Baby Not Pooping

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Baby Not Pooping

by Spencer
(D.C.)

My son seems to be constipated and he is only 28 days old. What can I do he is still feeding and urinating, but now bowel movement.

Baby Help Line Response:

Hi Spencer!

Congratulations to you new baby! Hopefully, he has pooped already and everything is fine, but if not here are some tips for you.

You don’t tell if you are breastfeeding or not. If you are and if your baby has had normal breast milk poop earlier, chances are that he is only going through a growth period and therefore actually absorbs pretty much everything he eats. Also, at around 4 weeks of age, a baby’s digestive system begins to mature and the number of bowel movement usually decreases, especially if the baby is breastfed. If he seems completely happy and eats and urinates just as usual, there is probably nothing you have to do. The poop will come.
If your baby is formula-fed, the risk of constipation is higher.

Some symptoms of constipation are:

In a newborn, firm stools less than once a day with straining and difficulty passing them

In older babies, firm stools less often than 7 days for breast-fed babies and 4 days for bottle-fed babies

Dry, hard stools and pain on passing them

Hard, pebble-like stools passed by a baby who strains during a bowel movement

Signs of blood along the outside of the poop

Belly pain along with hard, infrequent stools

While it is normal for babies will strain from time to time to move the stool along through the intestines, crying is not. If you want to do something to help your baby while straining, try holding his knees against his chest to help him “squat”. This is also very effective for tummy pain to release gas.

If your baby is bottle-fed you can experiment with various formulas to find the one that has the least tendency to result in constipation. For some babies soy based formulas work better. For others, a hydrolysate formula, such as Nutramigen can make a real difference.

You can also feed your boy smaller amounts of formula more frequently, to help the intestines cope with the formula. Twice as often is a rule of thumb.

Make sure that you don’t add too much formula powder when preparing the formula. Take care not to overfill or tightly pack the scoop.
You can also try offering your baby some extra water – about 1 oz once or twice a day.

You don’t say how long it has been since your baby had his last bowel movement. 28 days old, the average is still some 4 times per day, but that really is an average. By the time your baby is 2 months old, the average has dropped to 1 time per day. But, as I said, the variation can be quite large. Two of our kids had periods at around 3 months old, when they pooped every 10-14 days. Very convenient… ;-D However, they were both completely breast-fed and showed no signs of constipation or illness.

Since your baby is so young, I would probably contact a pediatrician if it’s been a while since your baby pooped, breast milk fed or not, both to get advice on possible treatment for constipation and to make sure that your baby is completely healthy. Don’t use baby laxatives or glycerin suppositories without consulting a doctor first. It may be completely unnecessary.

I wish you and your baby good luck!

/Paula

Comments for
Baby Not Pooping

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Jan 14, 2008

30 hours of NOT pooping-14 days old
by: Molly

I have been breast feeding my new baby and he had two EXPLOSIVe poops yesterday, but has not pooped since and it's going on 30 hours. I am worried. Should I be?

Feb 09, 2008

KARO
by: Anonymous

A little Karo Syrup in his bottle once a day ( 1 tablespoon for 2-3 ounces) will help. Trust ME!!!

Feb 12, 2008

My one month old is straining
by: Anonymous

My one month old is straining alot when he is trying to go to poop. It takes him a while to a day or two to get it out. Any suggestions?

Feb 13, 2008

Baby Massage
by: Anonymous

Have you tried baby massage? It worked really great for my baby when he was like that. You should get a book that shows you in pictures how to massage your baby's belly.

/Maria

Feb 22, 2008

THANKS
by: Anonymous

Thanks FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

Mar 04, 2008

BABY NOT POOING FOR DAYS
by: Anonymous

My baby was 3 months old and did not poo after 4 days. She started to poo on the 5th day which was alot. Then she pooped every other day or so. She has been releasing gas everyday. Now she is in her 5th month and has not poo for 5 days now. I am still waiting to see how long it would take her to poo. Also, I am breastfeeding her since then. Hopefully she will poo real soon!

