My baby is 10 weeks old and I am exclusively breast feeding. She has not had a poo for 6 days now. Should I be worried?

[helium32]

[Jacksonla]

I don't think you need to be worried but maybe it's worth calling your HV just to get their opinion? It's common for breastfed babies not to poo very often as there isn't much wastage from breastmilk. It's so good for them that most of it is just used up in their body. Is she having at least 6 wet nappies in 24 hours? If she is then there shouldn't be a problem. Does she look uncomfortable? Is it bothering her? You could try things to get her bowels moving...massage her tummy in a clockwise circle, push her knees up to her chest then move them round in a circular motion. Also move her legs in a bicycle motion. Try massaging her bum hole with some cotton wool & warm water and also put some vaseline or olive oil around it, iv heard that this works!! X

[helium32 in reply to Jacksonla]

Thank you. She usually goes every 2-3 days and this is the longest so i am a little worried. I called the health visitor day 4 so have tried most of the things you have suggested and also some freshly squeezed orange juice in some cooled boiled water. I must say that she does seem content and it doesn't seem to be bothering her at all. I will try your last suggestion. Thank you.

[helium32 in reply to helium32]

And yes she has lots of wet nappies every day too.

[Jacksonla in reply to helium32]

I'm pretty sure she'll be fine! Be prepared for a bit of an explosion when it does come out x

[helium32 in reply to Jacksonla]

Thank you for your advice. We have just had the explosion whilst playing on her play gym. As you can imagine it was very messy! X x

[Jacksonla in reply to helium32]

Haha well at least it's all come out now! xx

[Pat_S]

My lo just went 12 days without one, I gave up and took her to doctors on day 8. He prescribed laxatives, but didn't really work as I only gave her half of the amount he prescribed, cause I didn't want it to become a habit. Rang Breastfeeding help line and been told up to 14 days is normal, so just left her to it. Boy, get ready for the biggest poo you've ever seen in your life! After that she went another 8 days without one and then 7. I'm guessing that's just her poo schedule. Before that she was gong every 1-2 days and it also changed drastically around week 10. Think of the fortune we save on nappies!

[helium32 in reply to Pat_S]

That's one way to look at it! Thank you for sharing your experience. It puts my mind at ease that it's quite normal for her to go a while. You spend the first couple of weeks being told by midwifes and health visitors that they should be going a few times a day so then think something is wrong when it changes. Can't believe my days have become obsessed with poo! Thanks again x

[beancarrier]

My ebf baby boy also changed his bowel habbits at about 9 weeks which worried me, went for a poo every 7-9 days beforehand it had been every day. Then at 17 weeks after doing lots of tummy time/crawling he's gone back to doing a poo every 2 days!!! I think its just a development stage.

[Lovestar]

Just to say I agree with what all the ladies have said - my LO poos maybe once a week as long as baby is happy and content it won't be a problem xx