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DP has spoken to someone who used to be a HV and they suggested giving DS2 water with sugar in it, I thought this was outdated advice but can't remember why?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

pelvic can't remember if you are bfing or ffing.

Completely normal. There was another Mner whose bf baby went 23 days without pooing. Completely normal, do not worry. As long as he is weeing plenty. Apparently it is because there is so little "waste" with breast milk.

Bfing so I know that, in theory, just not pooing is not a problem - if that isn't too much of a double negative! I'm only really worried that he seems so uncomfortable with it, I'd love to be able to make him feel better somehow.

Gawd, look at me. Have just reread the title. LLL have a bit about it on their website here.

How old is he?

If he's over 6 weeks, then I'm afraid this is normal. Baby massage is a good one, otherwise BF is fine. They do have their 'off' times.

Anything up to two weeks is normal - one of mine used to go once a week for a while. (Proper up-to-the-hairline poops they were!) All fine. As long as the poo is still soft, anyway.

Oh and if he is looking uncomfortable you could always try offering another feed. Good luck for when it comes too, DDs record was 12 days. We stuck the outfit she had been wearing in the bin.

He's 4 months and there's definitely plenty going in, I've not had him weighed but he's about twice the size of the other babies his age at playgroup! He already feeds a lot, I'm not sure how much more will fit in .

DS1 used to go several times a day so I'm not used to this! I'm not sure how I'll cope if he goes 23 days...

DS went with every feed so it was a big shock when DD turned up at at about the same age as your DS, just started going for days without pooing.

Really hope for your sake that when he does go you'll be at home, but you just know it will be at the most inconvenient moment you can imagine.

Last time he managed to do it at my mum's so not quite home facilities but at least not too inappropriate. DS1 actually used to be messier, he tended to fire backwards and it went up to neck height regularly, DS2 fires forwards so he can get a greater volume in the nappy. I am definitely talking and thinking about poo too much...

I think 11 days without happened a couple of times. And no, it wasn't particularly capacious when it came either!

My daughter is around once every 3-4 days at the minute and when it comes its like an ice-cream machine!!! Sorry for the analogy!

My DD, when EBF, didn't have a poo for over 7 days at one point, I thought there was going to be a major explosion but it never happened. When she did go it was really smelly! It continued for about 3 weeks (only going once a week) it also happened at the same time as a major growth spurt, putting on 1oz per day for 3 weeks or so. She wasn't uncomfortable and I was told that BF can be very efficient, that there's hardly any waste produced.

Now we're weaning so there's plenty of waste! hehe!

Best advice I got was a spoonful of sieved fresh orange juice in a bottle of boiled cooled water. Feed to baby, stand back and brace yourself. An hour later, it all comes out. My Health Visitor backed it up and said it was safe for my 6 week old.

I'm afraid I managed tostart this thread twice and then only updated the other one! He did go in the end after 5 days, nothing like as long as some of them on here, long enough for us! Regular service seems to have resumed...

Thats great news Pelvic. Looby, obviously your HV hasn't heard of the virgin gut then......