One Month Old Baby Not Pooping

by Shelly Koenig
(Belgrade, MT, USA)

My grandson has not pooped in 4 days and he is only 1 month old. He has been on breast milk since birth. They give him breast milk and then top him off with one ounce of Infamil formula.

Is it normal to not poop for so long? Their pediatrician told them that it could be possible for him not to poop for up to 5 weeks. That does not seem right to me.

Baby Help Line Response:

Not Pooping When Mainly Breastfed

Five weeks... Never heard of a baby that didn't poop for such a long time! The pediatrician must have meant 5 days!

Up to two weeks for breastfed babies can be normal, however, in case the baby seems to be fine and not in pain.

Usually a baby who is only one month old still poops every day, but this really can vary, especially for breastfed babies.

For example, a very general rule of thumb is that babies have a growth spurt at 6 days, 6 weeks and 6 months... At this point in time they tend to need more food to be content. Breastfed babies then start fussing and eat more often to increase breast milk production and they might poop less, since they make use of everything they consume.

Maybe this is the reason why your grand son hasn't pooped in four days?

Since he is mainly breastfed I really wouldn't worry for at least a few more days. If he does start showing signs of constipation, (pain, straining, the poop that does come out is hard etc), a possible way to help the baby is to cut down on the formula or switch to another brand.

Chances are, however, that he is just fine and just growing rapidly.

I hope this helps!

Paula

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One Month Old Baby Not Pooping

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Feb 04, 2008

the same
by: Anonymous

my daughter have the same problem have not poop in 3 weeks on her own i have to help her every time using a suppository. the doctor also told me is that is k that i have to give her time to develop, but i am going crazy just looking at her pushing and getting red but nothing happen. i don't know what to do. when she does poop with my help the poop is not hard and is normal in color and sometimes water like. but she is having no pain at all.

Feb 18, 2009

Almost the same
by: Anonymous

My daughter is 5 weeks old and for the last 4 days she has not been able to poop without me giving her a suppository. she grunts, and pushes so hard her little face turns red, then nothing but a fart comes out. When ever I call the doctor he just says to give her another suppository.

Is this normal? What should I do? She seems to be in pain.

Jul 04, 2009

3 Weeks old with irregular pooping
by: Anonymous

My son is 3 weeks old and having irregular pooping. He also grunts and turns red only to pass gas. Someone stated that he may have a HERNIA but he was also checked by his doctor who didn't see anything wrong. Any suggestions!!!!

Oct 04, 2009

3 month old
by: Anonymous

I have a 3 month old little boy and he has problems pooping on his own also. He is breastfed but when I went back to work I had to supplement one bottle of infamil formula.
When I started that he went 4 days without pooping. And after that he went up to 7 days without pooping. I tried the karo syrup, pear juice, prune juice, and the rectal stimulation but nothing seemed to work. I tried the suppositories last and as soon as I got half of it in there was an explosion. Boy was it big. I was so excited he pooped I didn't care about the mess.

Oct 20, 2009

normal!!
by: bee

totally normal. my 2 month old baby didnt poop for 7 days. then he'd have a bowl movement and then not go again for days!! this used to happen for a while. dr said it was normal b/c some babies get the perfect amount of nutrients from breast milk and their body won't excrete poop! i was soo worried back then. now my baby is 2 yrs old and we laugh at how worried we used to be!!

Jan 31, 2010

me too
by: Anonymous

I have a 6 week old and she is only breastfed but has only pooped once in 3 days. It was watery and the dr said she should be poopoing at least 3 times a day. She used to but now she seems like she is having pain bc she is grunting and cries when she passes gas and it is like a mini explosion every time. very stinky too. she is crying a ton and she also has a stuffy nose. i have a fever and a cold and was wondering if that had anything to do with her not pooping. plus i have not gone #2 either but i am not in a lot of pain.

