Why won't my baby poop?

[MammaB21]

DS is 3 months old and he's never been an everyday pooper. He usually goes about once every 2-3 days. Well, lately it's gotten REALLY spaced out. We recently moved and we're still settling in so I'm thinking a change in routine could be the culprit. It could also be a change in his digestive system. Anyhow, he's been going like 5-7 days. 7 days is the longest he's gone and then he has a HUGE blowout. His poop is a little thicker too, even though he is only ingesting breast milk. We're having issues getting him on insurance since we did a homebirth and don't have his ssn yet. So needless to say, I plan on bringing him to the doctor but for now unless it's an emergency, I'm not all for paying hundreds of dollars for a check up. He doesn't seem to be distressed. His belly feels squishy and normal. He doesn't have more gas then normal. His poops (although thicker) seem normal (no mucus or blood or discoloring). It's just that 7 days seems SO long!!!! So opinions please. Anyone BTDT? Is this a stage he'll get through or is it something we should take him in for and bite the bullet on the bill?

[Chloe'sMama]

my 2 month old dd just had one of these episodes... since birth, she was always a once a day or every other day pooper.  Then it was spacing out more and more.... 7 days last week.  I used a thermometer to stimulate things and she pooped immediately (HUGE).  She has gone every day since then (almost a full week).  I can't say you should use the technique, but it worked for me.  Just so you know, my midwife, pediatrician and almost everyone I spoke to said it was normal... up to 10 days or so is completely normal for BF babies.  It gets thicker as their bodies use up more of the nutrients and water....

Hope he goes soon.

[paxye]

My first was a "every ten days' baby... it was a big one when he went, but it was just his normal. Breastfed babies are very rarely constipated, so as long as it is not coming out in small pellets it is just a variation of normal... I would never stimulate a baby to eliminate. Just be happy that you have less poops to change

[TabithaB]

My 7 week old daughter was a daily pooper also until recently..  It kinda startled me too when she started pooping like every 4 or 5 days apart.  She does get a little crabby before she goes though.  It has gotten thicker and we have double blowouts (front and back. ugh). 

[thefreckledmama]

This is totally normal for a breastfed baby.  With the exception of my youngest, who was like this from day one, my three older girls usually went 8-10 days between poops starting more or less around 3 months.

[Jerlin]

This is totally normal for exclusively breastfed babies. My DS went 14 days without pooping when he was 5 months old. And ever since, he poops about once every 2 weeks. The longest that he's gone without pooping is 16 days. I've read somewhere that even 20 days is ok. If your baby isn't acting uncomfortable or in distress, then I wouldn't worry about it.

You could always rub your baby's tummy around the belly button in a clockwise direction during bath times. Sometimes, it'll help move things along.

[MammaB21]

Thanks everyone. I figured it was okay, but I didn't realize how common this was. My first was an every day pooper with no fail. DS had a HUGE blowout again today. Just like clockwork, on day 7 at about 9am, just like last week and the week before. I guess I'll have to remember that Thursdays are poop days. Don't bring him out of the house on Thursday mornings! (this is where I would normally insert a laughing smiley but the smiley thing isn't working, grr).

[somegirl99]

Jealous, my LO poops about 6 times a day including in the middle of the night and it's a big ordeal each time.

[holothuroidea]

My DD1 went very long periods between poops, too, going as long as 11 days. It's normal, I think there is very little waste in breastmilk and some babies metabolize more than others.

[Abraisme]

It sounds like your son is still totally within a normal range.  Both of my kids only pooped every 5-7 days from 2-6mo (when they started solids).  So long as your LO is going every 7 days or so and it's still soft, then he's fine.

[lebrbria]

When my DD was about that age, she would poop faithfully every 12 days.  It would be a huge blow up, so we were cautious as to what we dressed her in (easy to get out of clothes).  Once we introduced solids, she started pooping more frequently.  DS can go 3-7 days without pooping.