I need baby help!

[leighe]

I'm afraid that my 3 week old is constipated. I've only changed one "dirty" diaper in 24 hours. Every so often she'll make her "poopy" face (I know, I know - but that's what we call it) and then she'll strain and strain but when I check her diaper - nothing. She's getting really fussy and I know her little tummy probably hurts. She already has a dr's appt tomorrow for a weight check but I was wondering if there was anything I could do for her tonight to make her feel better.

Any advice? TIA!

 

[mommytotwo]

Have you tried giving her some gas drops?
For my daughter, she would get constipated so her daughter thought that maybe she was lactose intolerant. He suggested that we give her half soy milk and half regular milk and that made her feel better and made her go regularly.

 

[luv2nascar]

For gas picking up there legs and bending the legs towards there tummy so the knees bend helps. I hope that is descriptive enough.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Is she breast or formula fed?

Around three weeks all of mine stopped going multiple times a day and were down to once a day on a few occasions it was once every other day.

 

[DisneyBug1995]

Both of my babies were like that too. Their doctor changed their formula to one with less iron and that helped. Also having them drink water in between feedings is suppose to help too. I could never get my kids to drink water though.

 

[RadioNate]

Just because she hasn't gone doesn't mean she is constipated. Constipation is described as small pebble like hard stool.

Breastfed or bottlefed at this age makes a HUGE difference. Breastfed babies produce very little 'solid' waste and it isn't uncommon for bottlefed babies to go only once a day or once every other day.

 

[FreshTressa]

Our dr. put a vaseline covered thermometer about 1/2 inch up me babies bum when he was that age and it had been a while.

Still creeps me out to think about it, lol.

 

[aprilgail2]

Our dr. put a vaseline covered thermometer about 1/2 inch up me babies bum when he was that age and it had been a while.

Still creeps me out to think about it, lol.

Thats what my Dr had me do to my daughter....it came out like carvel soft serve as soon as the thermometer was taken out....what a sight!

 

[FreshTressa]

Yup....soft serve.

 

[TENIA66]

for babies, anything thicker than peanut butter is constipated. a well nourished baby will respond well to 1 oz of water after every 8 oz of formula. or try 2 tablespoons of brown sugar in 2 tablespoons of water in bottle.....

 

[leighe]

She is breast fed but I'm having to supplement with formula because she kept losing weight after she came home from the hospital. She's not losing anymore so we'll see what the ped says about still supplementing tomorrow. She finally went and it was definitely "pebble" like - not "soft serve" like normal. I've given her some gas drops and I'll try to get her to drink some water after her next feeding.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Our dr. put a vaseline covered thermometer about 1/2 inch up me babies bum when he was that age and it had been a while.

Still creeps me out to think about it, lol.

I was going to say the same thing.. I has to buy supposatories (typo im sure) for my 4mo a few weeks ago.. The thermometer would of been easier since it works right away.

 

[labdogs42]

My breastfed baby once went 11 days without pooping and he was fine. Now, the mess he made when he DID poop, now that was another story!

 

[DisneyPhD]

She is breast fed but I'm having to supplement with formula because she kept losing weight after she came home from the hospital. She's not losing anymore so we'll see what the ped says about still supplementing tomorrow. She finally went and it was definitely "pebble" like - not "soft serve" like normal. I've given her some gas drops and I'll try to get her to drink some water after her next feeding.

Thanks for all the help!

Stop the formula. I don't know why they would suggest it to start with. All babies loss weight after they are born. In fact babies can go for a while (72 hours or so) after birth not needing that much to eat. One way they can make it until the mothers milk comes in.

Breast milk is one of the most wonderful things in this world. So happy to hear you are breast feeding. It will get easier, so much eaiser then formual actually.

While it is very common for bf babies to have a bm with every feeding, not all do (you know that yellow mustard seedy stuff that smells like toast. actually much better then formual poops!) My oldest did. My youngest went up to 72 hours with out a bm sometimes. My Doc said they don't start to worry until it has been a week. Infact many excusilvy bf babies "burn clean" meaning they use up the breast milk so effetionly that they don't have bm's.

Breast milk is a natural laxitive. If you only bf your baby will be fine. The more you bf, the more your body makes. That is why suplamenting in the start is so dangrous. Your body doesn't get a large enough supply.

Drink lots of water yourself and try to get enough rest. That helps increase your supply. Keep a careful eye on your diet. If the babies continues to have problem it might help to eleminate certian foods for a while to see if it helps (milk, soy, eggs, major allergins.)

No water for the baby, this can be very dangrous for young babies. They fill up with water and don't get the bm they need. BF as much as your baby wants, as often as she wants.

Best of luck and congraduations! Head over to the new mommies thread and say hi. Many of us there hardly have new babies anymore, but we are still hanging around and need some fresh mommies (or a least babies )

 

[DisneyPhD]

I forget to say. Take the babies dipear off and rub her tummy in a clock wise manor (only clockwise, do not go the other way.) This should help. I never used gas drops, ever, but you can give it a try.

 

[TENIA66]

leighe, at the risk of getting stoned or whatever, again, 1 oz of water after each 8 ounces of formula fed is safe for a well nourished baby, ask your physician.
i don't think you intended this to be a breast or bottle battle, just a constipation solution, which ever you chose, and many mothers are comfortable with both, best of luck to you.
breast milk is good for baby but not the best or only choice for all. God bless

 

[piglet too]

I would "bike pedal" my kids legs. Sing "wheels on the bus" and move the legs. Singing may seem weird, but it helped keep them calm.

 

[floridafam]

We tried the thermometer trick-it usually worked.

I also rubbed DD's tummy-sometimes that worked.

If you notice any blood, tell the Dr. right away.

Our middle DD had an awful time with constipation as an infant-and I mean awful. She actually had a medical condition that wasn't discovered until she was 5.

I'm sure your Dr. will help you tomorrow.

 

[ckmommy]

The same thing happened with my last child. I gave him the suppositaries and water. The water did nothing. I checked with the pharmisist and she said that there was nothing that could harm the baby with the suppository and I could not harm the baby by giving him/her too many. My baby outgrew this, but it lasted for a few months. His ped. said that a Breast fed baby should never get constipated. Good Luck to the both of you!!

 

[sandramaac]

Stop the formula. I don't know why they would suggest it to start with.

I don't think the OP asked opinions on bottle/breast feeding, but rather constipation. Not knowing the full cirumstance on why the infant is being supplemented, anyone would be amiss to make such a generalized comment as to stop the formula. You don't know

Now, I had a son who had severe constipation starting at about 10 days old. Finally had to go a specialist and he had a condition called incoordinated defecation(he is now 15 and would just die if he knew I posted this). So I am well versed in all the little tricks. First don't worry, it's not biggie. One great trick is a teaspoon or so of light karo corn syrup in the bottle--either breast milk or formula bottle is fine. Next rub the infants tummy towards the left. The intestines/bowel empty towards the left, so this willl hopefully help the stool pass. Stretching the babies legs in and out sometimes helps. Next, yes the thermometer trick works great. Just put in just pass the bulb part on the end for an infant that size. However I would check and see if you and your doctor are comfortable with that, since it is invasive. Hope this helps and good luck.