Constipated 9 week old

[rosyposy653]

My baby is 9 weeks old and ebf but the past few days she has been suffering with constipation (bowel movement only every couple of days after weeks of being very regular, and clearly uncomfortable). We have tried tummy massage, the cycling legs, warm baths. Does anyone have any other recommendations please? Could it be my diet? Thanks

It can be common for bf babies to go 7 days or sometimes more between bowel movements. Is it still soft when it arrives?

I wouldn’t call a breastfed baby who is poo-ing every 2 days constipated! Once every 7-10 days is completely normal!

Bf babies dont often get constipated. They can go a long time without a poo. No need to worry. Also their patterns change a lot as they grow and change.
But if baby looks uncomfortable you could try cutting out dairy feom your diet for a few days and see if it makes any difference.

I would have a chat with either health visitor team or gp. You have tried the guidance advice but baby is clearly uncomfortable.

Thanks all. I wouldn't be concerned except she keeps bringing her legs up to her tummy and going red and crying in pain so I think it must be constipation.

I think it’s much more likely to be wind than constipation.

Thanks @PotteringAlong. Could it still be wind even if she's getting burps out when I wind her? Do you have any ideas how I could resolve it? Thanks again.

Have you tried the tiger hold, when you have her along your arm?

Thank you @PotteringAlong I will try that x

All EBF babies try this at some point. They just want to worry their parents I reckon. Lots of squirming, red faces... their little digestive systems are just getting up to speed.

Babies are inclined to be a bit dramatic, everything is a bit do or die for them, understandably enough. Keep up the baths, tummy rubs and comfort. There will be a poonami along soon, so take a spare set of clothes when you ar out and about!

Legs up to tummy sounds like wind. I burped mine for ages but he still managed to have problems with wind. Tiger in tree was recommended by HV but we were never very successful with it. When he was a little older I would sit him on my lap and kind of lean him all the way back so body was stretched out and push him gently all the way forward so he was folded, lots of farts came out that way!

Thanks all. Silly question but is it normal at this stage to suddenly become really gassy? She's doing the most stinky farts all of a sudden...

It could be related to something you've eaten, or just because she hasn't pooed for a few days. All these things are normal with new babies.
If she starts crying a lot more or has a few very green poos then speak to the health visitor.

Also could be that she is swallowing air when feeding. Some babies just do this. Has her latch changed at all?

Thanks @Jamhandprints. I think if I'm honest I can sometimes be a bit lazy with my latch so I wonder if that could be the problem and creating the wind/causing her to swallow air. I feel guilty thinking I could be causing it, eeek. I'll perhaps try harder tomorrow to make sure she's getting enough of the boob in her mouth.