8 day old constipated - plz help FTM!

[MrsM2021]

Hi,

My 8 day old is usually (well thus far) a placid and content baby. She is formula fed SMA and has been from birth due to a traumatic birth injury causing my milk to stop.
She’s not pooped since 3pm yesterday, keeps hiccuping, her breathing is faster and she is making lots of different noises. She is quite distressed and I’ve tried to speak to the doctor etc to no avail - bloody useless.

Can any Mums help advise on what to do to help her? My heart is breaking seeing her in so much discomfort and pain.

TIA

She needs to drink water. Boil it then cool it right down. Or you can buy some for a baby.

Can you ring 111 as well?

Try not to worry too much.

That doesn't sound an awfully long time not to poop. Less than 24 hours..... my bf babies sometimes didn't poop for a couple of days. - other mums with more experience of formula will be along to clarify I'm sure.

But you can try lying her on her back and bicycling her knees. Or gently pushing her knees to her chest. Both give her something to strain against.

@ssd

She needs to drink water. Boil it then cool it right down. Or you can buy some for a baby.

There's really no need to do this, least of all buying any.

@Mumdiva99

Try not to worry too much.

That doesn't sound an awfully long time not to poop. Less than 24 hours..... my bf babies sometimes didn't poop for a couple of days. - other mums with more experience of formula will be along to clarify I'm sure.

But you can try lying her on her back and bicycling her knees. Or gently pushing her knees to her chest. Both give her something to strain against.

This was my experience. Good advice.

I wouldn’t say that’s a long time to go poop. Babies don’t know how to coordinate their bodies yet so it always looks distressing when they are trying to pass gas/poop - it’s called infant dyschezia and I know it looks distressing but it is normal.

Bicycling their legs, warm cloth on tummy and tummy massage can help.

SMA did constipate my DD when she was tiny though and I think it does a lot of babies.

@Mumdiva99

Try not to worry too much.

That doesn't sound an awfully long time not to poop. Less than 24 hours..... my bf babies sometimes didn't poop for a couple of days. - other mums with more experience of formula will be along to clarify I'm sure.

But you can try lying her on her back and bicycling her knees. Or gently pushing her knees to her chest. Both give her something to strain against.

As mumdiva99 says - my bf DD could definitely go a few days without going! Bicycling knees works as does a nice warm bath (if you’ve bathed her yet.) Is she particularly windy? That could be contributing to her being uncomfortable but you’re in the best position to know that! You’re doing great, the early days are still about learning her needs and recovering from birth

Do not give a newborn water unless told to by a doctor, it can make them really ill. Ready made formula can help (the bottles you buy that just pour straight into the baby's bottle), and a warm bath with anti clockwise tummy rubs. Also make sure you're making up bottles with the right amount of water to powder, hope that helps her.

Don't give your newborn water.

I don't think its a long time either, she's getting used to a new thing (eating and pooping) and it takes time. I'd try bicycle legs, a tummy massage and just lots of cuddles.

Cycling legs always worked for my kids

I was told to give my ds by a health visitor a few mouthfuls of cooled boil water after a feed to encourage his bowels to go.

Contact your midwife or health visitor before you try anything though please.

Has she seen a doctor? A new born with faster needs to see a doctor.

Our little boy is 5 weeks old, been formula fed since day 2 & can typically go 2/3 days without a poop.

He can be quite uncomfortable & struggling a little in the last day running up to a poop but we have been advised by midwives, health visitor & GP that this is normal for newborns.

It’s hard to see him needing to go but we have been trying all of the above things suggested by PPs which do help - bicycle legs, tummy massage, warms baths & a couple of ozs of cooled boiled water a day.

Also agree with PPs though, please talk to your GP again or Health Visitor for advice & reassurance, you know your baby best so if you’re not happy with their responses keep pushing back

These worked for me:

1. Diluted formula (add half an ounce water)
2. Vaseline rubbed around baby’s poop hole

NEVER DILUTE OR OVERDO FORMULA

It was a long time ago now, but SMA did have a reputation for causing constipation when my DD was born. I switched to Aptimil and it agreed with her much better in this respect. Hope your little one is feeling better and so are you OP.

Definitely DO NOT dilute formula, ever. Also, 'bought' water should be used with extreme caution in babies; it's usually some sort of mineral water and can have high sodium levels.

Honestly, OP, it's very normal for babies to strain and become upset when trying to poo. They don't know how to do it yet, and it takes time to learn the skill. When she does do a poo, is it hard or soft? If it's soft, she's not constipated.

Thank you so much for your replies.

We did the bicycle legs for a long time and persevered with winding/tummy rubs/warm flannel and she managed to settle/go to the toilet etc.

You can read all the books, go to all the classes but nothing really prepares you for how wonderful but also intense/terrifying experience of being a first time Mum!

@MrsM2021

Thank you so much for your replies.

We did the bicycle legs for a long time and persevered with winding/tummy rubs/warm flannel and she managed to settle/go to the toilet etc.

You can read all the books, go to all the classes but nothing really prepares you for how wonderful but also intense/terrifying experience of being a first time Mum!

Great news!

Absolutely, just when you’ve got one thing sussed out the problem changes into something else!

This video helped me loads around that age - might help you too!

fb.watch/6hl8dY33mW/