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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

14 day ebf baby not pooed since Monday evening- a problem?

27 replies

qumquat · 22/01/2014 13:22

She also has poor latch so I'm worried she may not be getting enough milk. She is feeding for long time (1hr 40 on one boob last night) then cries inconsolably after every feed. I'm in lots of pain too. Been trying to phone midwives to get some help or advice but they never answer or return calls. Post natal ward said I should contact gp but gp phone engaged permanently. First day with baby on my own and feel completely unsupported. Please help!

OP posts:
CrispyCrochet · 22/01/2014 13:26

Hi Qumquat. Sorry you are having some troubles.

Is your DD still having wet nappies? If so, I wouldn't worry about the lack of poo. My 6wo DS hasn't pooed since Friday & GP nor HV seemed worried - they said not to let it go more than EIGHT OR NINE DAYS. Can you imagine? Shock dreading the explosion that is bound to happen

If DD is having wet nappies regularly I would say that means she is getting enough milk as well.

If you are really struggling and don't find the help you need here you can try the National Breast Feeding Helpline or call them 0300 100 0212. I'm sorry you aren't hearing back from midwives. (When they do finally get back to you I would mention your feelings!)

It is tough but it sounds like you are doing great. Best of luck & Mumsnet is a great place to get support.

tortoisesarefab · 22/01/2014 13:28

i would keep trying midwives, my dd was like that and then she stopped weeing too and needed topping up. however, i dont want to tell you to top up if thats not what your little one needs. i do think you need to see someone. can you try your health visitor?

it can be normal for bf babies to not poo much but it can also be a sign if them not getting enough

LottyLikesWindows · 22/01/2014 13:28

Hi qumquat - I can't really offer help only let you know that my 14 day old DD has also not pooed since Monday afternoon. She's been cluster feeding for the last few days and going through a big growth spurt so I'm putting it down to that.

A friend of mine told me that her DS used to only poo every 10 days. Both of us breast feed our babies. I'm sure someone with lots of experience will come along soon, but for now I just wanted to reassure you that you're not the only one worrying about lack of poo.

anotherhappybunny · 22/01/2014 13:35

As others have said, it can be perfectly normal for ebf to only go a couple of times a week as there is little waste from breast milk. The thing to look for is wet nappies - is she getting lots of these?

It probably is worth getting someone to check her latch if it is painful for you and she isn't settling. Has she been checked for tongue tie? Could you get to a bf drop-in at either the hospital or a children's centre?

Hope things improve soon.

hodgiebreeder · 22/01/2014 13:40

Hi there! Firstly huge congrats on the arrival of your little one Grin

Don't want to worry you but this doesn't sound good for such a young BF baby. AFAIK it's from about 6 weeks that irregular poos is considered normal but little ones should really be going more often. I had the same with DS2 (I was in pain too) and it turned out that he was severely tongue tied and was struggling to get enough milk. I'm not saying this is the case for you and your little one but it might be looking in to, especially if you feel the latch isn't quite right. How is his weight gain? Is there a breastfeeding cafe you can get to? Really hope things improve for you soon.

crikeybadger · 22/01/2014 13:58

Infrequent poos at this age is NOT normal(sorry to shout, but it's something that crops up on mn so often). It may be fine, but considering you are having pain and long feeds, it could be that your baby is having trouble transferring the milk.

If you are still under mw care, please keep trying and pestering till you get to see someone. A GP, unless they have really good bfing knowledge is not likely to be much cop. You could ask if there is an infant feeding specialist in your area who could visit, watch an entire feed and check your LO for tongue tie.

Hope you find some help soon Smile

tiktok · 22/01/2014 14:02

Hodgie is right....I wish we could stop the myth that it is always ok for young babies to go several days between poos. It surfaces every week on mumsnet.

It really is not ok.

In the first weeks it is always a sign to check out the baby's growth and health.

Sometimes all is well - there are a few 'outliers' who hang on to it in the first weeks :) This is just what they are like and they are fine.

But you cannot assume that.

A baby who appears to be feeding poorly, and is miserable, and is not pooing, is a baby who needs to be weighed, whose feeding needs to be observed, and who needs this to happen now.

The postnatal ward told you to see your GP - this is what you have to do, I think, OP. Can you phone your HV if you can't get through to the GP? You also need help for your pain. As hodgie says, a tongue tie assessment is indicated, too.

tiktok · 22/01/2014 14:04

crikey - but the postnatal ward told her to see a doctor. Yes, I agree GPs vary in their knowledge of breastfeeding, but in this case, it's important that there is a medical input of some sort. The GP will at least be able to weigh the baby (as will the HV) and this helps with assessment.

MigGril · 22/01/2014 14:05

if you can't get hold of the midwife right now, then ring one of the breastfeeding helplines for help with positioning and attachment. it shouldn't hurt, they will be able to help over the phone.
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/breastfeeding-help-support.aspx#close
And although not a panic situation if baby is still weeing, not pooing at this age is a concern.

TinyTwoTears · 22/01/2014 14:06

Hi, everything I have read suggests that babies under 8 weeks old should poo a lot.
Has your mw transferred you to an hv yet? That should be done after 10 days of being out of hospital. Hv can tell you where the breast feeding clinics in your area are.
Or contact la leche league/breast feeding network or nct. They have helplines.

