Worried - newborn isn't pooping

[Megan73]

DS2 - born Feb. 9 - hasn't had a bowel movement in 11 days.

He's gaining well, at least an ounce a day and often more. (He was born at 7.5 pounds, dropped to 6 lb, 12 oz at a week old and is now 9 lb, 1 oz).

He's passing gas, his belly is soft and he's generally happy except for evening fussiness and cluster feeding. I'm struggling with low supply and we're still supplementing with EBM in a SNS. He's had some formula but none for a week.

The doctor told me to call back tomorrow if he still hasn't pooped.

Should I be worried? I know juice and glycerin suppositories are no longer recommended but is there anything else the doc can suggest?

Edited by Megan73 - 3/13/11 at 6:07pm

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

It really isnt that unusual for bfed babies to go a really long time without going poo. The reason is because breast milk is absorbed really well and there isnt much left over that isnt used. If the baby is acting normally without showing signs of pain. I would be willing to wait awhile before taking drastic measures to make him go.

I have heard about using a rectal thermometer, if you know how to use one, to cause a bowel movement. If he is ready to go then that little bit could be enough to get him to go.

Be prepared for a big blow out when he does go

[PatioGardener]

Most exclusively BFed babies don't start the long gap between poops until after 6 weeks, so I think I would contact the doc (like you have done) if this happened to mine. But with a happy, gaining baby it sounds like either he's working out the formula, or has just switched over to an older BFed baby pooping pattern.

I agree with the PP who said be ready for an explosion!

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

I am by no means an expert, I just know what happened with my own DD.  She pooped about 8x a day for the first 3 months.  Then at 3 months or so it gradually slowed to once a day.  At six weeks I would be somewhat  concerned about no poop for 11 days. I'm sure it's fine - but I do think I would worry. 

[whozeyermamma]

My doc did say a glycerine suppository was OK (DS was older than your babe - maybe 3 months? Can't remember ...) and WOW did it work. Like within minutes .... Like almost didn't get the diaper back on fast enough ...

I only used it once, it wasn't like DS got "dependent" on it to poop and it didn't cause him any distress. We had tried the thermometer, warm baths, massage, prune water and he was very gassy and uncomfy b/c of the lack of poopage.

good luck!

[~Demeter~]

It can be normal but after having 5 I finally figured out WHY mine did that... try block feeding. He might not be getting the full laxative effect of the hind milk. I did some 'extreme' block feeding with my most recent babe and it helped IMMENSELY.

[Megan73]

Thanks, ladies. You know you're a  mom when you OBSESS over poop!

I think you're right, Patio, and so did the doc.

He said that there's likely no reason to panic given that he's gaining like a champ, his belly is soft and he's happy and passing gas but  that after 12 (!) days he does need to poop. I'm doubtful it's the formula - he's had none in a week and even then only a few ounces a day.

We tried rectal stim with no luck so the doctor suggested an ounce of prune juice today then more tomorrow if it doesn't work which I think we'll try. We'll go back in a few days if there's no poop and try a suppository.

And yeah,it's going to be HUGE when he finally goes!

[PatioGardener]

Remember that prune juice will affect his gut flora in a non-EBF way (I know the formula did too, but if he's been EBF for a week then it is on its way back to normal). I wonder if infant probiotics would help?

This LLL article is talking about younger babes, but may be useful too. http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvdec97jan98p123.html

And, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! on your new addition!

[Megan73]

Thanks, Patio. I hear you and I haven't given it to him yet but can a babe actually return to a "virgin" gut?

I've read that article - and have actually posted linking to it to illustrate how wets aren't enough to gauge adequate intake - but I really have no doubt he's getting enough milk given that he's gaining well over average. Even if he's just adapted the stooling pattern of an older EBF baby, two weeks seems like a really long time.He is troubled by gas although he's generally happy. I haven't had any luck finding a source of infant probiotics.

Argh.Should I try the suppositories first?
 

Originally Posted by PatioGardener 

Remember that prune juice will affect his gut flora in a non-EBF way (I know the formula did too, but if he's been EBF for a week then it is on its way back to normal). I wonder if infant probiotics would help?

This LLL article is talking about younger babes, but may be useful too. http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvdec97jan98p123.html

And, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! on your new addition!

Edited by Megan73 - 3/15/11 at 7:46pm

[PatioGardener]

Well, I don't know if a baby can return to a completely virgin gut, but I do know that breastmilk, and the natural EBF flora are very healing for the baby gut, and the flora does take on more of a EBF pattern over time.

For me, I would go suppositories before giving anything by mouth, but that's me. I even give tylenol suppositories when my DS has bad teething pain rather than giving tylenol by mouth :)

I'm so glad that he's doing well otherwise, but I completely understand - I'd be a nervous wreck worrying until that poop arrived!

I gave my little guy infant probiotics to see if it would help his reflux, and I got them from loblaws (superstore) in the health foods section.

Good luck with this - hope there is poop soon!

[Megan73]

He pooped! And then DS1 (age 2.5) and I did a poop dance. If only big bro would poop in the potty I'd be an utterly contented mama.

I spoonfed him an ounce of prune juice in the a.m. and saw poop by evening although it may have been a coincidence.

I will pick up some infant probiotics in case this happens again, though. I wish I'd had thought of freezing some colostrum when I was hand expressing tons in the early days given that it's the perfect laxative.

Edited by Megan73 - 3/16/11 at 8:17pm

[PatioGardener]

yay! Poop! Congrats

Good idea about the colostrum - I didn't think of that either, but it would be the perfect laxative.

Here's hoping he is a once a week pooper rather than a once every 2 weeks and make your mom anxious pooper :)