Early baby constipated on formula...any tips?

[luckywinner]

Does anyone have any tips? My dd was born 3 weeks early with a few issues, v low blood sugars, problems breathing and as a result the neo natal team asked to put her on formula, which we did and in the meantime I have been expressing in the hope that once she starts to wake up a bit we can start bf, or at least have enough end. Only thing is she hasn't pooed for 3 days. Anyone got any tips on how to in bung her? She always gets my ebm at each feed, despite it being only 5-10 mls, I figured it was better than nothing.

DS did this although wasn't an early baby. Doc recommended an extra ounce of water in each bottle. Worked well.

lucky, this is a question for your HCPs - don't start watering her feeds down without medical advice.

It's great she is getting your ebm.

To maintain your option to bf, you need to be expressing round the clock, at least 8 x in 24 hours...hard work :(

Wow, 8 times. Although I am doing it around each feed as she has about 7 a day. She's only feeding once in the night and I just can't face doing it at 3am. Do you think I can squeeze that extra one in the day? She is just not waking for feeds so there is no way I can bf her right now. I will give the midwife a call though as she's only a week old today.

My baby massage teacher taught us to gently massage baby's tummy in a clockwise direction to ease constipation, but check with your HCPs first because your DD is still so little and has had health problems.

A lot of babies don't poo every day though, so it's not necessarily something to worry about.

lucky, good that you are calling the midwife. Babies of a week old should not be sleeping through feeds, and the midwife will help you with this. Usual advice is to keep the baby skin to skin as much as possible, which allows you to respond to early feeding cues - babies in this situation don't have the energy to cry and fuss for feeds and just drop back to sleep again if their cues are not acted upon.

If you manage to start bf direct very soon, then your 7 x expressing is prob ok, but longer term, 8 x really is the minimum.

A call to any of the bf helplines might help you, too.

Tiktok, we were in hospital a week, and she slept the whole time then. Neo natal team checked her very thoroughly and said all was ok, she is just taking her time and will probably be more alert closer to her due date, but I do find it unnerving. Everyone says enjoy it but I don't really like it. We are feeding her regularly (every 3 hours) whether she wakes or not, but every feed is like a dream feed to her. Eyes shut. I think I will call the hospital ward again. They said we could call any time. Now I am writing it down I am feeling a little panicked. I just wish she were more alert. She has good muscle tone, I just want to see eyes.

Good that the neo team checked her, lucky. It is true that babies who are early tend to be sleepier, but 3 weeks is not that early and you are right to be concerned still....she's likely to be fine and just taking her time, but it's not a good thing and how annoying of people to tell you to enjoy it :( :(