Constipation in my 7 week old?

[cockermum85]

Hi, looking for a little advice really. My little girl is 7 weeks old and combination fed. She's pretty much on 50% ebm and 50% formula (aptimal first milk).
From the off she's been a very windy baby and we've been using colic for 4 weeks and I think it helps her to pass wind.
She's never pooed more than once a day, but the past week to 10 days she's only been having a poo every other day and gets quite upset when it's 'due'. She's definitely due a poo just now and she seems to be suffering gripey pains and is crying and grizzling constantly.

When they poo they are soft, but there is a lot of them. They are a bit 'toothpaste' in texture which I'm led to believe is normal for a combination fed baby.

Does anyone have experience of constipation? Does it sound normal for a 7 week old? I don't want to rush her to the doctor if it sounds like normal, but I'm struggling to see my little sweetie upset.

[Orangebird69]

The consistency sounds ok... what colour is the poo?

[cockermum85]

Hey, the poo is. Nice yellowy-brown, it's become a little darker since introducing formula, which I believe is expected. (I never imagined I'd become so obsessed with poo )

Thank you zzzzz, kind of you to say. I've spent most of the last 7 weeks second guessing myself and doubting what I'm doing!

[Crumbs1]

Sounds completely normal. If you want to increase number of times she poos increase the breastfeeding.

[janeje]

Gripe water, prune juice or babies magic tea are all natural and best for infant constipation and digestion issues. You can try any of them.

[Neolara]

All my 3 dcs used at go 10 days between poos at that age. Was considered normal. They were all bf, so don't know if that makes a difference.

[WineIsMyMainVice]

Have you tried some baby massage? There is a movement that you can gently do on the lower abdomen which goes in a clockwise direction which can help get things moving. Maybe see if there is a local class you could sign up for or look up the techniques? It helped with my DD who was mix fed. Good luck.

[MissClimpsonsTypingBureau]

I could have written your post! Have asked HV and called HV phone line and both said it was fine. They said the more BM the more poo (but they also said that exclusively BF babies often go days and days without pooing so not quite sure how that works!)

[cockermum85]

Oh my goodness I totally agree with the weird confusing contradiction... I went to a baby reflexology class yesterday and she pooed in the class!

Miss C are are combined feeding? I'd love to exclusively BF but I had complications at birth and me wee one took an age to figure out what she needed to do with latching but needed food. I've only managed to get a successful latch from 5 weeks... (I expressed 7-8 times a day to get as much milk as I could) so combined feeding is working for us. DD is doing well apart from the poos... yesterday at reflexology there were 3 other babies and one pooed multiple times a day, one every other day and one once a week!

[MissClimpsonsTypingBureau]

Yes, combined feeding- DS was v sleepy when he was born and struggled to feed so my milk took ages to come in- ordered to supplement with formula. Still want to get to EBF and according to the HV it should be possible but we'll see...