exclusively bfing 3mo but he's constipated - any suggestions?

[LetThemEatCake]

so much for exclusive bfing being exactly what a baby needs to keep his/ her innards working freely Never had this problem with dcs 1 & 2 (also both bf'd) and so am slightly flummoxed and anxious

DC3 has been irregular with his movements since birth - every 2nd day, sometimes every 3rd - but he seems now to be uncomfortable with it. Last time he went was Thursday.

Any suggestions appreciated, can't bear to see him going stiff and screaming and am now losing confidence in my bfing as well ... would what I eat make a difference? in which case, what do you suggest I eat?

have also posted on the health thread so apols to anyone reading this x2.

is he really constipated? i mean, is the poo very dry? bf babies can go up to 10 days between bowel movements, so irregular dirty nappies shouldn't be a problem.

if it is very dry, maybe a wee bit of water from a bottle would help?

do you have a breast feeding clinic nearby where you can consult a knowledgable health visitor?

Dd3 went Almost 7 days without a poo and was very agitated - I put it down to colic. She went eventually and I think a warm bath and a massage helped things along.

Bf babies don't poo as much because it is so efficiently digested.

Keep feeding frequently - make sure plenty of wet nappies.

My health visitor advised a teaspoon of non concentrated pure orange juice in an ounce of water. If that doesnt work and he really seems uncomfortable and in pain then a pinch of brown demerara sugar can do the trick. Is this the first time he has been sore? If his constipation continues I would advise going to your dr.

Most babies become constipated at some stage and it usually passes. If you find ur babies continues definitely ask to be referred to a consultant.

We had a terrible time with my little boy and nothing worked ie orange juice, brown sugar, prune juice, lactulose. His movements used to be really dry and really black. Even when we moved on to weaning nothing helped and he eventually saw a consultant who prescribed movical. This was after months of crying and a very traumatic experience for all!

If his poos when they eventually arrive are soft and korma-sauce like (sorry at comparison), then he is not constipated. I agree with the above posters that BF babies can go an impressive number of days without pooing and then produce what is known in the business as a "mud slide" .

If he seems very distressed with it, get him checked out, there could be other things bothering him: reflux? intolerance/allergies?

What you eat should not make a difference scinetifically speaking, although there is huge anecdotal evidence that some babies are very sensitive to mum's diet.

thanks ladies. When he does go, it's yellow and wet, looks just like the poo I've been accustomed to with my other dcs (oh the glamour..)

He's wetting his nappies thoroughly so that's something. And sleeping well at night. I should take comfort from these things I presume?

It really sounds like he is not constipated.

agree, not constipated. a LOT of breastfed babies do this.
ds3 is a nightmare for it, and he does get uncomfortable after a while and feeds fairly frequently and then does a huge explosion!

ds did this too. he could go up to a week or longer without a poo then there was a lot!! however he fed much more the night before he did it and was more restless so i knew it was coming!

Prepare for the poosplosion - up the back, out the sides and into all the crevices! Agree could go 10 days though!

I've heard of one baby that went 2 weeks without a poo. Was perfectly ok! Can't imagine waht it must have been like when it eventually arrived