does anyone else's dd/ds FLAIL during a bm?

[hempandhoney]

my 8 day old ds gets extremely upset when trying to have a bm, which involves kicking like crazy (he is STRONG) and screaming bloody murder whenever I try to hold him over the sink or a tupperwear bowl to relieve himself. does anyone else have this problem? would a potty help? is there a way to calm him down? I really want to ec but I don't want to stress him out.

[toriaj]

This is so similar to the thread I was going to post! My dd is 11 months, and we've just been EC for poops, and only for the last couple of months. I've really enjoyed it, it makes me feel really close to her. But these last couple of times she's been so wiggly. I wanted to ask if it's normal for a child to wiggle/crawl away in the middle of a poop? Or would they normally be done, if they're crawling away?

The best advice I'd have for you (and keep in mind, I don't know what I'm talking about!) is to evaluate how you're holding him. Does he feel secure? Since newborns like to be snug. I haven't used any sinks/bowls/etc. We have those "lap pads" (waterproof mat covered with fabric on both sides) and I just kneel over it. DD's bum is between my thighs/knees, and her chest or back is cuddled against my front, with my arm under her knees. Poop falls down on the pad, and I just dump it in the toilet and wash the pad. But since she's on solids now as well as BM, her poop is more formed. Not sure how runny poop would work with the pad. Maybe those big disposable ones like they have in the hospital

[hempandhoney]

I'll definitely have to try the lap pad. I think maybe he needs sometime to realize the sensation of pooping isn't painful. He's even upset to bm in a diaper or naked in a towel, but not as over the top kicking and screaming with the Tupperware/sink. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Juise]

Are you sure it isn't just getting used to having to poop? (As in, not connected to your EC?) DD2 is 3 weeks old and she is just starting to not get really upset when she poops, but this was the case whether we had her over the sink or in a diaper. She still frequently fusses or cries when she pees. (No matter where.)

DD1 threw fits about pooping until well over 3 months old. (Again, no matter where she was doing it.) She seemed to almost find her body's new need to evacuate foodstuffs terrifying.

I would definitely evaluate your position though if he seems that much more upset over the bowl, how do you hold him?