I know breastfed babies can go a long time without pooing but this can't be normal.... can it??

[PelvicFloorsOfSteel]

DS2 is normally a 1 a day man but he has previously gone 4 days without doing a poo and is currently at 4 1/2 days, I know in theory it's all normal but he seems to be in quite a bit of discomfort. He's also letting out horrendous farts, the kind where people give you looks if you say it's the baby, they really are vile.

We've tried nappy free, bicycling legs and a bit of baby massage (I've forgotten a lot of the moves as I was last shown with DS1).

DP has spoken to someone who used to be a HV and they suggested giving DS2 water with sugar in it, I thought this was outdated advice but can't remember why?

Has anyone got any other reassurance/advice to offer? I wouldn't be that bothered but I'm sure it is really bothering him, he really hasn't been himself the last couple of days.

Prune juice!!

Is his stomach hard? How old is he?

It can be normal for them to go a couple of weeks, but obviously not if he's in discomfort.

DD would quite frequently go this long and longer between poos when we breastfed. I'd speak to a breastfeeding advisor maybe, and your HV... to put your mind at rest.

How old is he? I wouldn't give him prune or orange juice unless he's weaned - it's not good for tiny babies. My DS was an infrequent pooer when he was exclusively breastfed (now he's on solids they're much more frequent - and far smellier ). Can't remember how long he used to go between poos but am sure he went for longer than a week sometimes!

The theory is that breastmilk is a perfect food for them so there's very little waste. This doesn't mean he's constipated (unless the poo when it comes is dry or hard) so I wouldn't bother trying to force the issue (so to speak). He'll probably surprise you with a hairline-grazing explosion soon. In the meantime we always found gripe water good for settling DS's tummy.

HTH

Have only just realised I managed to start this thread twice , he's 4 months so only a couple of months til food and whatever changes that brings...

My DD went 12 days once when she was breastfed and would quite often go 4-5 days without having a poo.

My DS2 never pooed more than once every ten days. DS1 pooed more frequently but once went about ten days too. I wouldn't worry, the poo will arrive

Mine kept going a long time without a poo, as you say it is fine on theory but he really suffered with it; terrible farts, straining, hard tummy. But he was never technically constipated as his poos, when they did come, were very liquid.

I tried sugar water and it didn't help; what helped us was the waterwheel massage move every morning followed by ten minutes in his bumbo - I think that knees up position really helps.

I was told to drink orange juice as that would be transmitted via the breastmilk. It didn't work for us. Couldn't bring myself to touch prune juice as it was so vile.

This really is normal. Make sure you have lots of changes of clothes on hand when he does go, because it will be utterly horrendous. I made the mistake of going out with DD2 on the 5th day - I'd brought 8 (washable) nappies and 5 outfits and I needed them all! And had to borrow a bin liner from my friend to carry the debris home in.

ROFL at binliner (possibly in a slightly nervous, hysterical fashion), DS1 is still getting to grips with potty training and I'm already heaving 2 changing bags around!

sorry didn't realize he was so little.

Ds2 only went once a week before I started weaning him and sometimes as long as 10 days between poos. He never did the enormous explosive poos even when it had a been a while. He had horrendously smelly wind but the poo itself never smelt but he was never in discomfort. Much nicer than ds1 who went 3 times a day and often needed a change of clothes when he did!!

Think DS2 once went 16 days, it got so that I was afraid to leave the house! In the end he went when we were out for lunch. Had to take him home and give him a bath. Now he's on solids it's daily and smellly!

(waves at PFOS)

Well DSs (now 2yo) record was 14 days and DDs is do far up to 12 days. Both EBF.

Very normal. Worried myself silly at first about Ds though but with DD am just glad I don't have daily pooey nappies But when she goes its like a volcano, always have change clothes and usually have to bath her!

I found it all regulated itself when DS was weaned. Once a day after tea like clockwork. Still same now!!

DS used to go 8-12 days, and when it happened everyone leapt on tables to get out of the way!

He also did really vile, hangover-like farts and was a bit cross and grunty the day before/ the day of poomageddon - but he was never actually constipated (runny poo) and never had a hard tum, so the docs weren't worried if I mentioned it.

Now he's weaned he goes every 2-3 days, and I don't always have to change all his clothes (nearly 10months) - but sometimes he still surprises us with a shocker! :)

FWIW my ds is 14.5 mos totally weaned and eating all table food. He still only goes pop every 3-5 days. Has never been a once a day and prob never will be. Just his constitution I guess.

He has produced! And it wasn't all that huge , but I'm still really glad he's not hung on in there for 12 days.

Still doing very noxious farts though!

Caesar have you changed name recently or is my memory even worse than I think?

Glad he's produced!!

And no haven't changed name (but in case you searched me I did change the spelling when I realised I was actually spelling my own name wrong...the shame...)

You replied to my donating bm thread a while ago and I admired your username. I don't post very much so tend to remember people who reply.

(Caesar feels she has been a bit stalkerish in waving.... is it not correct MN etiquette??)

I remember the thread, I'm just crap with names . I did do a stalkerish search to try to figure out how I knew you and couldn't see any threads I recognised!

I thought it was only hugs which were banned by MN etiquette