Baby Not Pooping?

[Tenny]

I concerned about my DS who will be 4 months on Friday. He is completely BF and even from day one he wasn't one of those babies that had a BM with every feeding. It started out once a day and slowly over time has gotten less and less. Now he can go for several days to more then a week without a BM. Which from what I read can be completely normal. But the longer he goes in between BMs the more fussy and gassy he gets. Then if it goes too long he starts to refuse the breast and just arches his back and screams. Once he goes he is back to my happy baby for a few days and then the cycle starts all over again.

Also when he does go it looks completely normal and is several days worth. Everything I read says it is fine, but my baby is so uncomfortable from about day 3 until he goes.

Does anyone have any natural remedies to make him go more often. I have been doing the bicycle legs and rubbing his belly to help with the gas.

I have a Dr appointment on Friday so hopefully they will be able to help me.

Any advise?

[Janey]

Tenny - Since the BMs are normal when he does go, it sounds pretty normal to me. You might try some Baby Massage on his tummy (clockwise direction) to help move things along, but I'd be hesitant to do much else.

[pacificbliss]

I agree with the massage idea.

[Rico'sAlice]

Weleda makes a really yummy-smelling tummy massage oil! I find it much easier to massage with some lubrication.
http://www.outletnutrition.com/4001638095082.html

[Tenny]

Thanks Ladies!

I guess I knew it was normal, but it is always good to hear that from others.

I was trying the massage last night, but just over the clothes. I think I'll give him a good belly massage today with some oil.

It just breaks my heart to see him in pain, especially when I know what is wrong.

Thanks for the reassurance!

[kindermom]

DS would do the same. It is normalizing now that he is on solids. Baby massage and heat really helped his tummy. I would rock him with a heating pad set on low placed on his tummy. (there was a blnket and clothing between the pad and him). My ped also recommended using one of those heatable bags (like filled with buckwheat or rice). They provide a light pressure along with the heat.

[Marisa]

Do you have a carrier, where he can be held upright? I used to take DS for walks around the block every day if I could, and at this age he liked to sit up and face out in the sling. I folded his legs up "pretzel-style" in the pouch of the sling, and as we walked he would be tooting away. :) Something about the position, plus the motion, really helped.

[Tenny]

kindermom I have a rice sock so I can use that. How often do I use it, once a day or more?

Marisa I can do that! And actual DH loves to wear DS in a sling in that same position and straighten up the kitchen. Maybe DH needs to clean more often!:D

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!

[kindermom]

I used it at night with him but I am sure it is fine whenever he is in pain. The key was to have a warmth radiate but not heat.

Good luck!

[mommydearest]

My daughter used to go week to 9 days between poops at that age and she was perfectly normal when she did go.

We got the child/toddler glycerin suppositories a couple times and cut them in half lengthwise when it had been 9 days and they always worked within 15 minutes. The doctor also has a cool trick with a thermometer that works as well. Oh my goodness what a mess it makes!

We also added 1 oz of prune juice to 1 oz. of water for several months which helped it only go 3 or 4 days. She started pooping daily at 6 months when she started solid food. I was so spoiled not changing poop! Now she goes at least twice a day and sometimes more.

[Hula1974]

At that age, my Dr. recommended a teaspoon of Karo Syrup mixed with an ounce of water.

[Marisa]

At that age, my Dr. recommended a teaspoon of Karo Syrup mixed with an ounce of water.

Just as an aside, Karo is a corn product and could potentially be a problem for babies with sensitivities and allergies. In my own children (knowing that my siblings and I were sensitive, and DS was sensitive) I'd be inclined to avoid potential allergens until they were much older. (If nothing else, if it bothers the tummy you might find you're just worsening the problem.)

It's also a lot of extra sugar.

[Smittenk]

My pediatrician recommended a little bit of diluted infant apple juice every day (you can find it at babies r us) and it has worked wonders for DS! It took about 3 days to kick in but once it did--wow! He became an every other day pooper

[catmom]

Mine was a rare-pooper too, in the early days. It'll probably pick up a lot once he starts solids (but make sure you give him extra water once he starts eating food- one friend I had didn't know that).

When DD was really little, she'd go maybe once a week. By the time she was 18 months, it was more like 3-4 times a day! Needless to say, potty-training has been a real blessing for us.

[Tenny]

Thanks for all the advice ladies!!

I guess I should just count myself lucky that I don't change too many poop diapers!!

[k8lyn]

don't get too used to it! my DS2 is about the same age as yours (between actual birthdate and due date) and used to be an every-3-to-5-day-pooper. it was glorious. for the last few days he's been pooping 4 times a day. no changes in his diet -- i'm still exclusively pumping (right now, as a matter of fact) and we haven't started solids yet. here's to hoping this is an anomoly and we'll get back to our regularly scheduled rare pooping program!