Formula (complimentary feeding) and poops / gas

[Chellebelle]

Hiya everyone!

I wasn't sure which forum to post this in - I hope it's the right one...

Simeon is breastfed, however, he got sooo fussy feeding before bedtime and would barely feed at all - it was proving to be a nightmare, so for just over a week I have been giving him formula before bed (SMA Gold). He gulps this down with no fussing at all and will usually take between 6 - 8oz at 7pm before bed. It is so much easier and I think Simeon prefers it too... but since we have been doing this, he can go for two days without a dirty nappy (dirty not wet).

He doesn't seem to be in much discomfort, but he is just on his second day without dirtying a nappy and I am a little worried - is it normal? He also has VERY smelly gas - is this normal too? I just hope I am not doing anything wrong re: sterilising / making up bottles etc.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Sarahkka]

My son is primarily breastfed with formula supplementation due to some BF complications that affected my milk supply. I don't remember if he got constipated when we started the formula, but I do remember that his poop got a lot stinkier and he was certainly gassier!
Gassiness and constipation would be due to the change in diet rather than poor sterilization, I would think. His little gut just needs to figure out how to digest those new proteins. I think going a couple of days without a bowel movement is normal for babies at Simeon's age. If it goes much longer than that, I would ring your local health line and just ask.
Breast milk is a natural laxative, so that may help get things moving!

 

[mrs shine]

Isaiah is on 2 bottles a day now and his poo and farts are a lot stinkier than before. He also is now only pooing once every 2 days but he seems fine with it, I think it's quite normal.

 

[ryder]

If he doesnt seen to be in discomfort then dont worry... It is normal for babies to go a few days without pooing, its also normal for them to be more fussy the first couple weeks of a diet change... Also, formula is iron fortified, breastmilk isnt, and sometimes iron can be harder to digest. The iron is also what makes their poop smellier, but at 6 months they should be given more iron anyways, so giving iron fortified formula is not a bad thing.

I would give it a couple of weeks.

 

[Pearl]

speaking of the iron...does it mean their poo gets darker too ? coz ive noticed with my LO his poops are darker than before ??

 

[Redz4493]

Yup, Iron does make poos a bit darker. Just to add, if you are still worried about Simeon being constipated, try giving cooled boiled water. It'll get things moving. If his poos are still soft after the water its likely he wasn't constipated afterall, just adjusting to formula. Have heard of babies going a week without pooing and being fine!!

 

[suzan]

DS never had an issue with poop (knock on wood) he poops once a day, everyday! When being breastfed for 3 months and even after with formula. I believe that if your baby isnt feeling bad, then its ok. But if the constipation goes like above 3 days, then switching to another formula might be better! I would personally do that if we had that problem.

 

[Chellebelle]

Thanks everyone. I will see how it goes - he is going at most 3 days without a poo, and when he does poo it's sticky - not like the ones that I'm used to that ooze out of the sides of the nappy (which isn't a bad thing for me - as long as it's ok for him )

He seems to go through spurts of discomfort with his tummy... but thinking back, he was like that for the first 10 weeks - so maybe he is just adjusting.

x

 

[Vickie]

questions like this that might fit into both forums are okay to post in both forums (we realize that some people do need to post in both areas--mixed feeding etc.) just for future reference