EBF baby not pooing - and advice?

[hankins]

I'm really hoping someone can help me with this - my 4 month old DS went 16 days without pooing last month until he was finally put on senna by the doc. He came off the senna 7 days ago and hasn't had a poo since. I spoke to the doc this morning and he is putting him back on the senna until 6 weeks after I start weaning him. I'm not sure about this decision - won't it just make him even lazier? The doc says it is more important for him to poo, but I just want to get to the bottom (no pun intended!) of why he isn't pooing in the first place. He is a happy, chilled baby with no soreness or discomfort. Should I just let nature take it's course?

Hi
when my DS was a month or so he didnt poo for a few days and the midwife suggested I drank prune juice, as I was breastfeeding- it is a natural laxative and goes through to the milk apparently. It worked like a miracle, for both or us.....!
I've also used it for him more recently (hes 2 and a half now)- I mix a bit into yogurt.

I would really recommend it, but start with a little at a time!

My ds frequently went days without poohing when he was ebf. His record was 24 days! I live in Spain and 'the' Spanish book on breastfeeding (which is wonderful) said not to worry, and that the author (a paediatrician) had heard of a case of an ebf baby not going for over a month. He says lots of paediatricians and doctors don't understand that it's completely normal as ebf past a couple of months is still relatively rare in Spain (not sure if that's the case over there). He says not to give them anything or do anything. My ds didn't seem in pain so I waited it out and he eventually let rip! I've also read that there's very little waste in breastmilk as the baby absorbs it all, hence fewer poohs.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the advice - I'll definitely try not to worry so much. I'm going to hold off giving ds the senna for a couple of days and see what happens. I will also try the prune juice! As long as he isn't in any discomfort, I don't really want to intervene- it's a skill I'd like him to develop on his own really.

ds did this, he used to go for a couple of weeks at a time. i knew when he was going to do it though as he was more restless at night before he went-but when he did go-oh he really went! it used to pour out of the nappy lol and always when i had forgotten a spare wrap or clothes.

When he poos, what is the consistency? Is it loose and soft? Or is it hard?

If it's soft, then I don't think there's anything odd going on. Breastmilk is a very efficient food, there's not much waste at all, hence not much to poo out! But if it's hard, then I would be more concerned.

Is senna a sort of fibre? I would be nervous about giving that to a baby, tbh ...

Has anyone else noticed that their EBF baby's poo freqency seems linked to mum's diet? When I eat loads of fruit and veg, the day after baby does more poos. If I eat v little fruit and veg and more refined foods my dds have tended to miss a day. Just asking cos I've never heard that about prune juice, but it would fit .

I have noticed that, Brolly. When I take omega oil supplements my DDs poos thicken considerably.

His poo is soft, and he does plenty of wet nappies so I know he isn't dehydrated. Senna is a plant extract that stimulates the bowel, so it isn't a laxative, which I am glad about. The doc tells me ds has a lazy bowel and that this is fairly common in babies (I'm not sure about this). In terms of my diet; it is quite balanced, but I could perhaps increase my fruit and veg intake and see if that makes a difference. Thanks for all your words of wisdom!

If his poo is soft, I wouldn't worry. Certainly two week gaps without pooing is normal in breastfeed babies (who are at least one month old).

Brollyflower - I eat LOTS of veg & my daughter will still go 2 weeks between poos.

As long as the poo is not hard/'formed' when he goes it's fine.

Another one here whose BF baby always had a couple of weeks between poos. Was very un-nerving, but I can reassure you that at 2 he is making up for lost time with plenty of big time action now .

I got different advice from docs as it happens. One prescribed soemthing that softened his poo (tho it wasnt ever hard, just infrequent) whilst another said not to take it since it would make his bowel lazy.

I guess if he is happy and the like then there is probably no problem. Some babies just dont poo much it would seem!

BF babies can go quite a while between poos - I'm very surprised that you have been advised to give a 4 month old baby senna. Might be an idea to carry spare clothes with you when you go out because when that poo comes it is likely to be quite impressive.

I'm a bit surprised by the senna prescription too - I have decided to not give him any more because I want him to poo on his own. He did manage to poo last Thursday after a 9 day break, but hasn't had one since. But, because he is so happy in himself, I am going to let nature take it's course. Thanks for all your advice. I have been really worried about his health, but feel more relaxed now!