Week Old Baby Hasn't Pooped in 3 Days

How to Help a Constipated Baby

Baby Constipation

Like Grandma said, "it's important to stay regular," and that's especially true for babies. Breastfed babies almost never get constipated (have hard stools). They may grunt and strain…and even skip a few days between poops (during the first couple of months), but even then, the consistency is pasty to loose. Bottle-fed babies on the other hand, can sometimes struggle to pass hard little pieces. Fortunately, a couple of commonsense ideas can usually correct the problem and soothe baby constipation.

What is baby constipation?

Infant constipation is usually marked by hard stools. Your baby may be constipated if they have difficulty pooping, have hard or pellet-like poops, cry when it's time to poop, or have infrequent or irregular bowel movement.

What are normal times for babies to poop?

Typically, you can expect your baby to poop three times per day, or even four to 12 times per day for some infants. If your baby has not pooped in five to seven days, then it's time to call your healthcare provider.

How do you know if your baby is constipated?

Is your baby pooping every day? Great! That is a sign that he's properly absorbing nutrients and disposing waste.

What causes constipation in babies?

Constipation in babies is primarily caused by diet. Here are some things you might want to discuss with your pediatrician:

• Baby Formula: The intestines of some babies just seem sensitive to a particular brand of formula (or even particular type of preparation—powdered or concentrate).
• Dairy or Soy Allergy: Babies that have a milk allergy can experience constipation, excessive gas and other discomforts. A doctor can determine if your baby has a dairy or soy allergy.
• Change in Diet: Sometimes when babies are given the green light for baby food they can struggle with regularity. Many first-time foods are very starchy and if he isn't getting enough water this can lead to poop troubles. Check with your pediatrician on the best first foods to help avoid constipation and how much water he needs in a day.
• Iron Supplement: Vitamins with iron can make poops into hard little black-green colored pellets.
• Dehydration: If a baby is not getting enough to drink, stools can get drier and harder. It's super easy to check for this problem: The inside of the mouth will get dry and sticky; your baby will pee fewer than six times a day; the urine will become much more yellow and a bit smelly.

Baby constipation remedies and relief:

• Change formula. Starting a new formula may resolve constipation. Some infants have softer stools when they drink formula from concentrate versus powder-based (or vice versa). Ask your baby's doctor for guidance.
• Slightly dilute the mix. Your baby's poops may improve when you add a tablespoon of organic adult prune juice or one ounce of water into the formula, once or twice a day (never dilute the formula more than that).
• Give a bottle of water. If the weather is very hot and your baby is showing signs of dehydration, depending on your baby's age, you can give a few extra ounces of water…just be sure to check in with your doctor before offering water.
• Open the door. Babies trying to poop often have a hard time squeezing the stomach muscles and relaxing the rectum…at the same time. They accidentally tighten the anus–when they should be easing it–and consequently, they strain to push the poop "out the door!" To relax your baby's anus, bicycle her legs and gently press her knees down to her stomach, a few times. If this fails, you might insert a Vaseline-greased thermometer or cotton swab–just one-half to one inch–into the anus. Babies usually respond by bearing down to push the object out…often pushing the poop out at the same time.
• Change up solid foods. White foods (like rice, grains, dairy, bananas) bind a baby up. But, certain fruits and veggies like broccoli, plums, prunes, prune juice or fresh aloe juice can help get pooping back on a regular schedule.

Note: Never give honey or corn syrup as a laxative, before the first birthday.

What if the baby is passing gas but not stool?

You may notice that your baby is still passing gas but isn't pooping...this probably isn't cause for concern. Some babies just get gassy in between poops without being constipated. In most cases, a baby's gas and constipation will resolve on their own. Remember, a baby's digestive system is brand new...so it's still getting the hang of how to function.

When is baby constipation a sign of something serious?

After the first couple of weeks, babies usually settle into a pretty good pooping routine. For bottle-fed babies, that schedule is one to two times a day. Breastfed babies may actually skip a day or so in between bowel movements. In fact, by 1 month of age, they sometimes go a week (or, even two) without having a stool!

When to worry about baby constipation:

When should you be concerned? The best rule is to call your baby's doctor if more than three days pass without a poop. Call even sooner if your baby has a weak cry, weak suck, or is acting ill.

If constipation is persistent or your baby is acting weak or ill, the doctor may want to check for three rare diseases that can masquerade as constipation:

1. Hypothyroidism: A totally curable condition caused by an underactive thyroid gland. If left untreated, hypothyroidism is a serious problem because it may slow mental development.
2. Hirschsprung's disease: This birth defect occurs when the nerves in the rectum don't develop properly. The baby's rectal muscles tightly clench–unable to relax–which blocks the poop from passing and causes intestinal obstruction. Fortunately, this problem can be corrected with surgery.
3. Infantile botulism: A rare disease characterized by several days of progressive weakness (starting with the face and neck and potentially leading to total paralysis). It's caused by botulism spores hiding in liquid-y sweets, such as honey or corn syrup. These are safe for older children, but should never be given to babies under 1 year of age.

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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

Week Old Baby Hasn't Pooped in 3 Days

Source: https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/how-to-help-a-constipated-baby

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