4 Week Old Baby In Pain When Pooping Liquid Yellow

Join Us On Facebook! | CONTACT | BABY BLOG | HOME |

4 Week Old Baby In Pain When Pooping Liquid Yellow

by Burcu
(Baldock)

I feed my daughter with formula since she was 2 weeks old and its been 2 days that she often cries when she poops, despite not beieng constipated.

I tried to help her by massaging her back, putting a little pressure right above her butt and messaging her tummy but these didnt work really. Her poop is yellow and very runny. She tries to poop for a few hours, her face gets red and she cries... Is this normal? It really hurts when she cries.

Baby Help Line:

Painful Pooping For Newborn

I've been thinking a bit about your question, since it is quite normal for a newborn baby to strain and push and have some difficulties pooping during the first couple of months. Their digestive systems are immature and basically need training (pushing and straining). Even breastfed babies, that are practically never constipated, go through this.

But since you feel that your baby really is in pain, I think you should bring it up with her doctor. A tip is to record her crying on video first and bring it along, because if you just say that she cries and strains you will most likely get the answer that it is normal.

And of course, maybe and most likely it is not a matter of concern and you are doing exactly the right thing to help her with baby massage. A nice, warm bath can help some babies too.

But even if straining and some pain is normal for a newborn baby, real pain isn't. There are issues of for example allergies and rare occasions of anal stenosis (too small anus to poop comfortably) that one shouldn't ignore.

Hope this helps,
Paula