8 week old bf baby with sore wind and infrequent poo - cooled boiled water?

[rubyhorse]

Ds2 is 8 weeks old. Over the last few days he's cried almost all the time he's awake, settled to sleep with difficulty, fed frequently. His tummy is hard and we can feel the wind. He draws his knees up when crying. Infacol doing nothing. No big poo for three days. Mum thinks he's constipated and wants to give cooled boiled water. I'd have done so with Dd 8 years ago but have heard we no longer should. Why? Any other suggestions please?

not needed. breastmilk is the best composition for your baby.
have you tried keeping him more upright and rubbing his tum? afaikr this is the age when the digestive system settles so poos become more infrequent.

Have you eaten or drank anything out of the ordinary, or more than you usually would? It being the Christmas period, that's my first suspicion. Cream, sprouts etc...
Breastfed babies do often poo less often, so that in itself doesn't mean anything, but if his tummy is solid he might be a bit bunged up.
A nice bath, as upright as possible and a gently tummy massage might help.
Just feed him lots, there could be some growth spurting going on at that age.

Gently tummy massage in shape of backwards C helps my LO. Start at bottom of belly and then move hand around outside of belly up to between the ribs. Apparently something to do with the direction of the intestines. Also bicycle motion of legs. Also both legs gently bent up towards belly and then slight up and down jiggle. Of course only do if it doesn't cause discomfort. Another thing to try is loosening the nappy. Not ideal if your aim is to unleash the beast, but will be more comfy for LO.

Not sure about what I've eaten. I did have a glass of wine on Christmas day but that's ages ago. I don't really know much about the effects of what I eat on baby.

Thanks. Will try massage. Would be good to have info on why not cooled boiled water to satisfy Mum.

He won't be constipated, almost unheard of in a bf baby and not in one who has been well since birth.

They do poo less often after 6 weeks or so, water not needed and won't affect poo (your diet won't either unlesd your baby has allergies eg milk, egg etc again unlikely)

Massage, feed, when it comes there will be plenty:)

Tiger hold? Where you hold them so their tummy is on your forearm?
I'd also be suspecting the sprouts! No idea if that's scientific though.

Tiger hold? Where you hold them so their tummy is on your forearm?
I'd also be suspecting the sprouts! No idea if that's scientific though.

Think I read this at kellymom so worth checking that site as I was wondering the same thing: breast milk is 88% water and studies have shown that regardless of climate that its water content is adjusted by mum to hydrate your baby. I think the main reason not to give cooled boiled water was because it can interfere with feeding, making the baby feel full but without taking in sufficient calories. This can also impact supply. I think there were issues with some rare disorders too, but check kellymom and ask your HV or GP.

I was wondering if you think it might be colic? It tends to start at 2-3weeks but peaks at around 6-8 weeks. Could this be your 'peak'?
Colic is defined as more than 3hours of crying per day on 3 or more occasions per week in an otherwise well fed healthy baby.

I have a colicky baby and her tummy is also quite firm at times but this issue to wind. Bf babies can also store up some explosive poo at times with trapped wind.

Infacol also does nothing for us either, but gripe water and colief seem to ease things a little.

It could almost be colic, by that definition. But the wind is an obvious problem for him. Awful thought - he was 5 weeks early so adjusted this could actually be the start of colic. Will focus on the wind and try colief. The tummy massage got some fabulous trumps!