EBF baby very constipated...can anyone help?

[rooster100]

Hi girls
My 10 week old baby is constantly constipated. Goes about once a week but is so uncomfortable after about 5 days of not pooping. I took him to the dr and she suggested sugar water which did work but I'm reluctant to keep giving him sugar. My mw said just to leave it but he is just so uncomfortable. At present it's been a week since his last poop.
Does anyone else's breastfed baby have constipation and if so did you do anything to help it?
Thanks! Xx

 

[misspriss]

I have not had it, but I have heard it is perfectly normal for EBF babies to poop once every 7-10 days. Are his poos dry and hard, or is he just straining a lot to go?

 

[toby1331]

You might want to look into a probiotic and a chiropractor.

 

[rooster100]

I have not had it, but I have heard it is perfectly normal for EBF babies to poop once every 7-10 days. Are his poos dry and hard, or is he just straining a lot to go?

No when he does poop it like an explosion but soft he just strains alot! Thanks x

 

[cupcake0406]

This is normal for bf babies, mine is 5 weeks and has just gone from pooing several times a day to once every few days, its because there is not much waste in digested breast milk. The straining is also normal, my baby does that too. X

 

[rooster100]

This is normal for bf babies, mine is 5 weeks and has just gone from pooing several times a day to once every few days, its because there is not much waste in digested breast milk. The straining is also normal, my baby does that too. X

G

 

[rooster100]

This is normal for bf babies, mine is 5 weeks and has just gone from pooing several times a day to once every few days, its because there is not much waste in digested breast milk. The straining is also normal, my baby does that too. X

Thanks so much cupcake that's so reassuring to hear! Xx

 

[misspriss]

Yeah my LO used to strain a lot, it's only gone away around 10-12 weeks. He used around 7x a day, now it's twice and he barely grunts...I think it goes away as their digestive system matures and they get used to the feeling.

 

[beeba]

Yes mine also strains. You can help him by lifting his legs up so that his bum is not touching the surface he's lying on and gently pressing his knees against his stomach. This makes my lo poo and fart

 

[rooster100]

He has no problem farting but no poop it's the end of day 7 now and I can't help but worry, saw a clip on you tube by an American dr who said a bf baby can go up to 7 days without a bowel movement as they use all the nutrients and have little waste product. X

 

[princess_em]

I wouldn't worry too much. My DS regularly goes a week without a poo, and last time it was 10 days! I've read that they can go up to 12 days before it becomes an issue, and as long as they still fart it's fine, because that shows there is no blockage anywhere

 

[summer rain]

My eldest went 21 days! I thought that was a record but Dr Sears said in an article on his site that he had two baby patients who went a month. When my eldest got older he was prone to true constipation but this was when he had mostly stopped BFing and was on loads of solids xx

 

[rooster100]

Thanks girls!!
On my god 21 days summer rain!! You must have been worried, makes my 7 days seems like nothing! Never thought I would wish for someone to poop so much!
Very reassuring! Xx

 

[summer rain]

I would have been but my niece who was a few months older was exactly the same and she was right as rain so I didn't worry too much, also at the time he was gaining 8oz a week (after struggling to gain 4oz a week at first) so clearly not an intake issue. My second youngest was the complete opposite, at first he just about pooed the minimum amount expected but at about 5-6 weeks he started pooing more and more until we had about 20 poos a day at one point and in every nappy there was a sizeable amount. Then when he got to about 4 months he slowed down but would poo at least once a day. Strangely he got constipated when starting solids too, he had to have quite a bit of water with meals and lactulose solution as nothing else would help. Xx