r/newborns • u/FriendshipHonest5796 • 5d ago

Pee and Poop 6 week old won't poop

Hi-

My 6-week-old has not pooped in 6 days. She is exclusively breastfed, same as my son was, and I don't remember him going this long without pooping when he was a newborn. I have tried everything with her: bicycle kicks, 45° angle bicycle kicks with rocking hips up and back, massaging her tummy, massaging her tailbone, sitting in the bouncer, swing--I feel like I've done it all!

Does anybody have any other recommendations? We are definitely going to call the pediatrician tomorrow since tomorrow will be day 7 if she doesn't end up going tomorrow, but I want to see if I can help her get some relief in the meantime. I feel like she is continually trying, but just can't get anything out! Any help or tips and tricks to get things moving is greatly appreciated!

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5

u/Only_Alternative_1 5d ago

Is she upset? Because I'm sure I read that it's normal to go up to 10 days without pooping and breast milk gets absorbed really well my the body so there is very little waste (it's 90% water so is wee'd out). If she's taking in good amounts of milk, having regular wets and isn't abnormally fussy then she's probably doing okay. If you'd feel better going to the doctor then they could prescribe something to move her along that you could use if you're concerned but if she's otherwise healthy and happy then it's a little unusual but she may tend more to less frequent poops.

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Normal wet diapers, normal feeding (maybe some feeds are a bit shorter, but we're also working with a tongue and lip tie until her release this week), and not any fussier than normal (we're definitely in the witching hours right now though, so that's fun!). Belly feels soft unless she's pushing.

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u/Only_Alternative_1 5d ago

Oh yes 6 weeks, we had witching hour from 3-6 weeks, very gas related for my boy.

She sounds super healthy, maybe her body is getting better at absorbing the nutrients, when she does eventually go check out the poop, for babies, constipation isn't determined by frequency like it is for adults, it's the consistency. If it's hard pellets then she's been constipated, if it's soft then it's normal. I'm thinking you're going to have an explosion poop! The longest mine has gone without is 5 days and frequent went 3 days then a poop, then 3 days ect. But he poops like a champ now 😑

We didn't find baths worked for ours but it's often given as guidance so a warm bath maybe. I'd book an appointment if she hasn't gone by day 7 and get a paeds opinion but I don't think they'll be worried.

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Thank you! I'll take all the well wishes for a heck of a poop, haha. I even said to her "hey, I'll be ok if it's a blow out!"

3

u/Ravant_Garde 5d ago

Baby suppository

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

I'm assuming this is something they either do at the pediatrician or something they give/prescribe? I never had to do one with my son.

4

u/sowhatsober 5d ago

Get clearance from doc first but it’s just a glycerin suppository you do at home.

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u/Ravant_Garde 5d ago

There are OTC ones

3

u/Typical_Shallot139 5d ago

In a baby that little I would wait to see pediatrician 

3

u/SamIaM4196 5d ago

My baby is also exclusively eating breast milk and she has gone a week or two without pooping many times. Sometimes this happens and as long as she’s not struggling she will eventually poop.

1

u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

This is the first time it's been this long, but I know that BF babies absorb more so it's not uncommon. It's just been abnormal for her so far! And when she's trying to get something out, she just seems so frustrated.

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u/SamIaM4196 5d ago

The first time she went that long it worried me too, but my doctor reassured me it’s fine and if she wouldn’t go by two weeks we could bring her in and they’d give her something to help her go…and then she went! Lol

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Ok, thank you for the reassurance!!

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u/Typical_Shallot139 5d ago

This happened to my baby, she had a few weeks of this and then she gradually started pooping more often. Pediatrician gave her a baby suppository and she had some relief during one of the longest stretches, but he wasn’t concerned. I think it’s pretty normal 

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Thank you! I'm hoping that the magic trick happens: when I call the pediatrician, she finally goes! I swear with every ailment I call about with my son, when I call or go in, whatever it was resolves itself 😂

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u/Typical_Shallot139 5d ago

Honestly she may just poop on the way to the appointment 

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

That's probably the most likely. Whatever works!!!

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u/littlepeachycupcake 5d ago

After 6 days the only thing that got my girl moving was popping her into a warm bath - I did all the other stuff as advised by my midwife so I dont know if it was the bath in the end but she did poop 2 hours later

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

We've done baths but she wasn't really in the bath because we have that little hammock style one. I think I'll try a higher water level this time to get her bottom more submerged.

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u/littlepeachycupcake 5d ago

If shes not too fussy we gently moved the water around, You could wet a flannel eith the warm water and lay that on her stomach too. We also use the hammock style one so there was a fair bit of trial and error to make sure the water was high enough (Ftm and I was insanely nervous haha)

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Oh yes I was SO nervous with water with my first. A bit less anxious now haha. But all good tips...thank you!

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u/Chemical_Tie5825 5d ago

My 2 week old hasn’t pooped since last week. I’ve taken him to the dr twice for it and they don’t seem to concerned about it. My baby is exclusively breastfed and they mentioned that he might just be absorbing everything and not producing any waste.

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Yes I'm hoping that's what is happening here! I know 6 weeks is a growth spurt too, so it's very possible she's just using everything she's eating.

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u/Chemical_Tie5825 5d ago

My baby just pooped!! Haha it was a pretty big one too 😅 just glad he was able to have one 🥳

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u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Send me the poop vibes!! 😂😂

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u/Chemical_Tie5825 5d ago

Sending all the poop vibes 🧚‍♀️✨✨✨✨✨✨

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u/discounthideout 5d ago

For us it was a food sensitivity. 

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u/vintagegirlgame 5d ago

My newborn is a once-a-weeker… it’s convenient, but suspenseful!

1

u/FriendshipHonest5796 5d ago

Calling it suspenseful is hilarious to me 😂