May 12, 2008

3 month old
by: constipation

I am a breastfeeding mom and I started my son on rice cereal at 3 months a teaspoon every onther day ... and but I wasted more then he ate lol but now I bought the oatmeal baby cereal and he's had it once very wattery and now he's not pooping. Should I be concerned or is there something I can give him to make him poop? Its been a 2 days ruffly.

thank you

Jul 02, 2008

baby bowel movements
by: Anonymous

Hi I am a mother of 2 and I had this exact problem. My first child started out having regular daily bowel movements, but once she hit the 4 week mark they dropped down to one every 7- 9 days. Those who I spoke with made it seem as though it was abnormal which was really upsetting. I was told to give her prune juice mixed in with her bottle. Needless to say that I was a wreck!My second child was the same way, but the information I received this time was that this was fine, that some babies are like that, but that I could help it along by using a Q-tip dipped in Vaseline and inserting it rectaclly. This really helped out as she would then have a poop later that day.

Aug 18, 2008

no poop for 16 hours
by: rebecca

i breastfeed, but i give my baby formula for a day because i had a night out and she hasnt pooped since last night and im worried can anyone give me any suggestions.

Aug 19, 2008

More breast milk!
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi Rebecca!

Just continue breastfeeding. The poop will come and everything will go back to normal over the next couple of days. Breast milk is an excellent laxative for infants.

Good luck!

/Paula

Dec 27, 2008

Help my baby hasn't pooped for many days
by: Mommy

My baby girl is 5 months old.She hasn't pooped for 7 days and i gave her little bit of prune juice( she doesn't like it at all) then she pooped a large amount it was realy dark brown color and very watery.Then she stoped poop again and it's been 5 days now. I'm breasfeeding only what should i do help!!!

Dec 27, 2008

Don't worry!
by: Baby Help Line

Hi Mommy!

Don't do anything! If your daughter is only breastfed, she is not constipated; only digesting all the milk she gets. Two of my kids didn't poop for almost 14 days at that age. It is normal when breastfed. Don't worry!

/Paula

Dec 29, 2008

helpers
by: Wondering

Hi!

My baby has started about 3 weeks ago only pooping with a suppository. The first time we waiting 7 days of not pooping to give him one the next day and still more poop came. We then visited the doctor who told us only once every 7 days. We waited 6 before giving him one and now were going on day 6 again.

He gets upset and looks to be in pain. The doctor told us something that if we continue to give him a suppository every 6 days that he'll become lazy and not poop on his own.

Does anyone know if this lazy stool thing is true? Has anyone experienced this before?

Feb 17, 2009

2 week old baby not pooping for days
by: Sharon

Hi,

I had read comments about total breadfed babies not pooing for days are common, but I am still worried.

Cos since my baby is back from hospital, he has no poo for 3 days, after which we went to visit a paediatrician and he inserted a gel into my baby's anus which helped him to pass motion that day. After that he stopped passing motion again for the next 4 days, and we inserted the gel again on the 5th day. He pooed again. But now it had been 3 days and still no poo from him.

I am on total breastfeeding for my baby. Drank lots of fluid and even had prune juice hoping it will pass on from the milk to him, but it dont seem to work. We can hear him passing wind, but still no poo. What should we do??

Mar 08, 2009

7 Days and counting.........
by: Anonymous

Well, I can tell you that my son who is 3.5 months old has not pooped for 7 days. We took him to a doctor who said he didn't look like he was in pain and seemed perfectly happy so we should not worry. She said we could give him a little bit of prune or apple juice but that it could be up to 10 days before he poops so we should just wait.

He is BF so I don't think he's constipated but nonetheless I am very concerned. The doctor didn't seem worried at all so I'll just wait and see.

