Needing Advice on 4 Month Old Constipation

When I had my son I heard that length of constipation or simply not pooping "normally" could be normal for a breasfed baby, although my son seemed to have poop every single diaper while he was on the breast!

It is normal for breastfed babies to go up to a week between bowel movements, it does not mean he is constipated. My oldest would go for a week at a time, and his doctor said it is just because breastmilk is so easy to digest that there isn't really anything left. As long as it is a normal BM and not hard pellets when he does go, I wouldn't worry.

I would see a doctor. I breast fed but I never had problems with constipation, in fact the opposite. My son went after every feeding.

From what I understand is that breastfed babies sometimes go a couple days without going. My son when I nursed him would go a week sometimes before going. Have her speak to her childs doctor and see what they reccomend. It may not be anything to worry about.

are you sure he's consitpated? typically breastfed babies don't get constipated. true constipation is when they have hard, painful bowel movments and the poop is small, hard and pellet like. if this isn't what is happening, then he's not really constipated. he maybe going through a phase that most bf babies go through. they will start to have several days between bm's, this is because their bodies are using most of what they are taking in and they don't produce as much waste as a formula fed baby. it is strange for mom, b/c she's used to seeing him go pretty mush everyday or even a couple of times a day. but it is prefectly normal and as long as he's not uncomfortable then he is fine. i wouldn't give him any laxatives until she talks to a doctor.

I highly recommend Fleet Babylax ... it's not a laxative ... it's just glycerin(the equivalent of soap) in an easy-to-use dispenser, and when you insert it into baby's bum, a BM usually follows within a few minutes (for my little one, usually within one minute, so I hurry to get the diaper back on!!). The glycerin gently causes the rectum to contract, and the resulting BM is such a relief for baby. I have a 3 month old that I exclusively breastfeed and by day three of no BM, I usually do it for him. Then he coos like no other. It's really a great, safe, natural product. I used with my first son when we started with solid foods, as he was subsequently a bit constipated.

Worth a try, no?

This is normal for a breastfed baby!!! Dont worry! There are several other old questions about constipation in breastfed babies on here...look at some of the questions from december on, you will find the info useful, but do not worry, this is just so normal! When you are breastfeeding your child does not have the fillers to digest that go with formula, everything in your milk is all natural. When he goes thru a growth spurt he will use it all up!!!

Is the baby truly constipated?? If he is happy and comfortable then why give suppositories or laxatives, even if they are "natural"? Please see two recent discussions on this topic:
http://www.mamasource.com/request/16393695572571193345
http://www.mamasource.com/request/7667307807976194049

My son has been doing the same thing. Our Dr. told us to put Corn syrup in his bottle (if he's bottle fed). You put one teaspoon per 4 oz of milk/formula. It seems to help.
If he's breastfed, it's most llkely something in the mothers diet that will have to be taken out.

With my son we called the dr. about this situation. They said that is normal for them to do this. If the son's stomach is not hard then the constipation should pass. If the stomach is hard this is not good and should be taken care of. Ways that they told us to relieve the constipation is to take the baby's temperature rectally. This will allow them go go to the bathroom. You can also give prune juice. If they do the prune juice make sure to dilute it. We gave my son two ounces of prune juice diluted with 2 ounces of water. He drank it all. Be careful with this as there could be a major mess. They can also make the babys legs go in a bicycle motion or rubb his tummy in a clock wise motion. This is what we have done for our son. He is also just breastfeed. If you have any other questions let me know.

Is he like that naturally or are there foods in his diet that cause it? Apple juice can work wonders on loosening things up, so can plums and cherries.

Hi A.-
O MY GOSH!! I AM SHOCKED AT THE PEOPLE SAYING TO GIVE THE BABY KARO AND OR CORN SYRUP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT CAN CAUSE MAJOR, MAJOR PROBLEMS IN BABIES. READ ANY BOOK!!!!
I was a nursing mom as well and was very concerned that my baby was not having a bowel movement every day or even once a week. I contacted his Dr. twice and the hospital lactation consultant once on this very subject. Every time they said the same thing. "It is not abnormal for a nursing baby to go days, even up to a week without a bowel movement since their bodies are absorbing all of the good stuff and dont have much if anything to waste" they also told me that breastmilk is a natural laxative and as long as a baby is nursing, they will not have a problem. I too asked about something to help and they told me not to because it would dehydrate them unless he seems to be in pain while having a a bowel movement. Babies bodies are made to use everyting in breastmilk and bowel movements are to get rid of waste. They have very little waste at this point with breastmilk. I was also given the warning of "watch out when he does because it will be a blow out". They sure were not wrong about that either. Not every time but some of the time.
My son became more regular at about 6 months. Hope this helps.