Feb 07, 2010

Pooping and Lactose Overload
by: Anonymous

I have a 5 week old and he began pooping grass green poops. He is exclusively breastfed. He became very gassy and would only sleep for a few minutes and then would start crying like he was in a lot of pain and would spit up a ton of milk. We began using a lot of Mylicon and Gripe Water. For his one month checkup his Dr. observed his spit up and him beginning to cry, his poop had not yet turned green. She said it might be lactose intolerance and acid reflux. She told me to get rid of dairy products from my diet and to feed him shorter time periods closer together. I wasn't quite sure if I believed her diagnosis so I began to research lactose intolerance and ran across lactose overload. I was reading off the symptoms to my husband and he said that sounded just like our son. The only thing he didn't have yet was pooping the bright grass green poop. Well shortly after reading that he began pooping green. I called the Lactation Consultant the next morning and she told me to pump to get rid of the excess fore milk I was producing. (Lactose Overload is a fore milk/hind milk in-balance). I was instructed to pump 30 minutes before his feeding time. I got a ton of just straight fore milk - up to 4 oz in like 15 min or so). Well his poop started to go back to its normal mustard color but has what looks like spinach pieces or tea leaves. Then he totally quit pooping. The spit up is a lot better now. He barely spits up at all now. It has been over 2 days so far. I am going to call the pediatrician in the morning and am going to a Le Leche League meeting on Tuesday. Anyone else have any experience with this?

Feb 13, 2010

not quite the same
by: Anonymous

my six week old is bottle fed and she has been pooping ike every other day..and the poops is as loose as water nearly...why? what should i do?

Apr 07, 2010

not pooing too
by: Anonymous

Today is the second day my six weeks son is not pooing.He strains,he goes red while doing it..cries a bit but not continously.am worried..am on formula n breastmilk..(only couple of times on breast)..since am trying to prepare to start work.
HOPEFULLY will poo soon,...

Jun 06, 2010

Relief...
by: mike

Pediatrician says our 7 week old should be pooping four to five times per day. He was going once per day or once per two days and he was very unhappy. We didn't get the connection till he told us. It's gross but stimulation of the rectum with a foreign body - like a suppository - will cause things to move along. He told us to lube up a rectal thermometer and insert it only an inch or two, wiggle it gently. One to two minutes of stimulation relived our baby of a little poo. This got things going after four or five tries over an evening/night. Now he is pooping more regularly and not as miserable. We are so grateful! I had to share to let others know this. Good luck.

Jun 06, 2010

Breast fed babys don't burp they should fart
by: mike - again

Just like the title says - don't burp a breast fed baby. If he needs to burp, he will. If you burp him he will upchuck some of his milk and along with it stomach acid. If he is straining they give him a suppository or place a lubed rectal thermometer an inch or so up his bottom to stimulate his bowels. A minute of that will produce some poo. He may protest a little or it may calm him down - either way, it works.

Aug 26, 2010

explosions
by: Anonymous

my 6 week old daughter generally poops 1-2 times a day, which looks to be about normal. It's normally yellowy in color, but 9 times out of ten it is an explosion. Is it ok to have this much force? She is also only breastfed.

Aug 27, 2010

Yes normal
by: Baby Help Line - Paula

Hi,

Yes, I think it is quite normal for young infants to experience "explosions" when pooping. I don't know why it is so, but experienced it with both our youngest kids. I assume it might be related to their still immature digestive systems.

Best,

Paula

Sep 06, 2010

10 days no poop/14 day old
by: Anonymous

Our 14 day old infant has not had a bowel movement in 10 days. She is exclusively breastfed. We took her to the ped today who is suppd pro breastfeeding and she said to supplment her with juice.
Is this normal to go 14 days?
thanks

Sep 06, 2010

Second opinion
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi,
If your baby is only 14 days old, I'd say no, it isn't normal to not poop. At that age breastfed babies tend to poop very often, even after every feeding.

I also think it sounds very strange for a Dr to simply recommend juice for a newborn baby. Has she started to pass normal breast milk poop (i.e. yellowish)? Is she wetting 6-8 heavy diapers every day? Increasing in weight?

