Breastfed baby hardly pooping

[Freddie15VES]

Hi all

My 3 week old hasn’t pooped (without me helping) in 2 days now the times I have helped via tummy massage or using a frida Windi she has pooped A LOT so she’s definitely backed up. She’s been really fussy and trying to push/farting loads but nothing was happening. She can’t seem to stay asleep for long due to the grunting and discomfort

Could this be something I’m doing/eating?! I’m drinking around 3 litres of water a day and I don’t drink coffee or anything

She’ll scream and scream until I either put her on the boob which she’ll then immediately fall asleep or until I put her in a sling and walk around with her. But I can still feel her tensing in pain. Possibly a mix of her being overtired if she’s falling asleep immediately after being in the sling or on the boob I’m guessing?

Does anyone have any ideas? She’s actually okay at night time she just seems extremely fussy in the day

I read somewhere that breastfed babies don’t get constipation so I’m just wondering what could be going on!

Breast milk is well digested so there is little poop! But her system is having to do the digesting now where yours was doing everything when she was on board.
Tummy massage in a clockwise direction will help move wind along as will cycling her legs gently.
Not pooing for 2 days is fine in a bf baby.
Make sure you eat and drink enough and go with the flow.
Congratulations on your daughter!
c

@Honks when I used the Windi though she pooped SO much. Like at least 10 poops worth in one go!

Always worth chatting to a GP or midwife if you're worried but I've known a few EBF babies who would only poo once every 7-10 days

Please stop putting things up your dc's bum.

@Scaffoldingisugly if there was something I could try to relieve my daughter of the pain she’s in then I’ll try it. Please kindly take your weird comments elsewhere - thanks

Thanks @notthatkindofFatCat she just seems so uncomfortable bless her. I have been on antibiotics recently so not sure if that could make a difference to how she’s been. Just feel so bad for her!

It's very common for breastfed babies to go days and days without pooping, mine often went over a week! Have you considered that her discomfort could be reflux related or similar?

@Sanch1 possibly! With my first he never had any of this so I’m not sure what reflux is really, ill have a proper look into it thanks

Probably because it stimulated her gut to contract.
You mentioned antibiotics that you’ve had. That may well make her more unsettled.
As another poster said some breastfed babies don’t poo for 7+ days, quite true and alarms mothers but isn’t anything to fret about. Formula fed it’s a different matter.
Is she gaining weight and peeing well?

@Honks yes she’s back to well above birthweight and loads of very heavy wet nappies. I did wonder if maybe the antibiotics could have made a difference as she was fine a few days ago pooping 2/3 times a day and much more settled so maybe when I’ve finished the course she’ll settle back down

Never heard of a Windi so just looked it up and I have to agree with a PP. I can't imagine sticking something up my baby's bum. Completely bizarre.

Very normal for breastfed babies to not poo often and for that to change. DC1 used to go only once a week. Longest was 12 days.

I had antibiotics when mine was that age and she was really unsettled, it sorted itself quickly after. When she was older she used to poo every 10 days.

I don't know what a windi is and don't want to Google, but it doesn't sound like a good idea!

My DD would sometimes go 10 days without pooing. One of the extra bonuses of breastfeeding that no one tells you about.

Sounds like a thriving baby who has been unsettled by antibiotics.
Don’t worry. Enjoy her. You’re doing great 😊

Thanks to those being supportive - for those judging slightly please bear in mind I’m only 3 weeks pp and only 3 weeks into this journey with her. We had a rough start, we’re still finding our feet. You might not agree but please save the judgemental comments as I’m sure you all had moments where you’re sat at home, alone, sobbing with a 3 week old who hasn’t stopped screaming for 1-2 hours straight. If something was recommended to me that might help her then I’ll try it. I don’t need to be made to feel like a bad mum for that. I’ll trust her body from now on and trust she knows what to do

Your daughter is totally normal for a breastfed baby. It really doesn't matter.

From what you've said everything seems pretty normal.

Breastfeeding your baby, what to expect in the early weeks is a good article and might offer some reassurance.

I would definitely stop using the Windi though. What she's doing is perfectly normal. It just takes them a while to get used to digesting the milk as another poster said.

If she's crying will she settle if you feed her again or take her out for a walk?