Mar 24, 2009

11 days and no poop
by: Stasha

My baby is 5 and a half weeks old and has not pooped in 11 days. She is strictly breastfed and from what I have read on here she should be ok and the poop should come some time soon. I am just wondering how LONG would you wait before taking them into the doctors???

I mean 2 weeks without a bowel movement seems like a long time to me and we are getting closer to that two week mark.

She does not seem in any distress. She is peeing like normal and is still passing gas.

Mar 24, 2009

Yes a long time but...
by: Baby Help Line - Paula

Hi there,

I agree that 11 days is quite a long time for such a little baby. However, as long as she has been pooping normal breast milk poop earlier, is content, eating, and peeing she is most likely simply digesting all she eats.

6 weeks old is growth spurt, so that might be one of the reasons.

If you are worried, why not give a call to her nurse? But most likely, the poop will come within a couple of days.

You can also try doing some baby massage to stimulate her intestines.

Congratulations to your little girl!

Paula

Apr 02, 2009

Unhappy Baby
by: Nicole

Hi!

My son Pete is 4 weeks old on Friday. He is formula fed and is on Enfamil. He has a very good appetite especially since 3 weeks and I think he is in a growth spurt.

On Tuesday evening he was straining and crying obviously trying to pass stool. He hadn't pooped since Sunday morning so I was happy. When I looked in his diaper the poop was hard, green and cream colored (like the color of formula) and did not stick to his diaper. He started to push out more and it was the hardest thing to watch. He has done that again yesterday and then today he has been straining and crying all day.

I have spoken with his Doctor's nurse and she suggested 3 oz water with 1 tsp of brown sugar.

It seemed to work a little yesterday but now when he passed a small stool it was hard again. She also suggested changing his formula as she has had a lot of other Mom's saying that the Enfamil is causing hard poops. Not all, but some babies seem to not digest it well.

I'm just wondering if I should take him to the doctor early or just try to wait it out? Is this something that he needs medical attention for? I am just so worried about him. Any input would be so appreciated.
Thank you!
Nicole

Apr 09, 2009

constipation
by: Anonymous

Hi my grandson is now 4 months and has had bowel problems. Mum changed his formula several times and now he is on S21 AR which helps his reflux but not his poops, we thought we would introduce solids and he is thriving they say it may take several days for him to eat a spoonful but he gulped 1/4 jar although we have not changed the variety yet he has been on the same golden vegies for 2 weeks and his formula after solids, he has several tummy cramps in the late afternoon and draws his little legs up to his chest.

We tried water and sugar, and apple juice to no avail, then i gently inserted a cotton bud (Q tip) dipped in vaseline into his rectum just enough to stimulate him to push hard enough for him to start the pooh, he just lays they strains and giggles relieved of the release of gases and poo, continue stimulating the rectum with the cotton bud, (you should only loose sight of the cotton bud head and no further)my grandson poops about a days worth of poop and we only do it when he is despair and uncomfortable, but in my days it was the only way my son would poop, he never ever produced a naturally dirty napppy and he now is a healthy 25 yo. Hope this help you all.

May 12, 2009

1 month old not pooping
by: cari

I really hope someone can help ease my worrying. My daughter is 1 month old and for about 2 weeks she has been having trouble pooping. She tries to go, she strains and strains, and nothing comes out. Sometimes she even starts crying as if she is in a lot of pain. She is VERY gassy and is always passing gas. She does not burp very easy at all though. The doctor has changed her formula from similac, to isomil, and now too alimentum. The only way I can get her to poop is with a glycerin suppository. It usually takes her like 15 seconds once it is inserted for her to go. Her poop is very thick, like a really thick peanut butter, but not hard like pebbles. Is she constipated or am I losing my mind??? I am a nervous wreck because I am thinking the worst over here. Should I get a second opinion or just be patient? Thank you

May 21, 2009

my baby girls a week old and not pooped in a day.
by: rebecca

Hiya
my baby girl is 1 week old and she as not had a poop in a day is tere anything to worry about and what can i do about it??..my baby is feedin on bottle-fed. but she doesnt seem stressed or shes not crying... x

Jun 03, 2009

6 week old constipated?
by: Anonymous

My 6 week old has been breast fed and supplemented with formula. Poos weren't a problem at first but about a week ago he stopped going. His poos were always pretty liquidy. We've tried Lactulose and glycerin suppositories(recommended by dr) The suppositories worked twice but not today. I have switched his formula from good start to similac. Do you think he's got an allergy and not actually constipated since his poos were never hard?

