Baby poop (or lack of) question

[sterl724]

C is 6.5 weeks. He's combo feed - roughly 50/50 formula and breast milk. The last few weeks, he's been a 1-2 times a day pooper. However, he hasn't pooped since about 4 pm on Thursday (pushing 48 hours).

1 - when do I worry (more than I am) and call the doctor?
2 - what can I do to help him? It hasn't seemed to bother him until this morning. He's been fed and changed, and is still ready fussy, and seems uncomfortable, making scrunchy faces, etc.

[erinshelley21]

I don't know if gas drops help with poop but it doesn't seem like it would hurt. I would start there and do some bicycle legs with him.

[kristhegirl]

A bowel movement every two days is ok for all formula. I wouldn't get too caught up in 48 hours, just a poop on Thursday and now it's Saturday. Exclusively breastfed babies can go up to like 10-14 days between poops. (Breast milk can be completely digested, leaving only liquid waste.)

Since you're combo feeding, I think keeping an eye on it after two days is a good approach. He'll have less waste, possibly, if he's digesting the bm more completely.

Since he seems uncomfortable, there are gentle stomach massages you can do (videos on YouTube!), pump his legs a bit, and if you're up for cleanup, a warm bath often helps loosen things up.

When he poops, it should be peanut butter-like. If it's harder than that, he could be constipated. If he doesn't poop today, or seems very uncomfortable, I'd call tomorrow probably.

A one-time thing I wouldn't worry about this, but if this is the start of him being constipated, you might have to change formulas.

[sterl724]

He's been having a normal amount of wet diapers, but the lack of a daily poop was enough of a change in the norm I was concerned. Everything you said kristhegirl makes sense, and make me feel a better. Hopefully the fussiness this morning was just him being tired. (It was close to naptime).

He's asleep now, but making some grunting noises (instead of his usual wimpers). Hoping he is pooping! I never thought I'd be this invested in someone else's poop.

[suelou18]

DS is a every couple of days between poops guy. It doesn't seem to bother him, and I just know I will have an explosive diaper when he does go. If it doesn't bother him, I wouldn't worry.

[glb30]

I have not tried it, but the moms in my mom group use the frida windy for gas. It's my understanding, that poop generally comes out with it. It might be worth a try, it can't hurt.

I ordered them off amazon the other day, and it was 2 hr delivery. She has worked out her gas issues by the time it arrived though.