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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

6 day old not pooed for 24 hrs.

27 replies

haditfortheday · 11/10/2007 11:05

Hi, I'm breastfeedcing my 6 day old & think all is going well. She is above her birthweight, alert when awake, lots of wet nappies, but she hasnt pooed for 24 hours & am getting a little worried. When she is feeding I can hear her swallowing well, infact gulping really. She is only feeding for about 15 mins on 1 side approx every 2-3 hours. Should I be doing more or do you think maybe its just a blip that she hasnt pooed?

OP posts:
dissle · 11/10/2007 11:07

I believe that this is normal and its because they process breast milk so well, there is very little waste.
Mine went for about 2/3 days at a time without pooing.

dissle · 11/10/2007 11:08

not an expert in this but some one who is will be along soon to put your mind at rest, i do honestly think that it is quite the norm in breast fed babies.

geordiemacmummy · 11/10/2007 11:10

Same here - until recently my ds only wenr every 2/3 days.. Speak to your HV if you are overly concerned, but I'm sure she'll say not to worry - ours recommended that if it seemed like he was struggling give him some coiled boiled water off a teaspoon - only did it a couple of times - usually after 3 days and it worked - although he could have just been ready to go anyway!

hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 11:14

It can be a sign of problems in a baby this young. Equally it may very well not be. But you do need to speak to somebody who knows about bfing about it. Wet nappies a good sign, gulping good too - it sounds like she's fine, but babies this age should be pooing more often than this.

Can you ring one of the bf supportlines (numbers for them all on my profile)? Or you should still be under the care of a midwife - is she clued up about bf? Can you ring her?

Dissle, it's only in babies older than about two weeks (at the earliest) that the "it's no problem, mine went weeks without pooing" advice is safe. Before that, it may be a problem and should be checked out.

I really hope I've not worried you, HIFTD - like I say, it's probably fine.

Original poster
haditfortheday · 11/10/2007 11:17

Thanks Hunker, I thought it was after a few weeks it was fine which is why it raised concerns for me. MW not really clued up but will call one of the help lines to see what they say.

OP posts:
dissle · 11/10/2007 11:18

sorry hunker, just re read...didnt see the 6 day old bit!
yes, mine was older that 6 days when his pooing settled down, sorry bout that.

nb, mine did not "not poo for weeks" it was a few days at a time.btw, just to clarify.

hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 11:19

Sorry, Dissle, I know, I was exaggerating for effect. I'm a bit prone

HIFTD, it may be she's brewing an up-the-back special... Hope the helpline's helpful.

tiktok · 11/10/2007 11:23

Glad you got in here, hunker, and said this

Haditfortheday - hunker is right, and in your case, the signs are mostly otherwise good, but it would be better to offer both sides (why is she only having 1 side??) as this maximises milk intake and production, which can be an issue in these early days...and a baby who has not pooed for 24 hours this early on may well need more milk.

One sided feeding in an older baby as well as no pooing is fine, if all other signs are that the baby is thriving.

No need ever for cool boiled water, by the way...as you say, geordiemac, baby would prob have pooed anyway. The water thing would only be for ff babies, who can become a bit constipated.

PrettyCandles · 11/10/2007 11:24

Are you taking any iron supplement? I had similar problems with ds2 and it turned out that the iron supplement I was taking without any ill-effects on me was constipating him. As soon as I stopped the supplement he started pooing properly.

This thread.

geordiemacmummy · 11/10/2007 11:27

Both HV and Community BF officer advised water, even though ds was ex bf?

tiktok · 11/10/2007 11:37

geordiemac, the HV and the bf community officer were wrong, then....what can I say??!

If the baby needed more fluid in order to poo, then another breastfeed would have done the job without the hassle.

Breastmilk is something like 90 per cent water anyway, without any of the gut-binding effects of cows milk protein in formula (which is mainly water, too).

I am a bit sceptical about iron supps for the mum causing constipation, PC, though I see Kellymom regards it as happening in 'rare' instances, and I acknowledge your own experience, too . The iron does not get into the milk, so go figure

tiktok · 11/10/2007 11:38

What's a community bf officer, geordiemac?

