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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

12 day old not pooed for a few days

42 replies

thomsc · 01/10/2006 15:10

Our 12 day old ds has not pooed for four days. Wees plenty! but no poo.

Has been a little lazy bf'ing (often going straight to sleep after a few minutes) but now seems to be getting the hang of it. Have been 'topping up' with formula as per MWs advice (he lost a little too much weight)

He seems to be 'straining' sometimes - not just wind, and cries when doing so. Farts a fair amount!

Other than this he seems happy and healthy.

I'm a bit worried, and not really sure how to help the little mite.

From a New Dad

OP posts:
tortoiseshell · 01/10/2006 15:15

Are you discharged from the mw yet? If not, give her a ring and see what she suggests - he should really be having yellow poo in his nappies - I think later on they can go a bit longer, especially if b/fed, but at 12 days I think they should be pooing more often. He sounds like he might be a little constipated - maybe the formula doesn't agree with him?

If he's sleepy when feeding, I found strategies that helped were tickling feet, blowing on cheek, changing nappy in the middle, feeding in low lighting, dripping water on his face (which feels SO mean), and not letting him go too long between feeds. The formula top ups may make him a bit more sleepy after feeds - ds1 had supplements, and it seemed to knock him out a bit, then he would be longer before having another breast feed which would have a knock on effect on the milk supply. It's quite hard work to mix feed effectively I think! You'll get better advice from others I think, this is just my experiences! But there is great b/feeding support on MN!

Kelly1978 · 01/10/2006 15:16

how much formula have you been given? It is very common for bfed babies to go a few days without pooing (the end resulkts are spectacular! but if he has had a fair bit of formula, it may be constipating him.

Original poster
thomsc · 01/10/2006 15:27

thank you for the responses.

the top-ups have been around 15-30ml depending on when he just wouldn't take anymore / fell asleep.

last few days has been mainly bf with one formula only when DW needed some sleep.

he has just woken up demanding more bf...

we'll head to the Breast Feeding Clininc in the morning.

OP posts:
muma3 · 01/10/2006 15:35

i had this problem with dd3 and the docs gave her some glucose solution. i worked wonders and i suggest that if they do give it too you the get plenty of clothes and nappies to hand as she has a proper clear out . it is completely safe to use and iirc it was approx 3ml , thats all !!! its a bit like golden syrup. ask your gp or midwife. it can also be used for adults and can be kept a long time . she was 5 days old btw and not gone for 3 days

poppysboo · 01/10/2006 15:50

Mine's 6 weeks and is also on top-ups due to weight loss. Try to ensure he has breast first and top-up after.

Its really normal not to poo for long time, I think we went 5 days before something finally came thru.

So long as you have lots if wet nappies, don't worry and get MW or HV advice.

Good Luck!

tortoiseshell · 01/10/2006 21:01

just bumping this in case hunker, tiktok or mears see it!

tiktok · 01/10/2006 23:34

thomsc - it isn't normal at this stage for a baby not to poo (the wet nappies show he is hydrated, which is good, but he needs to eat well, too).

The fact the midwife was concerned enough to advise formula for weight loss shows that bf was not going well at the start, and because this has been addressed solely by formula and not by fixing the breastfeeding makes it more likely that the breastfeeding your baby is getting may continue to be less than in could be....this is far more likely to be the cause of his lack of poo than constipation, especially as he is mainly breastfed.

It's good you are going to the bf clinic. I think it will be a good idea for you to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about and who will be able to weigh your baby on good scales (what sort of scales did the midwife use, by the way?), so you can get a good overall picture of what's happening.

Any formula - even one top up a day - will have an impact on the breastmilk supply at this stage...yes, there are times when it is needed, of course there are, but often, the sensible approach is to fix the breastfeeding first.

I hope things get sorted.

And mumsnetters - please please stop telling people it is ok for a baby not to poo and as long as the baby has wet nappies everything is ok! This is not the case in a newborn, and it always needs to be checked out.

tiktok · 01/10/2006 23:40

Sorry about typos and garbledness!

What I meant was: your baby had more weight loss than he should have done. The midwife advised top ups (and did not help you fix the breastfeeding by making it more effective eg changing position, feeding more often). The top ups and the lack of change in the bf will have combined to risk continuing the problem.....and the result is breastfeeding really, really needs fixing now.

Hope that's a bit clearer

tortoiseshell · 01/10/2006 23:49

glad you saw this tiktok, I knew you would say that about poos!!! One thing I've learnt from this site!

Hope the b/feeding clinic goes well tomorrow.