I really think you should contact another doctor immediately to have your daughter examined. She might be completely healthy, but with such a young baby one should not take chances.

I wish you good luck. Please let us know how things are going.

Warm wishes,

Paula

Oct 11, 2010

Is he okay?
by: Denise

My son turned 3 weeks old today. He pooped once in the past 24 hours when days before hed poop at least every 2 to 3 hours. He's still peeing regular but is it normal for him to not poop so much?

Oct 12, 2010

Breast- or formulafed?
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi Denise,

Is your baby breast- or formula fed? If he is breastfed, he is likely to be fine, although at this early age most babies do poop several times per day, just as your son usually do. However at around 4 weeks, most babies' digestive systems begin to mature, and they tend to start pooping less frequently. So this could be the reason. Just wait a little bit more, maybe one day, and see what happens. You can try some gentle baby massage for your son, to help his tummy. (But at his young age, do it with his clothes on or in a very warm room. Most newborn babies hate being undressed.) If he does seem ill (in pain, for example), of course contact a doctor, especially since he is so young. If your baby drinks formula, he might be a little bit constipated.

Here you'll find a guide to signs of constipation and some tips on what to do.

Warm wishes,

Paula

Mar 20, 2011

So many things to consider
by: Anonymous

There really are so many things that can be factoring into this. Personally, I really wouldn't worry yet. Having 5 kids of my own I've experienced quite the variety of baby poop and this simply doesn't alarm me. Here is why.

Breastfed babies usually have several bms a day for the first several weeks (how long depends on baby). After a few weeks, some continue with several bms a day but it is very normal for a bf baby to slow down to 1 a day or 1 a week or one even every 2 weeks. (you don't have to take my word on it, bf books will tell you this. I recommend Dr Sears The Breastfeeding Book). If baby isn't acting in pain, and belly isn't distended &/or hard it's ok. Babies digestive tracts are very immature until around 12 weeks and many changes can occur during that time. Sometimes (keeping in mind babies behavior while not going potty) the newer ones make such faces because it's just an experience they are learning to get used to. Also, it is easier for humans to have bms from an upright position as opposed to laying down, so this cam help if there are struggles. Breastfed babies won't hardly ever get constipated. Bm is a natural laxative. Baby's immature stomach could take a couple weeks to adjust to the new formula that's being supplemented. I know...babble babble. Hope I can ease your concerns.

Definitely check out a bf book. I wouldn't jump straight to a suppository that could be harmful for babies health, or the thermometer to help move baby (what if you hurt the intestinal tract) unless things progress to worse. If baby is happy over all and growing well, well then enjoy less poop diapers to change.

Jun 11, 2011

not pooping for 3weeks now
by: Anonymous

my daugther who is barely 7weeeks have not defecated for a period of 3weeks now and her sleeping pattern is worrying coz she is more of a nocturnal and sometime switch to day n sleep less and stay awake the whole night . am unexperienced parents please advice me what to do

Jun 12, 2011

Go see a doctor!
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi,

If your daughter of 7 weeks hasn't pooped since she was 4 weeks old, you should go see a doctor first thing tomorrow. I don't know if she is breastfed or formula fed, but you need help to figure out why she doesn't poop and what should be done to help her. Is she urinating enough to we 6-8 heavy diapers per day? Increasing in weight? Does she seem overall healthy and not in pain?

In any case, take her to a doctor and have her examined. Since she is so young, she should be pooping almost daily even if she is breastfed.

Wish you good luck and please let us know what the doctor said,

Paula

Aug 08, 2011

3weeks Baby has not pooped in 6days
by: Anonymous

Hi, my 3weeks and four days old baby has not pooped in 6days. He is mainly breastfed but takes similac advanced once a day but mainly breastmilk 98%.

I am super worried, I have given him prune juice, water, even put up a thermometer up his anal to stimulate bowel movements all to no avail. I am scared and worried I don't know what to do... What's more worrying is d fact that today he started grunting as if he was having forced pain.
Help Help Help before I loose my mind and head....

