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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

poor baby needs a poo...

29 replies

cull · 04/01/2006 20:56

Help! My 15 wk old breastfed DS hasn't pooed in a few days - not a new thing, but he's so uncomfortable right now. He just sits there and screams and pushes, I feel like I'm coaching him through childbirth (you're doing great, don't forget to breathe...) Any tips on how to make him more comfortable? I don't want to give him anything but would appreciate any handy hints!

OP posts:
Lilliput · 04/01/2006 21:08

My dd was like this and didn't poo for six whole days once, I eventually gave her a small pipette of orange juice and that did the trick. It will happen eventually and the fallout will be quite scary, in the meantime enjoy the fact that you are not changing runny yellow mustard pooey nappies!

daisy1999 · 04/01/2006 21:18

try warm water to drink or you could add just literalluy a couple of drops of fresh juice to it. This can help shift the problem

kiskidee · 04/01/2006 21:21

a breast fed baby can go anything from 1 - 10 days without a poo and its completely normal. as they get older, their gut becomes more efficient and digests just about everything that goes in so therefore less to come out. before i started to wean dd at six mos, she could go 5 - 6 days without a poo and wasn't constipated. the orange juice is not necessary. (constipated = firm poo pellets)

kiskidee · 04/01/2006 21:23

the screaming and pushing does not necesarily mean he needs a poo either. maybe just windy or generally upset and you've tied that into the absence of a poo.

WigWamBam · 04/01/2006 21:29

If he needs to poo, you can lie him on his back and bicycle his legs, or massage his tummy in clockwise circles. It certainly won't hurt to try, even if his discomfort isn't because he needs a poo.

carly82 · 04/01/2006 21:33

i tried gentle baby massage and put one part orange juice to eight parts water in a bottle and let him sip it over a period of time

hercules · 04/01/2006 21:34

I agree about not giving orange juice. I would try what wwb says.

mokola · 04/01/2006 22:01

Try drinking some orange juice yourself, this is meant to help, I would n't give juice directly to baby though. My ds sometimes didnt poo for over a week but he never seemed uncomfortable with it, can understand you want to help him if he is straining and in discomfort.

saadia · 04/01/2006 22:45

Try eating grapes yourself, this always worked for ds1.

bonkerz · 04/01/2006 22:56

When this happenend with my DS the doctor used a cotton bud and put some nappy cream up his bottom, he pooed within 20 minutes!!! I then had to regularly massage his tummy and bicycle his legs as suggested and did use the cotton bud/cream trick a couple of times too!

leogaela · 05/01/2006 08:01

I also would try something else before giving the baby juice (and would go for applejuice rather than orange, citrus juice it too aggressive)

I found drinking lots of apple juice myself worked wonders for ds.

Here in Switzerland they recommend giving fennel or cammomile tea.

lyra41 · 05/01/2006 08:25

i agree with gentle tummy massage, with warm oil (olive or almond) in a clockwise direction.

Bonkers' suggestion sounds effective too.

SantaClausFrau · 05/01/2006 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

springerspaniel · 05/01/2006 14:34

Agree completely with WigWamBam - I did exactly as she describes at every nappy change and go two day mega poo big nappy change. Also gave a good helping of apple puree. The rubbing and cycling stimulates the bowel to move. Also nice warm bath.

kreamkrackers · 05/01/2006 16:23

sorry not read anyone elses answers but i had to give my dd apples and prunes, massage her stomach and hold her legs up but pushing them towards her stomach at nappy changes and also rubbed vaseline on her bum to help it slide out easier .

she's now 20 months old and has lactulose and glycerrine supposeteries, lovely!

Original poster
cull · 05/01/2006 16:25

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've tried a few things. Nothing yet though. When it comes it's gonna be HUGE!!

OP posts:
Hausfrau · 06/01/2006 12:46

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Twiglett · 06/01/2006 12:47

have you massaged his tummy yet?

circular motion anti-clockwise, firmly around the tummy .. they love it and it helps really it does

lyra41 · 06/01/2006 17:32

i think it has to be a clockwise direction, otherwise you're pushing it backwards up his bowel.

Original poster
cull · 06/01/2006 17:46

Woo Hoo! or should i say poo? Not even sure when it happened - usually there's a lot noise when his bum explodes, but i just went to change him and there it was! in all it's lovely korma glory.
Don't know if it was the massage, moving his legs, the warm bath or the grapes I ate last night but whatever it was thank you all for your help!

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 06/01/2006 17:59

Way-hey, result

Twiglett · 06/01/2006 18:47

no its anti-clockwise according to my baby massage teachers

suzi2 · 06/01/2006 18:51

My DS is a once a week boy. Has been since about 6 wks I think. Leading up to poo day (a Friday!) he's very windy but certainly not constipated. I find it quite convenient. I make sure my mum babysits on a Friday !

suzi2 · 06/01/2006 18:53

Definately clockwise! Otherwise you are pushing things in the wrong direction and going against the natural action of the large intestine. have a word with your baby massage teacher

Hausfrau · 06/01/2006 20:22

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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