My son who is 6 months old has the same problem and I have found that if you add just a half a teaspoon of corn syrup to his formula or breast milk it really helps he goes through it all the time and that really helps

Your friend could try Gerber prune juice on a regular basis. The Gerber prune juice is only about 10% prune juice, and 90% apple juice. This little bit might provide relief without turning his stool to liquid. They also sell infant suppositories if he won't drink the juice. First of all, I would have her talk to the doctor. Some infants only go once or twice a week, and that is their normal. Usually if you call the office, this is an issue that they can help with over the phone, and doesn't require an office visit.
Best of luck,
J.

A warm bath could help, as well as the bicycle movement and a tummy massage all together. Formula and the one time we tried cereal(not doing that again for awhile) constipated my 4 month old, so I just went back to all breast milk for now. I think it will get better with time as he gets used to it.
Has he started solids yet? A friend of mine has to mix the cereal with prune juice/food to make sure her baby does not get constipated. Although 4 months is still a bit early for solids.
Hope some of that helps.

One thing that worked for me with both of my sons (Breastfed and bottle fed) was to give them one bottle a day that had a teaspoon full of Dark Karo syrup in it. I would give them either 8 oz. of water or 8 oz. of breastmilk and mix it with the teaspoon of syrup. And it would help tremendously, plus they liked the taste of it because it was very sweet. Several doctors assured me that this was not bad for them in any way.

We thought we had the same problem with our daughter so we watered down her bottles a little....we used formula by that time so in your case try giving him several bottles full of warm water throughout the day (you may have to change diapers more often when you do this) I also asked the doctor about it because our daughter used to poop every day! Doc said that when they get around 3-4 months they become more like an adult when they poop. They dont do it as often, they poop harder, clay-like lumps and she said that if the child doesnt seem to be fussy or hurting when he poops, it probably isnt constipation, however if he is experiencing pain just give him more water and get him a little more hydrated. It worked for us, hope it works for you as well!!
--S.

My daughter was the same way! Her doctor suggested putting a tablespoon of dark corn syrup in her milk. It really worked! Also I placed a teaspoon after that every bottle and it kept her cleaned out. Now she never has that problem!

hi A.,
well my first question is this is he on cereal ? he's 4 months old and you can start babies on cereal at this point if need be. if he is that could be the cause of constipation but i would make sure it's that first before giving him any medication. If he is on cereal that could be the reason that he doesn't do it everyday. and/or he could be constipated because he is getting to much cereal. just a thought W. good luck

It's so weird my son(getting ready to be 6mos) did the same thing at 4mos old. I was exclusively nursing him too. I didn't have anything like this with my daughters so I took him to the doctor. He recommended using infant suppositories. My mother's a nurse and she suggested that even though they are made for children to clip the part of them off so they were even smaller since he is an infant. They helped him to go everyday. (I hated that horrible look on his face from straining.) He said his problem was just needing something to get things "lubricated and working again". When one of my daughter's was born the doctor said her rectum actually hadn't developed straight. He said as she got older it would be fine, and it became so after a few months. I had to give her the Fleet brand glycerin suppository. It's got a bubble at the bottom filled with fluid that when you squeeze the bubble it goes up and it worked great for her to go. So I'd check with the doctor to make sure it's no health concerns causing it, just that it's him not going.

If you're nursing, everything takes care of itself. No need to worry!

Nursing babys will have that... He should be ok.. DO call the nurse.. just let them know.. I would bet 100% they wlll say this

Give him 1 ounce of PEAR juice with 1 ounce water mixed with it... make it warm!! and that is the best for him.. Apple will be too hard of a babys body! Just like Prunes... Pear is Natural.

My older son had this BAD when he was little.. and his dr at the time reallllly messed him up by having him drink apple juice and using enemas. Oh my gosh!!! he still has probs to this day.. and he is 15 now....

So just remember Pear is the most natural.. cuz later you can use the Tray fruit and still the Juice it will help as baby gets older. Even You!!

Good luck I hope your friends baby will be going poo in no time....

Hi! I would refer your friend to a La Leche League in her area. You can find one on the LLLI website. I have to add that typically babies that are nursing do not get constipated. My son would go for 4-5 days without pooping. He did this until we started him on solids, now he still only poops a few times a week. Your friend's baby may not be constipated he may just be a minimal pooper like my son was. However, seek out LLL they may be able to give advice about his nursing in relationship to his pooping patterns. I would venture to say that unless he is straining to poop or showing signs of pain than he is probably NOT constipated. Good luck to you and your friend.

That's completely normal and nothing to worry about.