FTM Seeking Advice from Others About Trouble with Baby BM

I had the same problem, the doctors told me that was normal. One doctor told me to put a little Karo syrup on my nipple. This actually helped her have a bowel movement that day. Hope this is helpful.

A breastfed baby usually only has a bm every 7-10 days. It worried me with my first one but I now have three and the same thing happened with all of them. The reason is b/c breastfed babies absorb all the nutrients in breast milk therfore there isn't any waste...so to speak. It will happen when it's time...it's more difficult for the parents than the baby. I did however intervene if it went on too long....two weeks. I used a suppository...the doctor probably wouldn't suggest it but there would come a point when it would be really "backed up" and it would be painful and I couldn't handle that. anyways...hope this helps.

I used baby massage with my boys when they started this.

Use gentle pressure starting just under the left ribs stroking down the left side across the lower tummy up the right side and across the top of his tummy. If he doesn't like the tummy massage then do his back as he relaxes on your chest, just be sure to rub down his left side and up his right.

If you need fast result just stroke down raise your hand and start back at the ribs stroking down.

This massage triggers muscles which also stimulates the muscles in the intestines and relaxes him.

A little know fact, men carry their stress in their butt cheeks. That translates to thier colon and anal sphincter. Once you get his tush to relax so will everything else. Oh and you can't be stressed out either, because he will react to your stress.

Hi T.,
Honestly, my best sound advice is to seek advice from your local La Leche League!! They are the experts and have the best most up-to-date information. You can find your local group and attend a meeting or just call any of the certified leaders. They will be more than happy to help and I can guarantee they will have the BEST advice, because they have the MOST experience!!! Here's the link http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html
Good Luck!!

Hi T.,
1st of all, good for you for the breastfeeding. It is so very hard and time consuming but so worth it. I called my dr. office and our local new mom support from the hospital on this very issue and it IS normal. They explained to me that breastmilk is a natural laxative and a baby will not become const. but look out when it does happen because it probably will be a blow out. The thing that they did tell me to watch for is a firm abdomen and excessive irritability. It doesnt hurt to call your babies dr. office and talk to the nurse if you are concerned. I have had friends that have had the same issue and have gotten the same advice.
T.

Hello. I too had this problem with my son when I was breastfeeding him. So I wouldn't really worry too much. I know another mother on her had a question quite like this one awhile back about her son. So my guess is it's a pretty common thing. I didn't have this problem with my daughters, so I don't know if it's more for boys or if it's just a luck of the draw thing. But I tried giving my son suppositories like our doctor said. He would go once a day with them. The doctor recommended only using them 'to lube things up again'. So I don't know if it's helpful. But I would go with the advice the other mother received. That it's pretty common and they'll grow out of it. Just make sure he's eating enough and still having wet diapers throughout the day. It should come out eventually. And breastmilk is so easy to break down in their little body's that he might just only be wet for awhile.

It is totally normal for a brestfed baby to go a few days to a week without a BM... try a little bit of apple/prune juice, that worked for my daughther when she was his age adn the Little Tummys gas drops work better for us than mylicon ones do.

Hi T.

Yes, my second boy had this problem really bad. I think he went 15 days one time without a BM. With breastmilk, they have very little waste. Some suggestions are juice, mixing a tablespoon of karo syrup with water or juice, giving thru a bottle 2-3 times a day. Suppositories worked immediately but you don't want them to become dependent, so use sparingly. My son also had acid reflux but was not on medication for it, so I don't know about that relationship. Anyway, no reason to worry - its normal - and gas drops do provide relief. Good luck!

My oldest son has always been prone to constipation. He never went 8 days, but he would get uncomfortable and when he would finally go, well...... wow, it was a lot. Just keep in contact with his doctor and don't try to give him anything with out asking the doctor. He is way to young for most medications. You might ask about trying a little bit of water from a bottle.(only 1-2 onces)
My oldest, now three, still has problems. In fact, we are very held up on potty training right now because he has such a hard time going in the potty. So, this might just be something about your son that you will always have to deal with. I hope he out grows it. As mothers we focus enough of our time on poop with out having problems with it. Good luck!

I never had this problem w/any of my 3 kids and they were all breastfed. But every child is different. I think it also has a lot to do with your diet and the vitamins and nutrients you are taking. I take a supplement called Probiotics which helps out a lot. You can also get them and give them to your baby too, and they're 100% safe!! I take them regularly and I also give them to my baby from time-to-time when he seems to have an upset tummy--which isn't very often since he usually gets enough from my milk. They're not medication at all, just all natural enzymes. They actually help break down foods that are hard to digest, and put good bacteria into your body. They're also GREAT to take while on antibiotics--just for future reference :) I am a distributor for Probiotics and other great vitamins and supplements, so if you have any other questions just let me know!!

I do believe that the acid reflux medicine can definitely cause constipation. I know from experience. The Probiotics also help with acid reflux, too. I'm not sure how "normal" it is for a baby to not have a bowel movement for that long. I would definitely do what you think is best because doctors will usually tell you what they are trained to say, and not tell you that each child is different and you should take that into consideration.

