Urgent advise needed on poo

[Celou]

My baby's now bottle fed and she seems to be going longer without moving her bowels. Once every other day. I checked with the health visitor and doctor who advised me to offer a couple of ounces or more of cooled boiled water. I haven't done that yet as I was wondering if I could offer mineral water instead of tap water, and I also wanted advice on when to give it. I'm a bit worried that if I give it to her before her feed (where she's more likely to take it) she'll confuse it for her milk and won't want all of her proper feed. Is that possible? Any advice on any other times I can offer her water?

Sorry, forgot to say that I will ask the health visitor when I see her (or I'll phone her), but I wanted some advice today as I wanted to introduce water immmediately. Thanks in advance.

Does your baby seem constipated? If not I really wouldn't worry, it seems to be quite common for a bottle fed baby to go a couple of days without a poo.

Personally, I'd say that as lond as the poo is the same consistency ie not constipated or anything, then its fine. Ds had a phase of pooing every 3 days, now he's twice a day! you have to watch bottled water, as some are of a higher sodium content than others. I use filtered water, boiled. How about giving water off a spoon or pipette if you're worried about confusion. When ds began having water regularly, when he took solids, i straight away stopped his midday milk bottle, and he learnt really soon that lunchtime bottle would be water. He didn't complain at all. He's now 9 months, and I've stpooed giving him water/juice from a bottle completely. He drinks from a doidy cup at home and a straw if we're out.

Clairabelle, you beat me to it!!

Thanks girls!! Great reassurance.
She's not constipated, however it's (understandably) less soft than when she was breast fed. The thing is, I've got this vision of her poo becoming harder and harder, and I'd like to prevent that. Also I feel so sorry for her when she strains, as she appears in pain, and sometimes cries a little.
If I was to give her water, any advice on when?

If you were to give her water I would try just before a feed if she's anyhting like my ds she will only have a tiny bit and it won't 'spoil' her bottle. Try not to worry though ds once went 5 days and boy did we know about it when it came. Explosion

Ds used to strain and go purple when he was tiny. But I couldn't help laughing. Am I a terrible mother?