Jun 27, 2009

baby havent pooped in 7 days
by: Ebony

My baby is breast fed and formula fed and eats cereal twice a day and this is the longest period of time since he had bowel movement. Of course he does not eat all of this in one sitting. I alternate. He is 4 months.I cut back on one of cereal feedings and I just started giving him some prune juice yest. He doest seem to be in pain for the most part. What should I do?

Jul 06, 2009

My 11 month old son has not pooped for 2 days.
by: Mills

HI , I am a concerned mother, as my 11 month old son has not pooped for 2 days now , he eats 5 times a day , I am really worried , please suggest me something what should I do to make him poop?

Please help.

Jul 07, 2009

21 day old baby - hasn't pooped in 3 days
by: Wendy

My baby girl is just under three weeks old. I am breastfeeding and supplementing with Similac Advanced (2/3 breast milk, maybe 1/3 formula). Mostly she has bowel movements that we were told were to be expected (seedy and loose about 6-8 times a day). Since Saturday, she hasn't gone at all. Normally, I might not worry, but she seems to be in a good deal of discomfort (she constantly has her little knees up to her chest, she doesn't sleep well or soundly and she is consistently straining, face getting red and then crying a bit (even in her sleep she's crying - poor thing!).

If I don't have Vaseline, can I use Lanolin on a Q-Tip to put in her rectum in hopes to loosen things up for her? I just want her to be comfortable again - it's breaking my heart to see her so uncomfortable.

I have been attempting to only breastfeed the past 24 hours, but it's a bit hard since my milk production is not as free flowing and I need to feed her when she gets hungry. Is ther a better formula I could or should be using?

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated!!!!

Aug 04, 2009

Trying enemas
by: Lena

We have been giving our child cows milk. We buy the milk from the farm (raw milk), then boil it and add a few essential oils such as Fish oil, flax seed oil, Coconut oil, sunflower oil and olive oil. All oils are organic and cold pressed. Cows milk from the farm is very healthy unlike the pasturized so called organic milk you buy in the stores. However it is still not mothers milk and you have to add the above oils in small amounts to bring it as close to the real thing as possible.

We tried formula but it made our child more constipdated.

We noticed that even though she would go to the bathroom there were times when soft balls of stool would form that would hard for her to pass out. So we gave her an enema with distilled water. We put half cups (small cup) of water into the enmea held and let it sit for a one minute than pushed her knees to her chest and she pushed these soft yellow lumpy stools out.

The enemas work but when you give them the enema you should give the child bifido infantis bacteria afterwards to replace the bacteris that you might have expelled. You can mix this in her milk

Aug 10, 2009

For every mother who is worried!!!
by: Anonymous

Here is a help pediatri. Nurse help line 13107843721

Aug 12, 2009

Come on...
by: Anonymous

Please if you are worried about your child, don't type on the internet!!! Go to your doctor. He is far more qualified than any of us!

Oh and as far as glucose syrup, brown sugar, anything sweet etc. Don't give this to your child it can cause tooth decay. In the UK we are strictly told never ever feed your child glucose or sugar in water.

Please remember... These are your babies! Would you trust a stranger in the streets advice or a qualified doctor?

Aug 12, 2009

my baby hasnt poo for the past 24 hours>>>5days old
by: green lantern

my daughter hasnt poof for the past 24 hours and she's on breastfeed and formula milk. i am worried already. pls give me answers and advise. thanks..

