How often should a BF Baby Poop?

[Jess850]

My 11 week old DS3 goes 4-5 days between pooing and once did a 7 day stretch - he does not seem constipated but Doctor suggested giving a little water.

I do on a spoon between feeds as I don't want to interfere with his b/feeding but it has not made any difference he still only goes every 4-5 days.
The feeding is going great in all other aspects but I am not sure if I should take him back to the Doctors or if this could just be the norm for Him?
My DS1 and DS2 were F/F by 3 weeks and went more frequently.
Friday night and I am Mumsnetting about poo - how rock and roll...

ha ha! very rock and roll!

bf babies sometimes don't go for up to a week. i have a friend who refuses to go out on Tuesday mornings, as it is Poo o'clock for her baby... like clockwork.

whereas my LO, goes twice a day and at 3 months was a poo factory!

Is the consistency and smell OK?

not common for breastfed babies to get constipation, but when weaning it can happen. bananas were always a culprit in my house for blocking up the baby!

if that's his normal pattern, and the GP doesn't believe there's a medical cause, then probably just keen an eye on it.

Wow - a weekly poo o'clock - that has made me feel better thanks :-)

No that's normal :) Don't worry!

Breastfed babies seem to be one or the other - either pooing constantly or once every few days (and a nervous day 5/6 waiting for the poonami...)

My HV reports a record of 11 days without a poo, butbwhen that baby went it was explosive, and all over her scales.

My first DD would go for a week, easily. I was fed 'they'll poo after every feed' crap, but this was just the way she did it. (still does, actually) she was perfectly comfortable, tummy nice and soft but would have wind and an explosive nappy every 7-9 days.

Poonami - ha ha. Thank you all. We now have a poo diary.... but it is good to know it is not unusual.

On the plus side, you now know that your doctor knows nothing about normal breastfeeding so can factor that in to any other advice he may give you in future...

I'd agree with everything that's already been said and also add that there is no need for an exclusively breastfed baby who is fed on demand to have water.

I want one of these non pooing babies, DD2 13weeks still goes 3 times a day.

Mine were totally erratic. But I do remember with fondness one of them having a once a week phase. On Sundays. A day when DH would never be at work. Good skills, that babe!

My DS once went 5 weeks!!! It wasn't even enormous when it happened! Apparently BF is just 'very efficient'. My BF DD went twice a day.

5 weeks! WOWZER. :)

My DD went once a week, usually on a wednesday, until weaning. One time she went 12 days! It was a worry at the beginning but I eventually came to accept it (and it was actually quite handy as I use washable nappies, so it meant that there was a LOT less mess to deal with!)

Doctor clearly doesn't know what he/she is talking about! No need to give water.

Once a week is perfectly normal - at the other end of the scale dd1 used to go about 12 times a day

I've had one at each end of the scale: DS used to poo about once a week-10 days. DD on the other hand used to do one during a feed and one after along with a few more a day thrown in for good measure!

I know what I preferred!

Thanks for the replies. Doc was a bit of a Dinosaur but I bowed to pressure advice from my MIL and Mum, a former childrens nurse who b/fed their babies and insisted he needs water - I didn't bother today as it hasn't made a jot of difference I hope he is using up most of what he is ingesting - babies have such amazing little bodies fingers crossed his knows what it is doing.

DS went every 10-14 days from about 4 months to 6 months (and it tended to require a bath afterwards, not just for him...). DD is already going every day or two at 3 weeks old. after the first few days she just saved it for one mega-nappy a day.

apparently as a baby I used to go once a fortnight, and on that day my mum wouldn't leave the house, would double wrap me in nappies, and would keep the bathroom door open at all times ready to hose me down :o just delightful...

All or nothing huh? :-)

Babe had a skiddy in his nappy (sorry if TMI but it is a thread about poop) therefore I think the Poonami/Poo O'clock is on it's way...batten down the hatches.
Happy Nappies all.

every single feed here and it always shot right up thier backs

It's either all or nothing with BF babies - my DD used to only poo once a week (on a Wednesday) and my DS used to poo EIGHT TIMES A DAY.. Ye Gads!

Gods DS was every feed for the first few months, we went through a lot of nappies. He still poos at least once a day now he is 2 yo. I think it runs in the family though as our dog goes 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner time!

Still waiting...six days now but He seems a happy Sausage still.