Heathcliffscathy · 01/10/2006 23:52

get thee to a cranial osteopath. this is what we did when ds didn't poo for (count em) 10 days (fully breastfed).

has been poo-ing beautifully ever since.

seriously, he did a poo within an hour of seeing her, after ten days of nothing. it was a very big poo.

Heathcliffscathy · 01/10/2006 23:53

if you're south london based (longshot i know but you never know) i know a great one. very good for back/shoulder trouble which will kick in from you carrying ds as a toddler too!!!

Original poster
thomsc · 02/10/2006 02:25

sophable - we are brixton / herne hill based! Have heard the term 'cranial osteopath' but not sure what they are and how it might help ds poo.

Tiktok
The bf is better. still only in 8-20 min sessions (per breast) but he does doze-off when eating then might wake for some more or the other breast

Feeding every 3 hours or less if he starts looking for a nipple.

The top-ups have been minimal and of around 20-40ml. In fact not top-uped today at all as he seemed content with bf.

He really does look like he's trying to poo. gets all distraught but is soon calmed with a little gentle rocking and a back rub.

I phoned the labour ward at Kings and they suggested lukewarm water, which ds drank but with no obvious effect.

We'll go to the GP first thing in the morning and then to the breast feeding clinic in Dulwich.

Thanks to all for replies and help. Any further suggestions/info gratefully received.

OP posts:
tiktok · 02/10/2006 09:41

sophable - it is normal for a fully breastfed baby of a few weeks old to go several days between poos. If you wait, the baby will poo. I appreciate you think you spent your money sensibly on a session with a cranial osteopath, but your baby would have poo'd anyway....and thomsc's baby is only 12 days old. Needs careful midwifery help (free!) not a CO....

Tortoise - yes, I know I always say the same thing about early day's poo, but it's equally predictable that I have to and

tortoiseshell · 02/10/2006 11:31

Glad the bf is going better. Tiktok, I never realised that about poos until your advice with ds2 - I'd always read the 'it's normal for a b'fed baby to go up to 2 weeks without a poo'. so thank you!

tiktok · 02/10/2006 11:52

look here

and here

The US lactation consultant community and La Leche League in the US have been much more proactive than we have been in the UK (so far) in recognising the importance of early stooling. NCT now has a good leaflet about it, called 'what's in a nappy?' which explains it all, together with info for midwives on the research behind it.

No poo or scant poo means the baby should be weighed on modern scales, and the feeding should be checked out.

What shouldn't ever happen is someone coming along and saying if a newborn baby seems healthy and is weeing, then all is well. Midwives sometimes do this, too

Original poster
thomsc · 02/10/2006 16:10

the GP said that 10 days would be an issue and wants us to see her if no poo by Wednesday...

He still seems very happy, alert, etc etc

MW is here tomorrow so we'll see how the weight is doing then.

OP posts:
tiktok · 02/10/2006 16:29

OK, thomsc - make sure the scales are not spring balance.

No poo is not an issue in itself - it is a sign to look closely at feeding effectiveness and weight. A few newborns do gain ok and feed well, despite the lack of poo.

Come back here and let us know what happens!

Heathcliffscathy · 02/10/2006 20:40

tiktok. you are far far more knowledgeable than me about this.

thomsc, go to Moore clinic off boilingbroke lane (couldn't be nearer really) get Sue Law. She the don.

i'll go and get the number

Heathcliffscathy · 02/10/2006 20:42

here they are get sue!

Heathcliffscathy · 02/10/2006 20:43

he will poo immediately i promise.

and he will also quite enjoy it.

and i think it is worth £40 or whatever for the peace of mind tbh.

but tiktok is right....he probably will poo soon.

Original poster
thomsc · 03/10/2006 21:49

Well we've just got back from the CO and he's been farting like a trooper, so fingers crossed.

I'll update as necessary.

MW has suggested 1tsp fresh orange in 30ml lukewarm water...

OP posts:
tiktok · 03/10/2006 23:13

thomsc - the issue is not the pooing, but the way lack of poo might indicate ineffective milk transfer. All may be well, but your baby needs to be weighed on accurate scales....it's now 6 days since he poo'd.
Sorry to bang on about this !

Original poster
thomsc · 04/10/2006 01:50

it's more than six days - seven at least.

He's draining the breasts effectively and seems happy enough feeding. isn't falling asleep whilst feeding as much either.

He was 3.3kg today (3.5kg at birth - today he is 14 days old), but you are right, those spring scales are rubbish. I'll head to town and get something modern in the morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
thomsc · 04/10/2006 01:51

going back to the GP in the morning.

OP posts:
Heathcliffscathy · 04/10/2006 10:10

any poo tomsc