My LO hasn't pooped in 2 days

AadensMommy2010 · October 2010

I'm feeling so bad for him! Any suggestions on ways to help him? He's 2 months old. Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

Kara5109 · October 2010

Does it seem to be bothering him? I was told that it's normal up to a week.

aneener · October 2010

Is he on Formula or breast feeding? Those two things make a HUGE difference. If he's on formula they say they may only have bowel movements once a week! But more likely once a day. If hes breast feeding, I wouldnt worry too much but you could always ask your doctor. I know my cousin he's a day younger than my daughter they are both 8 weeks old, and the doctor said prune juice.

Good luck!

AadensMommy2010 · October 2010

Thank you. He is mostly breastfed but he gets one bottle of formula at night. I wouldn't be too worried but I think it is bothering him, he seems to be grunting and crying when he's trying to push. How much prune juice and do you mix it in a bottle or just dilute it with water?

Discordia1030 · October 2010

BF babies can go for a week w/o pooping. I wouldnt worry too much. Have you tried bicycle legs or gas drops?

aneener · October 2010

https://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-home-remedies-for-constipation-in-babies.htm

Thats a website I found my cousin said 1 ounce prune juice one ounce water, exactly what this site says.

Ananke · October 2010

I wouldn't worry yet. It's completely normal for some babies to go over a week in between poops. I really wouldn't give him any juice or anything unless your pedi recommends it. This early, it could do more harm than good unless it's medically necessary.

From the research I've done on this, even if he's grunting or even crying, he's most likely not really in pain, unless he has gas or something. Crying is something that helps babies push and bear down. Some babies don't know that they need to relax their butt while tensing their stomach, so instead they tense everything and try to push. Imagine trying to push out a poo while squeezing your butt closed! That's basically what a lot of babies do until they learn how to poop. All the grunting and even the crying is their attempt to push through a closed up butt. He'll learn how to poop more effectively soon.

DS has this problem too, it's called Infant Dyschezia. Things that have helped DS are bicycle legs to help him relax, tummy massage (rub in clockwise circles to help digestion), and warm baths. He almost always poos in the bath if he hasn't gone in a while. He's so warm and relaxed it just kind comes out. It's a little gross, but it cleans up pretty easy, and I just tell myself it's one less diaper to clean (which would probably have been a blow out). Also, keeping him upright helps - imagine trying to poop laying flat on your back! I also make sure his legs aren't straight out in front of him - that makes it impossible to poop. Oh yeah, extra BFing seems to help a lot too - maybe because it has a natural laxative effect, or because he relaxes more when he's nursing.

Good luck! I hope this helps! I know it's hard seeing your little guy grunt and act like he's in pain, but know that it's totally normal!

MamaLBF · October 2010

I wouldnt worry yet! My pedi told me even a week is okay to go without as long as hes comfortable. My LO didnt look like he was so per advice we gave him Mylicon and it helped so much! We got a poop that night and LO was much happier.

AadensMommy2010 · October 2010

Thanks everyone!

mharts05 · October 2010

Per my pedi, 1 TBS light caro syrup in their bottle. I have tried this and it worked wonders. But I agree, my pedi said it was normal for babies to go 3 days w/o a BM as long as their abdomen is not tender and distended and no blood in the poop.

lesleslie · October 2010

I am so releaved to know this is normal! My LO was going on day 3 of no poop today (luckily had one this afternoon after FI rubbed his belly for 1/2 hr) but we were getting worried. We tried burping, bicycle legs, warm compress on his belly, rubbing his back and belly... I have the Dr. OZ baby book which says it's normal for babies to go 10 days without a poop but LO just seemed so uncomfortable, grunting and crying, .and hes been much better now that hes had a poop. I will be bringing it up at our next appt with our pedi to get an approved list of things I can give LO to help him poop and to see how long LO would need to go without a poop before he needs something. I did read up about prune juice and Karo corn syrup but I don't want to give LO anything without talking to the dr first.

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