Aug 15, 2011

Has your baby pooped yet?
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi,

I just saw your comment. Has your baby pooped yet? The fact that he was grunting is probably a good sign. If he hasn't pooped or if the poop was hard or very painful, I thing you should discuss it with his doctor. Your baby is a bit too young to poop that seldom. On the other hand, since he is mainly breastfed, he could be in a growth spurt and simply digesting all the milk. Most breastfed babies don't go into these periods of irregular bowel movements until they are around 2 months old, but it is individual.

Best of luck,

Paula

Oct 08, 2011

8 week old baby not pooing, but grunting
by: Andrea

My 8 week-old girl is grunting, and hasn't pooed in 4 days. I breastfeed all the time except for at her late night feeding I don't have enough breastmilk so I pump (usually about 1.5 oz.) and mix it in a bottle with 2 oz. formula. I have been doing this for about 2-3 weeks now, and bowel movements were normal until 4 days ago. I did notice that the last one she had was like peanut butter in color and a bit runnier than peanut butter in consistancy. She is grunting a lot and seems to have a lot of gas. Is this sommething i need to worry about? Help!!!

Oct 11, 2011

No worries for less poop when 8 weeks old
by: Paula (EasyBabyLife)

Hi Andrea,

8 weeks is a typical age when breastfed babies start pooping less frequently. They grow quickly and digest what they consume. Since you just mix one bottle with formula and breastfeed mainly, I really don't think there are any reasons to be concerned. Babies are often gassy at this age, and you can try helping by doing some tummy massage.

If you want to increase your milk supply, let your baby breastfeed every second hour for 48 hours. That will create a strong signal to your body to create more milk.

Hope this helps,

Paula

Nov 11, 2011

Baby poops very little in every fart
by: Anonymous

My boy is 7wks old and is formula feed. I'm giving him similac. Recently he started to poop very little everytime he farts. We have to keep changing his diapers every time he farts. His poop will be yellowish and his butt seems reddish from all those farts n poops. He seems to grunt when his doing it but never cries. He will poop abt 7 to 8 times. I'm worried cause this is the 1st time i am experiencing this. Is it normal?

Jan 27, 2012

Help!! pooping problems in a 6 week old
by: Anonymous

My baby boy is 6 weeks old and since he was a week old he has problems going number 2 At first he was on similac advance but then I switched to good start because that is what I get with wic.He became constipated shorttly after swithing him. His doctor said give him a little karyo and water I need still very hard or extremly big but still pretty hard bowel movements. So we switched formulas to Good start protect has proboitics in it I thought it was going to be my cure all but no still the same problems he can not go without help the karyo water juice I just took him to the doctor Monday and she said he sounds like he has a little bit of colic and to give him juice watered down 3:1 twice a day she said his bowels are just immature So I have been yesterday he had a great bowel movement followed by a little bit of diarrahie so I dind't give him juice that night now back to being constipated so my question is could it be the forumla could he have an introlence to dairy? He also has a little bit have acid reflux,alot of gas, tummy is bloated poor sleeping habits.. any adive would be great thank you

Oct 22, 2012

STIMULATION
by: Anonymous

Our 3 month old 30 weeker is not pooping on his own. Our pediatrician said its perfectly ok to stimulate when constipation is NOT the concern. He also said that baby will NOT rely on us helping him (he said that baby will not remember) and that once his sphincter matures he will begin to go on his own. He gets very fussy on day two of not pooping and we have to stimulate him or he will not take in anymore formula. Just not positive we are doing the right thing.

Oct 23, 2012

Releive will come your way
by: Anonymous

My little guy was having all the trouble in the world not being able to go poop. I had to give him water down apple juice twice a day for him to go. Until he was about 3 and half months old and then his body no longer needed the extra help. So everyone going through this I completely feel your pain. I know that 3 and half months sound like a lifetime, I know they it for me, but its not it will go by so fast and then it will just be a memory that you rarley think about until you trade battle stories of motherhood with your friends.

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