3 week old hasn't pooed for 5 days

[NK29a5b2c9X1179beccccd]

Please help - my 3 week old baby boy hasn't had a dirty nappy for 5 days now.

He is having several wet nappies a day, doesn't seem to be in much pain apart from some pretty regular and ripe flatulence.

He is breastfed roughly every 3 hours.

I have tried bicycling his legs and tummy massage but no luck so far.

What am I to do?

Breastfed babies can go days and days without pooing after the first few weeks - mine used to go about 10 days on average. Don't worry

This is quite common in breastfed babies, NK. Just wait and brace yourself - they can be quite spectacular when they arrive! Keeping this bumped so a more informed person can explain better.

I have been told that SOME b/f babies only poo once a week. If he is still feeding happily, and is as you say, weeeing, and he isn't vomiting, I'd be tempted to wait a couple of days more.

It might be the changeoever to your proper milk that is taking him longer to digest.

You can always give your HV a ring - might help pt your mind at rest. Is this your first baby?

Don't worry about it (unless you think he gets uncomfortable) I thik this is normal for breastfed babies.

Really? Even as young as this? Am so paranoid that I'm eating all the wrong things and feeding him something that disagrees with him.

At what point should I start to really worry about him?

Thank you so much for replying so quickly!

Don't worry. If he's producing wet nappies and is gaining weight, he's fine. It means he's using up all the goodness from your milk. I did panic a bit at first but then got used to it. Enjoy it while it lasts - now my DS is on solids he poos twice a day!

Be prepared for the EXPLOSION when it finally comes out

I remember with ds1 he started pooing while on the change mat after a good few days with nothing. You know those fake dog poos which are like a big curly sausage? I SWEAR it came out like that... just kept coming ... HOW one tiny baby had SO much poo in him I'll never know

As others have said, check that he's still getting lots of wet nappies and make sure you've got lots of clean spare clothes for you and him when it finally comes out

Ok - will try to calm down about the whole thing and wait and see what happens - will go to the clinic if he seems to be unhappy.

Paranoid first time mum here and everything is a bit overwhelming at the moment!

I remember that feeling well - I spent the first few weeks convinced that a real adult would come and take over any minute. Couldn't believe they'd let me out of hospital with complete RESPONSIBILITY for this apparently vulnerable fragile little thing.

It gets easier, promise