as long as 5 or 10 days. Scary sounding, I know. They do get less comfortable the longer they go. I have used children's glycerin suppositories and then cut them thinner to fit an infant. It's not a fun process, and the baby usually cries, at least for a minute, but it works great. It usually takes less than 15 minutes but can go as long as an hour from start to finish. (I usually put the changing pad on the floor so I can sit down.) You have to hold the suppository in place until the baby starts to poop. You may need to have several diapers handy. (Sorry to be gross but you should know what to expect). Your baby will feel better afterwards.

We just went through this with my son. My husband is a computer guy so he looked on the web and found a few sites that said it is normal for BMs to decrease after the first few weeks from several a day to one every couple/few days. The best site we found said that it isn't how many that matters, it is the consistency of the BM when it does happen. We were starting to get worried and I was thinking it was because I stopped breast feeding and started formula (with iron), but it turned out that it was just normal, and he finally had one on his own and it wasn't hard (sorry, don't mean to be disgusting), it was a normal BM, just a little more than the small ones he was having several times a day.

Regarding the iron in the formula--I worried about this too. I am new to the formula thing, so when I saw that the can I had said "With Iron", I went to the store to get some without...good luck with that. Nowadays they all say "with iron". Also, I have read that you shouldn't use soy formula unless they have a known milk alergy.

I would wait it out, and if it doesn't happen in a couple of days call the doc. We did see one website that said to feed them, and then put them in a warm bath and massage their tummy...be prepared to clean up a mess, though.

Good luck!

Both of my sons were once-a-week poopers, like clockwork. (My daughter was like clockwork too -- only once a day for her!) I breastfed both of them, and the breastfeeding books will tell you that this can be normal. My older son also had about the same amount of formula that you are talking about. In my experience, that first time they go several days or a week is a little unnerving, but as long as the baby did not seem uncomfortable and his stool was still soft (I heard "the consistency of peanut butter" -- how's that for an unappetizing image!), I didn't worry about it. If he seems uncomfortable, constipated or went longer than a week, I would certainly get some help. This was our experience here, for whatever it's worth.

My advice is to mix a little bit of white grape juice into his bottles. when I say a little bit I mean like not even an ounce.This should get stuff moving along natually.

I also have a 8 week old son who had the same problem. You can either drink prune juice yourself and your baby will get it when you breastfeed, you can also give him 1 ounce prune juice with 1 ounce of water, or you can just buy the baby prune and apple juice mix. Don't expect for you baby to have a bm everyday(even though he has in the past). Babies will develop into their own rhythm...so it could be once every 2 days or even once a week. Hope this helps you.

Call the doctor ASAP.There is a nurses line that is free at SCottish Rite Children's hospital. They can direct you or tell you what to do. Do this now.

Hi! This may sound odd but you can help stimulate a BM by inserting a thermometer (with vasoline) rectally ( like you were taking his temp) & kind of wiggle it around. It has worked on all of my kids & the nurse even did it to my newborn in the hospital. You could also use a q-tip with vasoline. Hope this helps. Good luck!

How long has he been receiving formula? Breastmilk has laxative like qualities, where formula does not. In addition, the iron in formula can cause constipation. My guess is that the change in diet is causing the lack of BM.

See is it the formula you have him on and if it has to much iron in it for the baby. Try given the baby more vegetables and some apple juice and one bottle of water. If the baby does not have one by tomoorrow call your doctor. I know when my little girls were like that I would also use infant suppository and they work.

mother of 3 nd childcre provider

Put a little dark corn syrup like 1/2 a teaspoon in his bottle. My sister is a nurse in an ER and that what they tell people to use. It really works! First time I gave it to my son he had a BM within 2 hours and was back to normal.

My baby did this when he was a just a few weeks older than your son and the doctor said I could give him a little Karo Syrup. I'd ask your doctor first, but it works! Good luck.

Don't worry about it! My son was exclusively breastfed and believe it or not would go 5 days without a BM. He wasn't fussy or constipated. It worried me alot and I tried all kinds of things to get him to go (pear juice, prune juice, water, thermometer, massage, even a suppository etc.) But I finally realized that his body is just efficient and he didn't really need to go.

Now I have a 5 month old daughter and she's starting to do the same thing, though she is only going 3-4 days without a BM. She also is exclusively breastfed except for 1 bottle of formula a day. If she starts to seem uncomfortable, I may try one of those tricks on her, but otherwise she is happier if I leave her alone. I suspect you will find the same thing.