five week old not able to poo

[Sally81]

just wondering if anyoe can offer a bit of advice? my five week old son seems to be really struggling to poo.

He's mainly breast fed (we give the odd formula if i'm particularly knackered, haven't had chance to express and my husband is able to take over while i sleep.)

He's gone from doing three or four poos a day to just one in 24 hours..which comes as an explosion after struggling all day and night. It's really usetting to see him so uncomfortable...does anyone have any tips to get him moving?

Have just tried to give him cooled water with a few drops from an orange in, on a friends recommendation but he won't take it.

[Fuschia]

A bf baby won't be constipated, and it doesn't sound like he is. I'm afraid newbabies do struggle rather with their digestion,.. it seems terribly uncomfortable with a lot of farting and grunting and squealing. Best solutions I hav efound are bf on demand (feeding actually helps them poo) plus a warm bath and cycling their legs, gently massaging their tummies. But to a certain extent you just have to rid eit out I'm afraid.

I'd avoid giving orange juice, it's quite allergenic.

[Sally81]

yes that's how he is...grunting, farting and moaning, plus thrashing about a lot. He really doesn't like me to massage his tummy, but i can do the leg stuff so will keep at that.

i was kind of thinking it was something we and he would have to just put up with for a bit. He hasn't taken the orangey water so i prob won't bother again. Do you know if it's ok/a good idea to try giving plain water to help?

thanks for the advice.

[candj]

To be honest he doesn't need water because he's being breastfed. And I agree with fuschia, what you're describing doesn't sound like constipation. Babies make grunting noises and have explosive poos. Constipation in babies is described as dried, hard poos. Are his poos watery in consistency and sort of a mustard yellow with or without rice like bits in it (the odd bit of formula might make the consistency a bit thicker)? That's sort of what baby poo at this stage looks like although there can be huge colour variations which is completely normal depending on what you ate. If it's really green and frothy try keeping him on one side of the breast longer so he can get more hind milk.

[candj]

Also I've found for mine helpful when burping to lay them across your forearm with your hand supporting their chin/head and your other hand patting/ rubbing their backs. I think the gentle pressure on their abdomen is comfortable. My husband does this a lot because he's able to as I can't any more because baby is too big.

[Fuschia]

Don't think water will be needed, unless the poo is hard and dry. Veyr unlikely on breatsmilk. Is the poo yellow, ort green? green poo means too much sugary foremilk, can make them gassy

[Fuschia]

Fussiness in the evening: http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussybaby.html

[Fuschia]

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gassybaby.html

Mine went through this, has was terribly uncomfortable and we would try winding him as he burped and farted.. ot wasn't even poo related.|Seems to have laregylapssed now though if he wakes with a shout part way into a sleep, oit's invariably wind. You could try propping his head slightly as he sleeps. Or a swing can be useful if he is very unsettled and you are getting worn out holding and rocking.

Some peopel swear by infacol (makes bubbles clump together) but it's not proven to work

oops excuse rubbish typing on iphone!

[Fuschia]

Also: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,617865,617865#msg-617865 (re crying babies)

[Fuschia]

You could try elminating some foods from your diet (dairy is a particular one) bu t it's not easy to do and I think a lot of nroaml baby fussiness gets put down to the mother's diet, unfairly

Harvey Karp book Happiest baby on the Block (and videos on you tube) are also good re colic/crying

[Saffron]

If your LO is mainly breastfed with just the occasional bottle of formula, there is really no cause for concern. I agree with what others have said here. Unless the poo is hard/dry, baby is not constipated. There just isn't a lot of waste produced from breastmilk. The straining and grunting is normal too. Baby's digestion and elimination system has been 'quiet' for 9 months, so there are going to be some growing pains as the stomach and intestines adjust to life outside the womb. If the discomfort seems to accompany flatulance and poo, it's actually a good sign that the system is working.

xx

[Fuschia]

Is he gaining weight though? You could get his latch checked in case a problem there is causing excessive intake of air... a spot of cranial osteopathy might help

[Sally81]

thanks all...yes his poo is mustardy and runny so it doesn't seem he is constipated. We've just had a huge one this morning followed shortly by another normal one!! He now seems happier.

i know he should be getting all he needs from me so will hold off the water etc...It's just when he seems really distressed I hate it!

thank you all for your replies.

[Sally81]

sorry...i had this up to write reply for ages and hadn't seen all the other posts.

Fuscia, thank you...some helpful stuff and i'm def going to try propping his head at night because he seems to sleep better when he's more upright, thinking about it.

I should also have said he's a big lad...9lb 6 at birth and at last weigh at four weeks he was 12lb 3!! so, everyone always been pleased with his weight gain.

Never appeared to have a problem with feeding but it might be worth me checking his latch in case of the air intake.

thanks again. :)