It's a new one on me

geordiemacmummy · 11/10/2007 11:43

It was a woman that gave a talk at ante-natal classes then rang once I had DS to offer help and advice? I'm up in scotland so maybe its a scottish thing? I believe its a voluntary thing? Maybe I dont have the right name?

Original poster
haditfortheday · 11/10/2007 12:04

Am taking iron supplements yes. Spoke to a helpline who said all sounded fine. Will however offer both sides, not really sure why i am not doing that anyhowMilk supply doesnt seem a problem, infact over supply is more the problem.
Hunker/Tiktok- am also still feeding my DS1, but dont think this will make any difference to what my DD is doing pooh wise will it? - that is a really stupid question!

OP posts:
sarak54321 · 11/10/2007 12:18

Hi there

What kind of birth did she have and do you know what position she was in, in utero? (I know that's all a bit personal so don't worry about answering! Just can be pertinent to the no pooing thing - see below...)

Bf lo's ideally should be pooing after every feed but its really common that various factors from birth impact on the nerves feeding the digestive systems. One of the signs of this is often digestive disorders i.e. no pooing!

You can get great treatment from a chiopractor who specialises in pregnancy and paediatrics. A fab practitioner will know what to look for and will try and help. Good to get in there early as poss after birth. I wish it were on the NHS as everyone should know about it and if everyone had treatment for their newborns it would help so much in the long run and also in the short term - its great for constipation, colic, reflux, settling, sleeping etc etc!

Here's a link, really worth a read. (Includes a list of common signs and also info about what sort of thing causes it).
www.barnes-chiropractic.co.uk/babies_and_children.html

The I Love You massage movement is worth doing as well. If you haven't seen it I think a Google search should give you some blurb on the movement.

Really recommend getting chiro appt in diary asap tho.

Best wishes

Sara x

Original poster
haditfortheday · 11/10/2007 12:20

she was born OP. had forgotten about chiro- do know a good one though so may give her a ring.

OP posts:
mears · 11/10/2007 12:22

geordiemac - probably a breastfeeding peer supporter is who you mean - not sure what title they are using.

Aghree that there is no need for water - just extra breastfeeds. Always offer the second breast at feeds. If baby doesn't want it then fine, but the offer should be made.

I am sure a squelching up the back nappy is on it's way

tiktok · 11/10/2007 12:43

Hmmmm....peer supporters should not be advising water, and should not be missing the potential problems signalled by a non-pooing 6-day old.

I love peer supporters, but they have to know their boundaries, bet you agree, mears

Sara, it's a day for me being sceptical, I think, and I am sceptical about this, sorry:

"Bf lo's ideally should be pooing after every feed but its really common that various factors from birth impact on the nerves feeding the digestive systems. One of the signs of this is often digestive disorders i.e. no pooing! "

'Really common'....really? Evidence for this? The main reason why newborn babies don't poo (and to say it should be after every feed is to over-state the case) is because they are not getting sufficient milk in at the top end

I am open to the idea that chiropractic has a role in the care and treatment of babies but we have to be careful what we have evidence for, don't you agree?

It's fine to share opinon and experience, and to know the difference between that and good evidence, though.

Please don't be offended.

sarak54321 · 11/10/2007 12:54

Hi tiktok

Not offended - sorry you're feeling like that though - am definitely speaking from own experience but also from position of professional knowledge from dh who specialises in treating babies. I agree with you about water and hope that constructive info helps mums of non-pooing lo's look at ways to treat root cause. Always good to sort the prob itself.

Sara x

lalalonglegs · 11/10/2007 12:57

Please don't worry - my first baby used to poo eight times a day, my second, once or twice a week. GP said when breastfed anything between 10 times a day and once every 10 days considered normal. If nappies wet and baby is reacting normally in every other way, please don't get overfocussed on it - it sounds as if the bf'ing is going really well, congratulations.

tiktok · 11/10/2007 13:10

longlegs - please read the thread. This is a 6 day old baby.

tiktok · 11/10/2007 13:11

Fine, Sara

Original poster
haditfortheday · 11/10/2007 16:49

thanks for all the support. 3 large mustard seeds poohs this fternoon!!

OP posts:
tiktok · 11/10/2007 17:01

Yay for the poo

hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 17:05

Hooray hooray!

OMG, I'm cheering the defecation of a baby I've never met...

Ah, fuck it!

Hooray hooray!