Help! 5 day old breastfed baby with water poo's

Hi girls,

Im hoping someone can help. My baby is 5 days old and last night was our first night home from hospital. Our babby slept like a dream in hospital for 4-5 hours at a time and would wake up, nappy change, feed and go back to sleep.

Last night was a nightmare! He wouldn't settle. I fed him milk from one side until he stopped sucking, he cried and was still making all the signs that he is still hungry so I fed him a small amount on the other side until he seems satisfied. Then he would not settle. We persisted for 4 hours trying to get him to sleep and did everything we could think of. He was acting like he was STILL hungry and ate another 30mls that I had managed to express from a bottle. After this he slept for about 3 hours and then wanted to be back on the boob again and then again 3 hours later again.

This morning we have bathed him and his poo was literally like water. No stools or paste or anything just water. He had a poo like this just as we were about to leave the hospital to come home and the midwife said it could be a sign that he is getting too much milk. How do I stop feeding a baby that screams and is hungry all the time?!!!

My boobs are so sore and nipples are cracked, I cry everytime he has to latch on. I dont know whether to go and buy some newborn formula today and try to feed what I can handle and then top him up. I've tried contacting the Child Health Nurse that I have been assigned but it keeps going to answering machine :(

Wow, newborn babies are a trick and designed to worry us endlessly! I'm not too sure what to tell you but maybe call the ABA for some advice. I know my baby would root around for food after a feed when he had wind and it took me a while to work out what was wind and what was genuine hunger?? I hope someone else can give you some better advice than that, but I would hold off on the formula if possible. Good luck x

Hi,
You sound exhausted! However, the situation doesn’t seem to be too far beyond normal. Often babies are fairly “mellow” the first days of life- perhaps getting over the birth. But, it is not really normal for newborns to feed 4 or more hourly - and it soon changes (often about the time you come home) Babies generally feed at least 8-12 times or more in 24hours. They are hard-wired to suck (a baby who can’t suck is a baby in trouble) Sucking feeds them, but also gives a nice mix of hormones to help them relax and sleep. And above all that he wants *you* - he has lived 9 mnths in side your body, it’s hard to adjust to life on the outside! Often babies will sleep on their dad’s chest, in that little froggy positon. Sometimes it helps to try a dummy after a feed to help them settle. It’s important to keep breastfeeding while you work out if this is a variation of normal or if it’s a problem, (more unlikely, but possible) giving formula can often make it worse. Get some rest and see how it goes. Get back to us after a few more feeds

Hi Amy! Sounds like you could use a bit of help. Do you have access to a lactation consultant at the hospital you birthed at? Or would you be open to calling one in private practice to come and see you?

It sounds like you're having some problems with attachment if your nipples are cracked and sore - definitely not normal and something that needs addressing. A good LC can watch you feed and help you trouble shoot and might be your best bet.

Can you feed lying down in bed to get some more rest? That can work well for some mums. Let us know if you want some pointers on how to do that.

Like Barb says, it is normal for babies to feed very frequently and to want to suck at the breast a lot. Actually, at this point, it's a good thing for him that he's waking up and demanding more milk - it's exactly what he needs - and it's generally quite fine to just keep on feeding through the unsettled periods. It's very hard on you, however, particularly if you're in pain. So your hubby is there helping out now? That's great, I'm sure that must be a big help for you.

Liquidy poo sounds quite normal for a newborn. An LC would be able to give you better advice (being able to actually see the poo).

From time to time, particularly in the next 12 months, there will be periods when he needs you. Just you. And he'll ask for the breast if you're breastfeeding because that's what he's programmed to do. These times pass, though. You may also find that a sling or carrier is helpful and that's something daddy can do, too.

Hang in there :hug:

Another option is calling the ABA helpline just for reassurance. I had issues with BFing DS2 and being able to call was a godsend. I also linked in with my local ABA group to meet other people going through BFing and bounce ideas off. Hope tonight is better Amy!

Definitely call the ABA helpline. They've been amazing for me. It all sounds pretty normal, but it's so awesome to hear somebody reassuring you of that. I don't think he needs to be topped up, I think formula would just introduce more problems than it would help at this stage. Breastmilk is so much more than just food; its comfort and a painkiller too. He sounds healthy and normal to me, you're doing an awesome job.

Also, we have the too much milk issue here too, DD2's poos are always just water. I'd speak to the ABA or an LC first, but block feeding is helping us a lot here. Especially if a midwife has said you might have a lot of milk, next time you feed him and he fusses like he's still hungry, try him on the same boob again and see how you go :)

DD always wanted to suck and suck and was then vomiting all the time (turned out she had reflux). So that I didn't feel like a dummy I actually gave her one the first night we were home from the hospital (not recommended I know). I'd give it to her if she'd been feeding for 40ish mins and not seeming to be taking milk anymore. It helped a lot in our situation and allowed my nipples to have a bit of a break - they were oh so sore in the beginning!

