I know it's normal, but does anyone know why?

[Sterla]

I know it's perfectly normal for breastfed babies to go a while without doing a poo, but does anyone know why? We're up to day 3 of no poo with DS (still heaps of wees)... I keep expecting his nappy to suddenly explode , but nothing yet.

So, does anyone know why?

[MantaRay]

Poo is waste - food consumed that is not used by the body. Breastmilk is made to be exactly what the baby needs so there isn't as much waste.

[Novella]

Im not positive but I always assumed that breastmilk was so good they were able to absorb the majority of the nutrients therefore there was minimal wastage (poo).

MR -posted at the same time, more eloquently lol

[Floweryfields]

I have been told (by a breastfeeding friend) that it is because breastmilk is so suited to the babies' needs that there is very little waste. Whereas formula is manufactured to be like breast milk, it is not motablised in the same way - it is not the 'perfect' food like breastmilk and so there are more waste biproducts made by the babies' body.
Therefore formula fed bubs poop more than breastfed.

[Visitor8]

wow I never knew the reason either :P Thanks!

[Sterla]

Thanks for your replies - that does make sense. I did think bubs using up all the goodies in breastmilk may have been the reason, but I didn't know for sure. Good to know.

[Heaven]

Then why on earth is my DD still pooping like 4 times a day!! Maybe she's just a piggy and always takes more than she needs, lol.

[Sterla]

Heaven: My DS normally poos at least once a day, but sometimes more. It's only now, and maybe one or two other times when he's gone a few days. It might be that they take more than they actually need (as far as nutrients go)... maybe the rest is just for putting on weight?

[MantaRay]

It's funny how they are all different Heaven. My first DS was a 10 day between poos baby, but DS2 pooed nearly every day. I am not sure of the science behind this - maybe some babies do drink more than they need, or maybe it's just different digestive systems.

[Heaven]

Trust me to get one that poops at almost every nappy change!!

[ezymay]

Good question!
I've just put my baby on formula and oh how I miss those BM poos!!! Formula ones are so gross!!!

[mustangsachy]

ezymay i hear you on the BF poops. formula are GROSS. i retch almost everytime. even devoted grandman (my mum) commented on how yuck it was. hahaha!

[Sterla]

Well, DS finally went today, after 4 days... And can I just say OMG!!!!!
There was so much, and it went all up his back and down his legs! He was put straight in the bath, lol. I can't imagine how much there would be with 10 days between poos!!!

[Ozziehoffy]

lol, my first 2 pooed a lot but Elijah starting going only once a week now sometimes 2 or 3 times and yes omg it's like a mr whippy machine I reckon!! lol. It's nice though not having poos all the time.

[Bathsheba]

Oh the memories! We called them poos "blast poos" the ones that go up the back. LOL I'll also never forget the frothy yellow newborn (BF) poos. All my babies went at least once a day... but some were still blasters. Now that my youngest is potty trained he examines his own daily... and usually assigns an animal to each one; "I've done a snake/snail/cat poo mum".