Baby not passing stool but doesn't seem constipated

[Leecylollipop]

First time mum sorry for the long story. So 3 week old baby hadn't pooped since last Tues. Health visitor said speak to gp if not done after 5 days. GP said sounds like constipation and prescribed suppository last night. Tricky to do on newborn but she pooped it right out with a ton of other stuff so it didn't have time to work...?? Poop was soft and yellow so I'm wondering if she's not constipated??? shes not passed anymore since. Just good bit of wind. She doesnt seem uncomfortable and stomach is soft. Shes only breastfed. Anyone had this before with a newborn?

Hey! Completely normal for a breastfed baby to go a week or longer without opening bowels and constipation isn't common in exclusively breastfed babies. Breastmilk is digested a lot easier than formula and there's less waste, so babies can sometimes go up to 2-3 weeks without opening bowels and it's completely normal (my baby girl goes every day or 2 but my son was the opposite as a baby and just had a massive poonami every 10-14 days instead!) To be honest I'm surprised your HV told you to go to the GP and surprised your GP has actually prescribed anything, especially as you say your baby doesn't appear uncomfortable or in pain? If baby appears happy and not in pain I personally wouldn't worry about it, although, I think I read going less regularly is more normal after 6 weeks and given your baby is only 3 weeks okd, maybe that's why the GP was a bit more worried?

It is NOT normal for a 3w breastfed baby not to be pooing at least twice a day. It signals that baby isn't getting enough milk not that they are constipated. I'm so sorry that your GP was so ill informed. How many wet nappies are you getting in 24 hours? How is weight gain? How many bf in 24 hours? How is bf going? Are you sore at all?

Paediatric nurse here. I agree that it's absolutely not normal to go that long. See another GP.

No baby should be going 2-3 weeks without having a poo. Regardless of how they are fed.

My first would poop once a day. 2nd every 5-7 days. Both breastfed. I think I read up to 10 days is normal but beyond that is a concern.

My eldest DD was like this when entirely breast fed. But probably from 3 months or so, not as early as 3 weeks. She basically used to have a massive poo every 6 days or so. She was gaining weight though and had no issues with reflux etc. I did go to the GP who wasn't particularly worried. She's a healthy 16 yr old now.

She's feeding every 3-4 hours and is gaining perfectly well on her line 3.4 kg at birth and 4.2kg now. Midwife and doctor said to feed every 2 hours so trying to do that had mastitis in the first week and got sore nips too but HV said shes latching well and have had latch checked several times. She feeds for 20-40 mins at a time. Not stressed and very content baby. So she pooped last night after the suppository and she does have a bit of reflux but not much and not after every feed. I'll try and see the GP again tomorrow.

My eldest would go ten days, but that was when she was much older than 3 weeks. I'd keep in touch with the GP and HV until things settle down, at 3 weeks you're still establishing feeding really.

Sore nipples and mastitis suggest that her latch isn't great and feeding every 3 to 4 hours isn't really often enough for a baby of this age. How about calling the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 and getting help from one of their trained breastfeeding counsellors?

I was told up to 12 days was okay with a fully BF baby. Only one of mine did that and OMG when he poohed, he poohed.

Yep! This was my son and I would sit and watch his entire white body vest turn orange 🤣🤣😭

Hoew old was he when this started?

I can't remember exactly, sure it was by the time he was 2 months old but not as young as 3 weeks, but as stated above more normal once they reach 6 weeks and over. There's some great advice and info on La Leche League, basically says that in an exclusively breastfed baby, if baby is happy, comfortable, plenty of wet nappies, gaining weight, infrequent poos CAN be normal but obviously as your baby is under 6 weeks be vigilant, obviously you've already sought medical advice so that's good, still unsure why the GP mentioned constipation though, breastfed baby doing soft yellow poos is definitely not constipation. Sounds like your baby is pooing again now though? Keep an eye on it and keep GP informed but going forward once baby is 6 weeks old don't worry if baby goes a week or 2 without bowel movement (think my son's record was 16 days once!) Another thing, because I've seen it suggested on here before, ignore anyone that tells you to give baby laxatives or fruit juice to flush them out, unless a medical professional had told you to do it.

As an aside, feeding baby every 3-4 hours is fine, a breastfed baby that has regained birth weight and gaining weight normally can be fed on demand. At 3 weeks I suspect the cluster feeding will be imminent anyway 🙃

It’s normal for a breast feed baby who is over 6 weeks to not go for 7 days or up to a week but under that age you should seek medical advice.

You say you've had the latch checked several times, who by? Sore nipples, mastitis and baby not pooing are all indicators of a baby who is not latched properly at the breast. Is she very gassy? Does she make a clicky noise when feeding?

If you have not sought out proper breastfeeding support - by which I mean a lactation consultant or at minimum a trained BF counsellor, not a MW or HV - please do so asap.