Waiting for poomageddon/the poopocalypse. Day 7 of poo watch....

[Thandeka]

20week old DD has not been in over a week now. Has been increasingly grumpy over the week. Been massaging tummy and bicycling but nowt.

Very foul smelling farts. Last time longest she went was 6days and doc advised small amount orange juice in cool boiled water (I know this is unnecessary in breastfed babies as they may not poo that often but DD is mixed fed (has at least 1 if not two bottles formula a day and more if it's a work day). Last time I didn't need to try the orange juice thing as she passed what seemed like a pint of mango smoothie (nice!) that afternoon- typically while we were out and about!

So this afternoon gave in an squeezed a bit of fresh orange into some cool boiled water. It's been over 4hours and still nothing, not sure how fast I expected it to work. I don't want to repeat it but how long to I let her go before I panic? We are going on a long drive on sunday- we all know she is going to wait til then right!?

I would offer some bits of cooled boiled water and wait a bit longer, maybe speak to pharmacist tomorrow if still no poo, it will probably be a shocker when she blows

Any changes with her feeding recently, eg different milk or more formula? As it's more constipating then BF generally.

And maybe speak to HV tomorrow, they may be able to advise something else to try (and at 20 weeks lots of babies are being given fruit/veg for weaning so I wouldn't be too about trying a little diluted juice, not like an 8 week old baby) But I would stick to water plus milk feeds til you see what they suggest.

I was at work yday so she had more formula then, plus we let her have a play with babyrice yesterday but that was still 6days into poo watch! Then again we finished her plain formula and so are using up her aptamil comfort (which we used to use occasionally but didn't need to really of late- not sure it makes a diff tbh and it is supposed to be for constipated babies- but maybe just the change has caused her gut to hang onto that poo for dear life!

Her normal pattern does seem to be infrequent poo's (since about ten weeks old) usually one every 3-5days but this is the longest she has gone without going! Makes for nice nappy changes I suppose- me and DH play poo buckeroo- whoever is holding her when she blows has to do the nappy

My nephew had this and they were advised to feed him diluted prune juice even from a few weeks old, well before weaning age.

Poonami will happen in the car.
Or on something nice.

Lay her on something dry-clean only.

Day 8 of poo watch.

Yeah I think will keep her naked on a sheepskin rug all day- that should sort it!

DS did this at the same age - he had been a regular 3 or 4 dirty nappies a day sort of chap, then suddenly went 10 days . I actually took him to clinic at 6 days as I was so worried they told me I'd soon know if something was actually wrong with him!

It was HORRIFIC when he finally blew up. And now he's on solids, we've found that even the sight of a prune has the same effect - spectacular.

Baby rice can be constipating because of the amount of iron they stick in it so I'd hold off on that until she's done a poop just to be on the safe side.

Day 9 of poowatch.

Orange juice has had nil effect apart from possibly making her a bit hyper. Her tummy feels firmer than it normally does so she is full of poo! She doesn't seem too bothered- bit grumpy maybe but not in pain. Think we are going to try prune juice today and ring NHS direct. I was reading online about a baby that went 18 days!! (EBF though and DD is mixed fed so should go sooner). She won't be having any more baby rice until she has been (and only had a couple of spoons on day 6 of poowatch before we realised that it was day 6 of poowatch!

When do I really need to panic- 12 days? 2 weeks? What?

Hi my DS was the same - his record was 9 days and no problem! The reason is most unlikely to be constipation!!! Quite simply virtually 100% of breastmilk is used by the baby so there is remarkable little waste. Hence the delightfully few soiled nappies and the lack of 'orrible smell (it is the undigested protein in modified cow's milk that stinks I'm afraid). So just enjoy this perk of feeding yourself and relax!
NB of course a baby not passing a stool at all can be the result of a blockage so I am assuming s/he has been passing stools before.

But DD doesn't get 100% breastmilk as intake- she probably has 70% breastmilk- 30% formula and formula there is some waste surely! Her poo's and farts do reek- because of the formula

Her last poo 9 days ago was like great big rolls of toothpaste (sorry for graphic imagery but is best way to describe thickness and consistency!) which is maybe a bit more solid that normal but still fairly squishy- haven't ever seen the hard pellet of constipation.

I do love the none poo-ey nappies though but just one a week would be nice so I don't worry like this! (6days was her record before this one)

Marking my place

Haha AwesomeWellies. To my horror I have completely turned into the mother I swore I wouldn't. This epic tale of DD's lack of bowel movements is even on my FB updates.

Oh dear can you tell she is my PFB!?

I mean prepregnancy I would have laughed if anyone had said I would be talking babypoo online with a load of strangers and bending my friends ears about it constantly!

Poor DD is going to grow up one day and discover archive history online documenting the 9days (and counting) she never poo-ed!

Day 9. Poomageddon has been a complete let down. This afternoon we had one skidmark and 2normal (well small/medium) sized poo's. Although DH did point out these could be the receding waters before the poonami!

Surely over a week of no poo should give a giant explosive one that necessitates a whole pack of baby wipes and a change of clothes?

You have clearly got a super-efficient baby to breastmilk ratio going on. Congratulations!