Oh Amy big :hug: first babies are tough! (well mine often was anyways) like everyone else has said it doesn't sound 'un-normal'. Do you think he may have been overtired when you gave him that first difficult feed last night? I know that in my experience nb babies especially in the first 2-4wks really can't cope with being awake longer than 5 or 10mins after a good feed and change so if he had already been awake a while maybe just needed to sleep more than keep feeding, even if that's NOT what he thought. If it were me (now probably not with ds1 ;)) I woulve given him a feed until he stopped, burped and wrapped for a sleep. Then I wouldve started afresh 2-2 1/2hrs later. I honestly wouldn't recommend letting a nb go 4-5hrs between feeds on a regular basis. Yes you need sleep and by all means a slightly longer gap at night is fine if bubbys happy to but its not good for your milk supply, even if you are engorged and have way too much now that can and likely will change very soon. Also its not great for babies (generally) as I touched on before its very easy for baby to just sleep the day away and then realize they are super hungry and just be frustrated and not be able to self settle enough to feed even when that's exactly what they want/need. Try take it easy on yourself I'm sure as much as anyone can be that he's totally fine and normal, its just stressful for everyone at this stage sometimes.
Also have you got some lansinoh for your nipples? If attachment isn't a problem and youre still sore (which is quite normal for now it'll pass) then it truly works wonders on hurting nips!
The only other thing I can think of is that the mw in hospital may be right about the runny poos, if you are really full/engorged it can be really hard for a little baby to latch on properly to feed and even when they do its likely mostly foremilk they will get which for lots of bubs gives painful wind. What I've found works is to express BEFORE feeding- just enough that you're comfortable and soft enough that baby will be able to easily latch on and also have a let down there already. Be a little careful not to pump to long tho or when you feed you'll get a second letdown and create more milk (better than too little but) generally if you're feeding straight away or within about 10mins should be fine.
Hope you're having a better day today and tonight also :)

Sensitivity and some soreness is normal in the early days. Cracks and wanting to cry when they latch is not :hug:

Hi Amy. All the advice above sounds spot on. I have a four day old but this is my second- unfortunately I am again dealing with sore nipples. I have no advice on the runny poo, but don't forget that alternating panadol and nurofen can help at least a little with the nipple pain. I can totally relate to the crying during feeding from my first and the pain can be overwhelming, especially if you are still dealing physically with a difficult birth.
Be kind to yourself and do whatever you need to do to get through it. Best of luck.

I have nothing to add re the poo, but I know where you're coming from regarding the cracked nipples. Mine were just awful by the time I got home - no-one had looked in hospital, but they break down so quickly! (And why do they call them 'cracked'? Mine were just one big open ulcer on each side. Ulcerated nipples. Urghhh!) Normally they heal up quite quickly, too, but only if you're doing all the right things for them.

So get those nipples seen to by an LC asap. You must get your attachment checked, the sooner the better, and you may well benefit from laser treatment from a physio. Hydrogel pads were very helpful and soothing for me, too. Take deep breaths and breathe out slowly and fully as bub attaches (to help you cope with the pain, just like you might have done in labour.)

Hi girls,

Thank you so much for your replies.

I managed to get in contact with the Child Health Nurse today and im feeling much better! I explained the situation and she has arranged for a lady to come and see me tomorrow morning to check Quinn over. She said they will weigh him and if he is still putting on weight then the water poo isnt really a problem and should settle, she said if he has lost weight then it could be an issue.

RE: Nipples. Bubs attachment is actually really good. I spoke with a wonderful lactation consultant and midwife at the hospital that showed me how to make sure he had correct attachment and what to watch out for. The reason they are so damaged already is because some idiot midwife at the hospital put the breast pump on and walked away for half an hour without showing us how to turn it off or down! By the time DH got someone to come and turn it off my nipples were already welted and bruised :(

The Child Health Nurse has given me the number of another lactation consultant in my suburb and im hoping to see her on Friday. She also said to completely rest my left breast for 48 hours and just express off of it to feed him and then feed off the right breast as normal. I expressed about an hour ago and got 100ml just off the left breast!

oh **** at the breastpump! That literally sucks. I hope you can get it healed up quickly. Lots of air and keeping it dry will help. Sounds like your people are springing into action for you - that's great.

Amy jellybean
Have you tried hydro gel breast pads? They help sooth and heal.

Hi Amy, firstly congrats on your bub :)

As others have said, first babies are a steep learning curve. Most of us have been in a similar situation I think, you always wonder if you're doing the right thing - or at least, what "else" could you be doing. Hugs on your breastfeeding pain - you have my sympathy. Once my breasts got used to feeding the pain disappeared completely, so please know it won't always be like this. Honestly, to me you sound like you're doing really well - as well as you can with a five-day-old baby who is learning all about life and you who is learning all about babies.

Can't believe you were left with the pump on and no instructions. Not good at all! And re: watery poos, that was the norm for my babies, particularly DS2 and DS3 who fed like troopers. I think DS2 did a poo 4-5 times a day for the first 2-3 weeks, he guzzled so much milk ;)

Thanks girls, such a relief to know most of what is going on is normal!!!

Yeah I have some of those hydrogel breast pads, they are great. My sister in law is coming to visit tomorrow and she is bringing her Electric Madela Pump for me to use instead of the manual one I am using at the moment.

When I changed his nappy earlier the poo was more pastey than it was before so thats a relief!

Yep totally agree with all of the above and as a past exclusive expresser (on the pump for 10 months) Lansinoh rubbed into nipples and then air dried or even just some breast milk rubbed in and air dried can help too :)