Original poster
qumquat · 22/01/2014 14:25

Thank you everyone. Have an appt with gp later today. Have tried a bf counsellor but she was busy said would call me back later. Not sure about phoning a helpline since I know what I'm meant to be doing, it just isn't working. Dd currently screaming but I'm crying too hard myself to even attempt to latch her on. Thanks so much for all your responses, it makes me feel so much less alone.

OP posts:
crikeybadger · 22/01/2014 19:46

Yes I know tiktok, it just seemed such a poor response at day 10. Hmm

crikeybadger · 22/01/2014 19:48

Qumqut, try and stay calm, can you get skin to skin with your bab, lie back and see if that helps?

Hope the GP can give some support .

MigGril · 22/01/2014 19:59

if you can't get hold of the midwife right now, then ring one of the breastfeeding helplines for help with positioning and attachment. it shouldn't hurt, they will be able to help over the phone.
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/breastfeeding-help-support.aspx#close
And although not a panic situation if baby is still weeing, not pooing at this age is a concern.

MissingMyMarbles · 22/01/2014 20:01

Unless it's changed, midwifery care carries on officially until up to 28 days, so if you can't get hold of hv you can try your antenatal mw.

elvislives2012 · 22/01/2014 20:09

Well done for getting hold of the gp. Would be interesting to know about your LOs weight gain. Can u get to a bfing group? They were invaluable to me and were able to offer advice and could check my DDs latch.
If you ring a helpline they can also offer advice now and give you details of support in your area.
Good luck, sounds like you are doing really well, just need someone to give you a hand! Grin

Sunflower1985 · 22/01/2014 21:04

I saw the midwives to get help feeding day 4,5,6,7,9,11 and then every Monday and Thursday went to bf support groups for the next few months. Never got the feeling that I was asking for too much help. Hopefully you can find a helpful ally that will practise what they preach and get you past any initial hurdles.

crikeybadger · 23/01/2014 19:24

Any update qumquat?

Original poster
qumquat · 23/01/2014 23:00

I went to the doctor to find she had pooed on the way there! The doctor was very nice and said as the poo was soft and she 'd had lots of wet nappies he wasn't concerned.

I've found the midwives completely unsupportive- I have left severalessages on their number and still no call back. The post natal ward said as baby was two weeks they weren't interested either, although I'm not officially discharged from midwife care yet. Not impressed!

The latest is dd is getting into such a state at the breast she can't latch on. I've had to give formula this afternoon as I was scared she was starving. Went to a breast feeding cafe this morning where she did eventually manage to latch on with two counsellors' help. But back at home we were back to square one. I think she's picking up on my anxiety as now you just have to show her a boob and she starts screaming. I know how she feels...

On the plus side, she pooed again this afternoon!

OP posts:
crikeybadger · 24/01/2014 10:17

Well it good that she's pooed but what a shame that you are getting fobbed off by the midwives. This is exactly the time you could do with some supportHmm

Has anyone checked for tongue tie?

Personally
I would try skin to skin, no forcing to latch, no pushing on back of head, but lots of cuddles and possibly a nice bath together. Any chance of getting some specialist help?

TheNumberfaker · 24/01/2014 10:25

Are you crying because it hurts you to breastfeed or because you are emotionally upset?

I had cracked and bleeding nipples for the first week with DD1 so I used nippleshields for a week or so to give them chance to heal. I then went on to bf exclusively for 25 weeks and in total until DD1 was 12.5 months.

tiktok · 24/01/2014 12:36

qumquat - no reply at all from the midwives is :( and suggests the number you are calling is not the right one, maybe?

When the dust settles, do persue this and explain how high-and-dry you felt in these early days.

crikey's suggestions are great. Hope things go better today.

Original poster
qumquat · 24/01/2014 14:01

I tried nipple shields last night but they terrified me! She was just latching onto the huge teat so they seemed to be encouraging bad latch.

Last night I pretty much decided to switch to ff but this morning managed to feed ok. But she is on the breast so long and yet comes off dissatisfied. She fed for over 2 hours on both breasts then still screamed and rooted and I gave her a bottle of expressed milk as well. Is this normal? Is she getting anything at all from my breasts? It's so upsetting to utterly drain myself feeding all morning only to find she's still hungry.

OP posts:
tiktok · 24/01/2014 14:20

qumquat :( :(

It's certainly normal for new babies to 'cluster feed' which can mean hours of on and off feeding, yes.

It's just not possible to say in your case if what you are experiencing is normal.

You need to know if your baby is growing well - have you got an up to date weight assessment?

If you are still in pain when you feed, it suggests things are not right, but it's by no means a definite this reflects a problem with the quantity of milk your baby is getting.

Sounds like you'd benefit from some further one to one help.

Sparkeleigh · 24/01/2014 14:58

Hi qumquat,
The arching away and screaming with a poor latch sounds very like my DS before his tongue tie was clipped. Can your DD take from a bottle ok?

I ended up expressing and mix feeding until the tongue tie clipped and once it was, he could feed no problem. I know not all babies are the same but at that stage my DS had a dirty nappy nearly every 3 or so hours.

Have you tried finding another lactation consultant though the La Leche League? They have a helpline number you can ring www.laleche.org.uk/content/telephone-helpline and they hopefully could give you the number of someone who could see you soon.