Liz W.

P.S. I have also read many different articles and talked to lactation consultants on this very subject because I was wondering why my son was having 2-3 bowel movements a day. They also said that breast milk is a natural laxative--so your baby should really be going at least once a day. HOPE THIS HELPS!! ~:(){<

It's normal. You don't have to do anything about it. When it gets to about 10 days you can start fretting about it. Breastmilk is pretty much completely digestable so it ofen takes a while to have enough poop to poop.

Karo is excellent. But I had the best luck w/ suppositories. If you get glycerine there is not dependencies because it's not medicine. My DR told me to get childrens glycerine supp. and place about half way into anus. Slowly work it in and out a few times gently to stimulate a bowel movement. This sounds really gross....but worked everytime for me. It also released a ton of gas which made for a happier baby!

I had the same trouble with both of my BF babies. My youngest had to go on some prescription medication because his constipation got so bad that he had Compacted bowl syndrome. I was also told that this is a completely normal phase, and both of my boys went thru it and are doing fine now.

TK

As everyone has told this is normal thing for bf babies. But I was surprised noone mentioned adding extra fiber to your diet. They tell you in all the literature how your baby is eating what you eat and how certain foods may effect the flavor of your milk. And in the same vien the nutrients you eat get passed to them also. For a little boost to his digestion trying adding a dose of fiber to your breakfast or coffee in the morning. They have that great new brand that is tastless and can be added to any food or beverage. It won't make him go everyday but it should shorten the time between BMs. The suppositories and other methods are best left for serious compaction. I hope this helps. Have a great day.

yes this is normal. my child did every five days or every day or maybe just one a week. it is very normal. I was told that they are using all the nutritions. my child is 8 months old and she still has irregular bm. She is still breastfed baby. Yes the acid reflux does go away when you change your diet. I had to do that for my child and i didn't have to give her the medicine anymore.

hi T. my name is P. , i have 7 mo old daughter and i breastfeed her and i had the same problem... it is supposed to be totally normal for bf babies to only go maybe once a week b/c they are absorbing all of the nutrients you are giving them, if you are worried i suggest that you give him a little nursury water and kayro syrup only about an ounce of water with a half a tea spoon of kayro ...thats what helped my little girl.good luck

Hi. I'm am 34 yr old mom of 4 children. ALL 4 had this problem and I used infant suppositories, 1/2 way in and held it for just 10 or 15 seconds and it got the bowel going every time, releasing lots of gas and build up. (hold it with a baby wipe hiding your hand or you can get "hit". I also would give them a little of expressed breast milk mixed with Karo syrup with a medicine dropper since I didn't want them to acquire nipple confusion with a bottle. Infant massage also worked wonders and keep the belly warm but not too hot so he will relax. If he's too cold he'll just get tense and that won't help the cause. Don't be afraid to give him a little extra help because others warn you against it. My first son did suffer the first 2 months because my ex mother-in-law constantly told me not to do all the things that my mother and grandmother taught me to to (grandma raised 18 kids, mom raised 12). I finally listened to mom and by son was a much more comfortable and happy baby. Good luck with the breastfeeding and watch your diet. Keep a food journal so you can detect a pattern of behavior with the baby according to what you are eating. Stay away from things that give you gas or can constipate you because he may have the same reaction.
Thanks~
D.

My son doesn't poop when he's going through a major growth spurt. It's like they use absolutely everything up so there's nothing left to get rid of. I haven't heard about it havign to do with the acid reflux medication, but my son just started that stuff last week. As long as he's eating and urinating well and doesn't seem to be in any distress I wouldn't worry too much.

My daughter had the same issue. The doc said it was normal and it wasnt a problem unless baby seems to be in pain or really struggling to have a BM. Its because their system is starting to become more like ours and they wont go 4 or 5 times a day anymore and its very common for them to not go for several days. Dont worry unless they are in pain. Also try giving baby water to soften his stool. Hope this helps!!
--S.

T.,
First...congrats on the new baby boy. Next... you are going to get tons of responses to this question and some are going to tell you to give him all kinds of things from syrup to suppositories. Do not do it!!! Breast fed babies don't create as much waste as formula fed babies. So they will go through periods with no bm's. It's absolutly normal for them to go through this stage, it's only strange for you because you are used to seeing a poopy diaper with almost every feeding. His little body is learning to do it's job and using all of the nutrients from your breast milk. Besides breast milk is a natural laxative. If he doesn't seems uncomfortable, and his tummy isn't hard and bloated, then he's not constipated. If he is constipated he will "tell" you. If that's the case, then take a look at your diet too see if anything has changed that might affect him, then call the dr. don't try to self diagnose, and give him something that will hurt him more then help him. Good luck.
B.
P.S. my little Reese (8 1/2 mo) went through this at about 3 months and it totally freaked me out. She went 11 days and i made a dr appt and while we were in the waiting room she had the BIG blow out. It was too funny/ironic, that we were there to find out why she wasn't pooping an then she had the biggest poop I'd ever seen. my doc told me all the stuff that i just told you above.