Oct 12, 2009

need so help
by: parent

are babys 3 weeks old hasnt pooped in like 35 40 hours what can we do to help it along!

Oct 23, 2009

2 mo. old and poop
by: Adriana

My 2 month old baby used to have a regular stool everyday. Recently that has changed and she sometimes doesn't go for 3-4 days. She moves as though she is uncomfortable. She is a breast-fed and bottle baby. And because breast fed babies don't pass a stool everyday and sometimes can go 3-4 days w/out stooling, it still concerns me because she still gets formula. I have consulted her doctor and he suggested that I try karo syrup with ater. That didn't work. He then suggested that I give her glycerin suppositories (FLEET) but only half, since she's still so young. It helps her pass a stool almost instantly, but I know it should only be your last resort.

Oct 23, 2009

baby not pooping
by: Anonymous

For the person who says not to get advice from the internet. It doesn't mean we follow it but want to know if anyone else is having the same problems and if they were given the same advice as us. My doctor said to give 1 tsp of dark Karo syrup to 1 to 2 bottles a day if constipated. I wouldn't recommend using suppositories on a regular basis. I use a Qtip to get my 3 wk old started but only after she hasn't pooped in 3 to 4 days. She is formula fed Similac Advance. If she doesn't get the hang of it in a couple more weeks we go back to the doctor.

Oct 24, 2009

Straining baby
by: Anonymous

My son is now 2 months old and has a bowel movement usual every morning...however he strains non-stop from morning through the night. This causes him not to sleep during the night because he pushes non-stop. We have tried karo syrup and have recently tried the q-tip with vasoline. I hate seeing my son strain all the time it is heart-breaking. He eats about 4oz every 2-4 hrs(formula). We have switched him from enfamil gentelese and now are on parent choice soy. He seems to like the soy and doesn't throw up anymore from it. my doctor says the straining is normal and it bothers me because I think she thinks i'm over exagerating about it. Any help would be great or if anyone is going through this samething I would love to hear

Oct 26, 2009

Need anwser please
by: Anonymous

3 weeks hard time pooping

Oct 26, 2009

Need anwser please
by: Anonymous

3 weeks hard time pooping

Nov 01, 2009

Thick and sticky stools
by: Anonymous

HI,
MY BABY IS 6 WEEKS OLD AND FORMULA FED. SHE GOES ABOUT 3 DAYS WITHOUT A BOWEL MOVEMENT. SHE DOES STILL PASS GAS, THOUGH. AT TIMES, SHE IS FUSSY. WHEN SHE DOES HAVE A BOWEL MOVEMENT, SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN PAIN. SHE JUST HAS A THICK STICKY STOOL AND THEN SOMETIMES WITH THAT SAME BOWEL MOVEMENT, SOME SOFTER STOOL FOLLOWS. WE HAVE SWITCHED HER FORMULA FROM SIMILAC ISOMIL SOY TO PARENTS CHOICE SENSITIVITY. HER DR. SAID TO TRY EITHER A SUPPOSITORY OR TO CHANGE HER FORMULA, WHICH IS WHEN WE SWITCHED TO THE SENSITIVE. WE DO GIVE HER AN OUNCE OF APPLE JUICE MIXED WITH AN OUNCE OF WATER JUST BEFORE SHE GOES TO BED AND THIS IS WHAT PRODUCES THE STICKY BOWEL MOVEMENT IN THE MORNING. IF WE DON'T GIVE THE JUICE, WATER MIXTURE, THEN NO POOP. WE HAVE ALSO DONE THE KARO SYRUP, (ONE TEASPOON TO 4 OUNCES OF FORMULA) AND THIS ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. IS THIS KIND OF BOWEL MOVEMENT OKAY OR SHOULD WE TRY SOMETHING ELSE? I DON'T WANT TO START SUPPOSITORIES IF WE DON'T HAVE TO. THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE IN ADVANCE.