Week old has constipation and vomiting

Nascette · 2022-10-17T16:21:08+00:00

Hi, ftm so new to all of this. My week old has developed constipation and really cries and screams when it comes to passing stools. Lately she's started vomiting her feeds. She's formula fed and started on cow and gate. We saw the midwife today who watched her feed and said that part seems fine. She advised us to try infacol and possibly a little water. We are also going to swap to kendamil as I've heard good things. Does anyone have any tips on how to relieve my lo? I hate seeing her in pain and she's now not gaining weight with the vomiting. She just seems so blocked up.

Eupraxia · 17/10/2022 17:24

There's a decent chance your DD is just being a normal newborn.

Has she list most more than 10% of her body weight?

Are her poos hard?

Eupraxia · 17/10/2022 17:24

Has she lost more than....

Gh12345 · 17/10/2022 17:28

Because she is so young, her body is learning how to use the digestive system. Sounds very typical for a week old. Some infacol sounds sounds good. I really wouldn’t change formula as that can stress them out also.

Blossom45 · 17/10/2022 17:29

My LO (5 weeks old) was really gassy and hadn’t pooped for almost a week (up to 5 days is normal for babies according to my HV apparently), but she seemed uncomfortable so I tried baby massage (link below) and within 5 mins she’d pooped and was visibly better. Could be worth a try, but check it’s ok for a one week old.

It is normal for a baby to vomit after feeds, called posseting and a sign of reflux. I feed my baby in an upright position and keep her like that for a good half an hour afterwards, along with winding her… it seems to make a difference to the amount of vomit.

CatHatSat · 17/10/2022 17:30

Please don’t give your newborn baby water without checking with a doctor.

It is my understanding that water in small babies dilutes their electrolytes, which is dangerous.

As your little one is so brand new, please speak to your GP or call 111.

Original poster

Nascette · 17/10/2022 17:32

No, she's actually not lost a lot, but the midwife said she's eating too little (currently at 40mls but she isn't often interested in more or if she has more it's almost always vomited in full!)

Poos are hard but not like pellets yet. She's in a lot of pain when she passes it.

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Cantbebotheredwithchores · 17/10/2022 17:33

What are her poos like?
It's normal for babies to cry when pooing if it's soft and no blood. It's called Infant Dyschezia.
It happens when the stomach muscles are contracting and the muscles in the bum need to relax and babies haven't got the hang of it. My daughter was the same.

Original poster

Nascette · 17/10/2022 17:38

Yeah we were told about the poo time not being abnormal but the midwife agreed that what she had passed was constipated because of the consistency.
We've been doing the upright thing as far as we can which like you say, does make a difference. But the vomit is a full feed in volume and can happen hours after feeds and is yellow like it's just been sat in her stomach.

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Original poster

Nascette · 17/10/2022 17:39

It was suggested by the midwife but I'm reluctant to do it if not necessary. She did also warn us not to do much or often.

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Eupraxia · 17/10/2022 17:39

She has never pooed before. The crying will be linked to it being an entirely alien, uncomfortable feeling. Uncomfortable doesn't mean pain.

Try not to medicise normal behaviour. Newborns do tend to cry if they are not feeding or sleeping. It doesn't mean anything other than the world is a scarey place compared to the womb

keep baby is an upright-ish position for feeding.
wind well after feed, ideally also in an upright position
don't chop and change formula, try to be consistent
Use a swaddle
Feed at every cry. Once the feed is refused, allow dummy sucking to stay calm
Mostly no awake time at this again. Wake, Feed, Nappy, Feed again, Dummy, Sleep - repeat 24h a day.

Original poster

Nascette · 17/10/2022 17:40

Cantbebotheredwithchores · 17/10/2022 17:33

What are her poos like?
It's normal for babies to cry when pooing if it's soft and no blood. It's called Infant Dyschezia.
It happens when the stomach muscles are contracting and the muscles in the bum need to relax and babies haven't got the hang of it. My daughter was the same.

Sorry just figured out how to reply properly, I hope the people above can figure out who I'm replying to!

Poos are hard. She's clearly having to put in a lot of effort to pass them too. Did it pass naturally for your DD?

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BigSidLittleSid · 17/10/2022 17:54

Are the feeds being made up correctly? right ratio of water to powder, make sure you put water into the bottle first and using level scoops (not heaped). Sounds simple but sometimes it's the basic bits which can be the cause of problems.

Original poster

Nascette · 17/10/2022 19:26

BigSidLittleSid · 17/10/2022 17:54

Are the feeds being made up correctly? right ratio of water to powder, make sure you put water into the bottle first and using level scoops (not heaped). Sounds simple but sometimes it's the basic bits which can be the cause of problems.

Thanks, they are.. but it's worth asking, it would be such an easy mistake to make I think!

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CatHatSat · 18/10/2022 19:27

How is your little one doing today?

endofthelinefinally · 18/10/2022 19:32

I am a retired midwife and I think your baby should be checked over by a doctor. If she is really vomiting a full feed, that is not posseting. She is very small and you should not take any chances. If all is well, then that is fine. No doctor would refuse to see a week old baby if mum is worried.

Original poster

Nascette · 18/10/2022 22:59

CatHatSat · 18/10/2022 19:27

How is your little one doing today?

Still no poo, but we have managed to keep a few more feeds down today which is encouraging.
Massaging and stretching her out to help as much as we can

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Original poster

Nascette · 18/10/2022 23:06

endofthelinefinally · 18/10/2022 19:32

I am a retired midwife and I think your baby should be checked over by a doctor. If she is really vomiting a full feed, that is not posseting. She is very small and you should not take any chances. If all is well, then that is fine. No doctor would refuse to see a week old baby if mum is worried.

Thanks, she is still under the midwives so we've seen them so far. They aren't too concerned yet because she isn't losing much weight but maybe I should push harder because it doesn't feel right to me...
She has managed to keep down all feeds today but with no poo. I'm almost waiting for the vomit now because of it. She did bring up a small amount earlier which I would have described as posseting except that she retched to bring it up.

She's also really hard to burp which doesn't help, if you have any tips?

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Youcancallmeirrelevant · 18/10/2022 23:10

Formula fed babies dont usually poo every day, and i think constipation is common as formula is harder for them to digest.

Also, look at some videos of quantities of milk, it is unlikely babybis bringing up a whole feed, the sick always looks like q lot but isn't a whole feed.