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Infant feeding

Your breast fed baby and their dirty nappies.

31 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 19/05/2014 08:26

From birth and up until 2 weeks ago my DS was having a dirty nappy about 6-8 times a day and they were of normal colour and consistency.

However, things changed (when he reached 6 weeks old) and his dirty nappies started really reducing to only have one a day to eventually only going once every 2-3 days.

He is now 8 weeks old and really, really strains and grunts when trying to open his bowels and this behaviour can last days until he finally manages to go.

The last two dirty nappies he had were on Friday and were both very loose and greeny to dark brown in colour - their consistency was like that of melted chocolate. I saw a GP about this who said it was nothing to worry about.

He passes a lot of wind but there is never any poo.

I just hate seeing him in such discomfort.

Does anyone else have a similar thing going on?

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Writerwannabe83 · 25/05/2014 11:14

I think DS is preparing to explode! He has been very squirmy and straining a lot for the last 24 hours - he does seem quite uncomfortable, is crying with it and it keeps disturbing his sleep. He is passing so much wind but I just wish he'd have his poo so I can have my happy little man back.

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outtheothersidefinally · 25/05/2014 05:28

Yep, normal. Huge advantage of breastfeeding and I don't know why it's not better knows so people don't worry! Up to two weeks between poo is normal!

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sleepywombat · 25/05/2014 05:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jellybellymummyofsix · 24/05/2014 17:00

Dd did her 'weekly' poo this afternoon... up her back, down her legs etc! I only know she's pooed by the smell, she doesn't show any signs.

So far it's always happened at home, literally I have to put her in the bath & shower the poo off her! If it ever happens when we're out, it will be awful!!

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voodoochimp · 24/05/2014 08:24

Yep my DS and DD were the same jelly glad they're not the only ones. I spend a fortune on nappies. And there's no way I could cope with washables with the amount of nappies he gets through. One pooey nappy a week sounds heavenly!

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OrangeMochaFrappucino · 24/05/2014 04:42

My ebf 6wo poos constantly all day long! He squirms and grunts and his whole head goes bright red and then makes a noise like an unblocking drain. It's at least eight times a day. His big brother was just the same and we still got the poonamis and plenty of noisy wind - the baby let off the loudest one I've ever heard in a crowded post office the other day and I thought there's no way people will believe that noise came from a tiny angelic infant!

I always envy the 'one poo a week' brigade - we get through tons of nappies and I'm constantly changing them, day and night!

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feeona123 · 24/05/2014 04:24

There is 'waste' with formula that's why they should be pooping nearly every day

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Toadsrevisited · 24/05/2014 00:06

My HV keeps telling me that a healthy EBF baby can go longer although to get them checked over if no poo for a week. She tells me she knew one go 13 days! Don't think it's the same for ff babies but no idea why...

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Writerwannabe83 · 23/05/2014 20:19

My HV told me that if baby hasn't done a poo in a week then he may be constipated and to see the GP if he seems in discomfort.

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PretzelPrincess · 23/05/2014 17:33

My DS hasn't pooped since Saturday. Begining to worry now. He normally poops by this time on a Friday but hasn't Confused when does not pooping become not normal?

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feeona123 · 23/05/2014 13:41

Ooh I've just had this as well!

They stunk so bad when they finally came out!!

A bit of cooled, boiled water helps to push one out! If it's nearly ready to come out that is!

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Toadsrevisited · 23/05/2014 11:40

Yep same here. Sudden change to one poo a day for EBF DS was a shock a first. Right now we are in the middle of some kind of awful week of green diarrhoea and I miss the daily yellow poo! Just going off to start a thread about it actually, looking for some suggestions as GP and HV aren't sure...

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Jellybellymummyofsix · 23/05/2014 11:07

Dd is 14 weeks & does monster poos once a week.

She's my 1st ebf. I must be odd as I've never been concerned about this, even though I have never had a baby poo once a week! All others were ff.

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puggywug81 · 23/05/2014 10:44

Hehehe the advice about pulling down the vests was a lifesaver for me too,god bless whoever invented envelope necks on vests!

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Writerwannabe83 · 19/05/2014 18:00

You can do that?? Wow!!
I'll know for next time - thanks for the tip! Smile

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Iamnotachewtoy · 19/05/2014 17:57

Just checking writer since you mentioned it got in his hair - are you pulling the vests down after explosions? I didn't realise you could do that until someone told me Blush

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Writerwannabe83 · 19/05/2014 17:52

His dad walked through the front door as soon as I had posted my message! Perfect timing!! I handed DS straight over Grin

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tiktok · 19/05/2014 17:13
Grin
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Writerwannabe83 · 19/05/2014 16:56

Thanks tiktok that makes really good sense and is very reassuring!!

He's just exploded again!!! The back of his baby-Gro is covered!!

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tiktok · 19/05/2014 13:40

Honestly, it is not unbearable. It would only cause discomfort if it was hard to pass, and as it's soft enough to get everywhere (and I absolutely know what you mean - someone on mumsnet coined the word 'poonami' to describe it :) ) it really, really does not hurt them.

The reason it is often the case that babies go very infrequently is nothing to do with breastmilk being all used up. If it was all used up you wouldn't have the up-the-back explosions.

It's to do with the normal, physiological changes in the gut, and the maturing of the gastro-colic reflex. Often, young babies will poo as they are feeding and shortly after. This is because the gastro-colic reflex (which means 'stomach-colon', nothing to do with 'colic') is very sensitive. Something hits the tummy, and the lower gut responds in sympathy by letting go.

Older babies grow out of this trigger. Something hits the tum, and....nothing happens. The poo continues to be produced, of course, but it just hangs about in the lower gut for a while.

Some babies feel it, and it seems to make them squirm - or maybe we just notice the squirming more because we are paying attention, wondering when on earth they are going to 'do' something :) Whatever. Grunting, and squirming, and going red....it's not pain.

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Writerwannabe83 · 19/05/2014 12:38

Thanks everyone - it seems really common then.

DS just did the most monster poo! I have never seen anything like it! His baby-Gro was soaked with it and as it had all leaked out the nappy it was all down his legs. Cleaning him up was a very messy affair, it ended up down his arms and even in his hair. It was horrendous. I just can't believe there was so much of it, it must be unbearable in their little tummies.

This is what I don't understand, why does their body not do a little poo every day instead of it building up for 3-4 days, causing such discomfort and then it eventually exploding absolutely everywhere??

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rachyconks · 19/05/2014 11:34

Thanks tiktok. That makes sense and describes my DS perfectly! Hopefully he will grow out of the grunting soon.

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tiktok · 19/05/2014 11:25

Poos are only really a sign of well-being in the first weeks.

After that, anything goes :)

Many, many, babies strain and grunt and squirm when they are gearing up to have a poo. Sometimes they do this in their sleep.

Then when it comes it is soft.

Unless the baby is actually crying, then all the straining and grunting is not a sign of pain or discomfort, and not even 'effort'. It's just the baby's reaction to the sensations in his gut.

Colour is usually insignificant in an otherwise healthy baby, and varies a lot.

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voodoochimp · 19/05/2014 11:08

My 4 month old poos way more than any other baby I've met. I've changed 3 dirty nappies already this morning.

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highlove · 19/05/2014 11:01

Sorry for typos - feeding said DD!

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