Baby not pooping

[wildturkeyleg]

My niece is two weeks and two days old, exclusively breastfed, and she hasn't pooped for over a week now. She had all of her initial meconium poops, and one really small mustard colored poop, but nothing since then. This is the third baby my sister has breastfed, so she isn't a novice and knows that the milk is letting down and baby is getting an adequate amount. The baby isn't acting like she's hungry all the time, and she has a wet diaper everytime she eats, so it definately seems like she is getting enough milk. We have tried every method we know of to get her to poop, including massage, warm baths, pumping the legs, etc. My sister is hoping that she goes before her next doctor's appointment so she doesn't have to hear the 'supplement with formula' speech. Anyway, does anybody have any experience with this kind of an issue? Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks.

[Lil'M]

To me this sends up big warning flags. Is the baby gaining? If the baby hasn't pooped since she was about 1 week old, I would want to see a lactation consultant to determine if there is adequate milk transfer. Maybe she is having a sucking issue. Maybe mom has a (new) hormonal issue and isn't making as much milk as she thinks. For example, she could have retained placenta. Maybe baby is having a digestive issue.

In any case, when a 6 week old exclusively bf baby hasn't pooped in a while, it is not generally a cause for concern if the baby is gaining weight. With a 2 week old, it can be a very different story. Please have your sister get a professional (doctor or lc) to make sure your niece is ok.

[pbjmama]

While it is rarely the case that it is in the realm of normal I would agree with PP. Get a weight check for the baby, have the ped check for anything abnormal with the baby, have mom meet with an LC. Hopefully everything is fine but if there is a problem catching it early can be key.

[maybemom05]

I think you've been given some good advice. I'd strongly recommend a weight check and a discussion with your provider.

FWIW, you may not hear "supplement with formula". I had this experience and my fairly mainstream pediatrician just had us back for periodic weight checks to monitor the baby, but assured us that a diet of breast milk was the most appropriate and that formula wasn't neccessary. Every case is different, but so long as the baby is gaining weight, things should be fine.

Good luck to you!!!

[teton1898]

Amen to previous posters--and I have the experience to back it up. In the first 3 weeks of life, my baby pooped 4 times. He also had VERY low weight gain. My MW and Ped brushed it off. Needless to say, by 6 weeks when I finally got smart and went to an LC, we had huge supply issues due to milk transfer issues and huge emotional issues to say the least. Its been 6 weeks since then and despite herbs and domperidone and nursing 10-12x/day, I still only have half a supply. Not pooping in the early weeks is not normal, no matter what anyone says. Wet diapers indicate fluid intake--poopy diapers indicate substance. My baby had HUGE wet diapers because all he was getting was foremilk--he wasn't getting any of the hindmilk because he wasn't latched properly.