no poop in 5 days for a 10 day old baby - should I worry?

[MamaPhD]

DS was born last Thurs and hasn't pooped since Wed (6 days old).  Now it's been 5 days with no poop (10 days old).  I know poop frequency varies w babies but thought that happened when they are a little older like couple months?  Is this something I should worry about?  Baby is doing well and happy otherwise.  No issues, discomfort, meds, allergies whatsoever except the poop thing.

Can I do anything about it?  With DD I would give her some prune juice but not sure if I can do that with a newborn - probably not!

Some more info....We have been supplementing w formula since DS was 3 days old due to 15% weight loss.  My milk came in on day 5 and breastfeeding is going well so we started to ramp down the formula for a couple days now.  We will probably comepletely be off formula in several days.  (please no flaming about the formula.  same thing happened with DD and it didn't damage our breastfeeding relationship and felt it was needed due to a big weight loss)

[Jenivere]

It's very normal for a bf baby to go up to a week with no bowel movement.  :)

[spedteacher30]

Have you seen an LC to know for sure he is getting enough milk while nursing? I would be worried since you have had supply issues, and the no pooping and the weaning off formula coincide.

I'd make an appointment with the doctor or an LC to double check, and calm your worries.

[JessBB]

TBH at that age I would be very concerned about no BM's. Pooping can slow way down in OLDER bf babies, like 2 months plus, but at 10 days they should be pooping at least once a day if not a lot more. How are wet diapers? Is baby showing any signs of dehydration? I think you should take your baby for a weight check tomorrow and maybe to an LC to observe a nursing session. GL and please update.

[~Demeter~]

My baby did the same... I have oversupply though & she was getting plenty of foremilk but not enough of the laxative hindmilk. your situation sounds a lot different though.

[MamaPhD]

Originally Posted by JessBB 

TBH at that age I would be very concerned about no BM's. Pooping can slow way down in OLDER bf babies, like 2 months plus, but at 10 days they should be pooping at least once a day if not a lot more. How are wet diapers? Is baby showing any signs of dehydration? I think you should take your baby for a weight check tomorrow and maybe to an LC to observe a nursing session. GL and please update.

Yeah my thoughts, too, that he is too young to not poop for so long.  He's been gaining 1-2 oz per day which I think is a good rate (we have a scale at home)  & doesn't seem dehydrated.  He makes at least like 8 clear/slightly yellow wet diapers per day.  He goes back and forth between nursing like 20-30 min per side every 2 hours or so vs. nursing like 5 min per side every hour.  So perhaps a hind milk issue?  He does fall asleep a lot during nursing and I have to keep waking him up.  But he does swallow a lot - I can hear the gulping sounds when he nurses.

OMG, nevermind he pooped like a really huge poop just now!  I will still call the pediatrician tomorrow to see what she says. 

 

[LadyCatherine185]

it could be nothing (my 4 mo went 9 days without pooping when he was pretty young.. maybe a month old or so) but if there are weight gain/supply issues I would most definitley have it checked out.. I agree with the PP about seeing an LC, making sure he is transferring enough milk, etc.

congrats on the new baby!

[JessBB]

OMG, nevermind he pooped like a really huge poop just now!  I will still call the pediatrician tomorrow to see what she says. 

 

 Awesome! I bet he's fine. I logged on first thing this am bc I was worried about your little non-pooper, though

[PatioGardener]

http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvdec97jan98p123.htm.

This is a great info page for newborns and poops.

Glad to hear there was poop today!