Community› The Bump Month Clubs› January 2016 Moms
January 2016 Moms
New Discussion

Newborn constipation:

carlyhammondcarlyhammond member
in January 2016 Moms
I'm about to call the pediatrician about this but I don't want to seem like I'm jumping the gun.

My 3 week old was going pretty regurally and the consistency was maybe a little runnier than play - dough. It went from a khaki color back to the dark green color.

Lately he's been grunting a lot while having a BM and not a lot of output ( I think, I feel 1 grunt should equal 1 poop ) I think it's going to be a "big one" but there isn't as much as I thought in the diaper.

Yesterday he started getting super fussy after eating. He was getting 3oz and we assumed he was still hungry and we've upped it to 4oz which he seems to be liking.
Last night however, during tummy time he had a BM again a lot of grunting but when we changed him it was in a ball stuck to him bottom very foul smelling. I thought maybe it was because he was laying on his tummy while pooping.

This morning, while sleeping he must have went without grunting. When I changed his diaper there was a smear and a tiny ball in his butt crack again very foul smelling.

His poop isn't pellet like but it's getting hard I guess.

I googled signs of constipation and the only symptom he has is the foul smelling poop.
He is a little fussy but I'm not sure if it's because he's hungry or if his tummy is bothering him.

Am I over reacting since it's only happened twice? Or should I consult his pediatrician?
Report Reply to Post

Re: Newborn constipation:

  • teachmegs817teachmegs817 member
    @carlyhammondI am literally experiencing this right now! DS hasn't had a bowl movement in over 24 hours and his farts REEK! So I know he's brewing something fierce in there. He's at least farting and burping, and doesn't seem to be cranky or crabby about taking a bottle.  He's not spitting up any more than usual either. He's a little bit irritable but consolable when it comes to the grunting and scrunching of his body and trying to work something out.  

    My LO does sometimes produce a smear and nothing more. So I don't think that's a concern you should have.

    From what I've read online (I know, take it with a grain of salt), after the first few weeks, do not be surprised if they are not producing a BM every diaper, or even every day for that matter.  What you should be concerned with is what it looks vs. amount of times they're pooping.  So if you're concerned with what it looks like, then I'd call the doctor.  

    I'm going to put a call into the pediatrician tomorrow morning if we do not get a BM today. I've tried gas drops a few times yesterday after his bottle and nothing other than some gas.  I also just gave him a dose of gripe water thinking that may help and so far, no luck.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • carlyhammondcarlyhammond member
    LO did that. We went from New Year's Eve at 11:30 to the following Sunday without a BM at all. He was gassy but no poop- we were going to call the doctor Monday morning but that night he let a HUGE poop go and has been regular ever since.

    It's the consistency and smell I'm concerned about,
    It seems like he's trying to go now but he's working really hard at it. I'll check his diaper and if no change I'll call..
    I hope he doesn't take after my horrible tummy issues :-/
    Report Reply
  • carlyhammondcarlyhammond member
    @teachmegs817
    I called my LOs pediatrician and they first thing they told me was newborns can go 4-5 days without having a BM. So what your LO is doing is considered "normal" :)
    Report Reply
  • BBEA2006BBEA2006 member
    Ds had this problem and I remember them saying to rub his belly in a circular morion and do bicycle moves with his legs but only if it seems he is struggling to poop bc like u said, it is okay if they don't go every day, especially breastfed babies.

    Baby Birthday Ticker TickerBaby Birthday Ticker TickerBabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • teachmegs817teachmegs817 member
    carlyhammond said:
    @teachmegs817 I called my LOs pediatrician and they first thing they told me was newborns can go 4-5 days without having a BM. So what your LO is doing is considered "normal" :)
    As soon as I was done typing my initial response, DS wakes up from a dead sleep SCREAMING! I walk into the bedroom and he's all scrunched up and red in the face.  So I decided, instead of waiting it out till tomorrow, to call.  The nurse recommended I stick a thermometer up his rectum with vasaline to see if that will help release a BM.  Sure enough after I gave him his afternoon bottle, and waited about 10-15 minutes to see if he'd do anything on his own, I did the thermometer trick and he pooped. Boy did he go.  I could tell he was relieved and afterwards had released some more gas.  

    I gave him a bath, changed him, and we are now cooing and pacifying ourselves to sleep to some oldies music. So hopefully that did the trick and we're good to go.  I am totally okay with him not pooping every day, but we were starting to near the middle of day 2 of nothing and now showing signs of discomfort. The nurse said she was also going to let the doctor know what formula I'm using and I may hear back to try a different type.  We'll see though. 
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"