Help baby taking all day to go poo!

[firsttimemum1403]

My DD is 2 months old tomorrow / 9 weeks in 2 days and is formula fed (complications breast feeding!) and she has been routinely pooing every 3rd day for about 6 weeks. Every 3rd day it is poo day. She's not been seen since we left the hospital on the day she was born because of Corona. The doctor was supposed to see her last Friday but cancelled because they were poorly and the health visitor and midwives haven't been able to see her because of Corona. The problem I have is that it takes her ALL day to poo and it's horrible to watch. She is constantly crying and when she's not crying she's trying to sleep and it'll only last 20 mins at most before shes awake crying and strainig again. I hate poo day (as we've come to call it) because of it. Shes not getting any sleep and I feel so awful because I can't help her. Every time it is poo day this is what I do:

Pretty much all day tummy massages/cycling her legs like a bicycle
Feeding her on only carton milk all day (it has natural laxative in it whilst the formula stuff doesn't)
Bath (and frequent soaks in warm water throughout the day)

The only things I don't do (but have read online can help) is trying to stimulate her to go by using q-tips etc and feeding her water. I avoid feeding her water because I've been told by the health visitor it is okay but the hospital and my midwive both told me under no circumstances (unless prescribed by my GP) am I to give my newborn water so I just don't.

Right now she's asleep but she's still not poo'd. I feel so awful and guilty and she's just constantly crying and upset because she's tired and in pain!! Any one have any advice or been in similar situation ?

What do you mean by carton milk?

What do you mean by 'trying to stimulate her to go by using q-tips etc'

Yes, what's the carton milk?

That aside, I would start some of the poo day activities the day before to get things moving in advance of the really difficult day, including some cool boiled water as per NHS guidelines.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/how-can-i-keep-my-baby-safe-during-hot-weather/

Not sure what carton milk is either but DD was just like this and it was bloody horrible. I never found the q tip thing worked but vaseline round her bum and gentle massage while you're doing it can help move things along more easily. There's also some tummy massages you can do - YouTube has some good videos.

Assume carton milk is the baby milk in cartons although I wasn't aware the formula was any different to making from powder. Has someone confirmed that for you op? If that is true could you give that to her all the time for the moment? I know it's expensive compared to powder so may not be an option.

Hi yes sorry should have said. The "carton milk" is the pre-made stuff you can buy in the supermarkets. I call it carton milk because that's what they called it at the hospital when we were talking about formula options.

It is super expensive compared to the tins, mostly because I would never get through a whole litre within 24 hours so have to buy the little 300ml cartons. So it's not really ideal for me to keep using it just so she poos more regularly (although I may have to, don't want to see her hurting like this!)

The carton mils contain a very slight laxative. Their formula is different to the tinned stuff because it's liquid and keeps until used compared to when it's just dry powder. I use SMA and it states on their website it contains milk laxatives plus all midwives/HV have said for me to try the cartons because of this too.

Also if you Google how to help a newborn poo a few answers say to try and stimulate her anus (tmi I know!!!) with a q-tip or a warm cotton wool to help relax her. Whilst this is fine I've also read that it isn't the best option as it doesn't teach DD how to get used to pooing in the future and they eventually end up becoming dependant on that so I'm a bit skeptical to try it.

Just feel so helpless :( still no poo and still one unhappy baby!

Can you not get a GP phone appointment? Might be quicker than someone coming out.
I've had similar problems with my toddler but obviously very different with a newborn so not sure what to suggest, hopefully some of suggestions made on the thread will help. I hope it get resolved and your DD feels better very soon.

I have never heard that new borns shouldn't have water. After having mine, water was supplied in disposable 'bottles' for all babies. You don't give it instead of a feed but they usually need some.

Speak to your GP about your baby. As she is obviously in distress and pain on 'poo day', there must be something they can advise to give her to make passing a stool easier. No baby should be in pain like that, poor little thing.

To add, water was given in hospital in disposable bottles, they all had it at times.

I'd call your GP for an emergency appointment first thing OP. You need some medical advice. It could just be this is the baby's pattern and she's just getting used to the mechanics of pooing or that she needs medical help. I wouldn't be putting anything near my baby's bum on the advice of Google.

The reason to avoid water is because it has no nutritional value. There is no harm in it if its on occasion but without gp instruction I wouldn't do it routinely.
I have no advice really op but my los poo schedule changed a few times over her first year. First a few times a day, then one big one a day, the one week nothing at all to 1 or 2 a day. Now she's regular every day.
I know 6 months seems like a long time but when you can give solids such as prunes and Greek yogurt it'll really help. Might not matter by then though!
Sounds like you are doing the right thing, hopefully the gp can rearrange the appt soon.