HELP PLEASE - No Poo?

I was unsure wether to post in here or in the BF section? Mods please move if approriate

Well my DS is 6 days old today and apart from his 3 mec poos on the day he was born (one of them all over me LOL) he hasn't done another one? Should I be worried?

He seems to be feeding well (he had lost 150g on Sat - but regained 40g Sunday when leaving hossy). He has lots of (often very) wet nappies - I can't believe how heavy they are sometimes and he farts HEAPS - they have a sweet "eggy" smell (TMI?). My milk seems to be in - nipples very full and bbs bigger etc and I can hear/see him swallowing and even gulping. My visit from MCHN isn't till Friday arvo and I don't want to wait that long to ask...

He is a fairly happy newborn, good colour and alertness etc... What do I do (apart from worry?)

CF, I would take him to the MCHN or a GP for a check. This can happen with newborns and isn't always a problem, but it can sometimes indicate that he's not getting enough milk or that something is else is going on. It is better to get it checked out just to be sure. After about 8 weeks or so, it is common for bf babies to go up to 2 weeks without a poo, but in the early weeks it isn't so common.

How often is he feeding at the moment? How long is a feed taking? Would you say it's more than 5 heavily wet disposables or 6 - 8 very wet cloth nappies in 24 hours?

Thanks for replying MR - he is feeding every 3-5 hours - with a few "top ups" eg fed at 3am (45mins) and again at 4.30am for a shorter feed when he woke etc. He will have anywhere from 15-30mins per boob. I change him between "sides" to wake up a bit. Our feed/change/feed cycle takes about an hour. He is def having at least 5-6 VERY wet sposies? I can call the m/w at my hossy for the first 6 weeks - I guess I should call them?

I think it would be a good idea to give her a call and see what she says. The wet nappies sound great, but if you can squeeze an extra feed in, it wouldn't hurt.

Thnaks again MR - called hossy - they rec'd some tummy massage and leg movement - otherwise off to GP in the morning for some more "physical" intervention (apparently involving a cottion bud) I feel so helpless - lots of tears atm (mine) and that "mother guilt" is kicking in already - should I be dong more? feeding more? do I wake him to feed?

Hi ControlFreak
Do the tummy massage and the leg movements. For the leg movements lay your baby on his back and move his legs as if he is riding a bike.
Another thing I would suggest is to wet a washer with cool water and then stroke his anus with the corner of the washer. Do this every nappy change for at least 2 minutes or a little longer if he will let you.
If your baby passed mec then everything is working. Lots of wet nappies are a good sign.

CF, please don't feel guilty!!!! You're a new mummy, it's a hard time for all of us :hug:

In answer to your question, yes, I would absolutely be feeding a bit more. At this point in time I would be suggesting every 3 hours around the clock. All the other things you've mentioned indicate that he is getting plenty of milk, but 5 hours is a bit long for a such a young baby. How many feeds would you say he is having in 24 hours?

It seems that going to see your GP is the best idea, as this sounds as though it's not just a lack of milk. But you never know, the extra feeds might help, and I wouldn't think they would do any harm :)

:hug: That mother guilt is a killer. Please try not to feel bad though - you are doing a really great job.

Would he be having 8 - 12 feeds in 24 hours? That is the usual amount for a newborn, but less can be ok, and the wet nappies are a good sign. If he routinely goes over 3 hours between feeds, you might need to wake him to fit a couple of extra ones in.

The early weeks are a huge learning curve for both you and your DS, but soon you will have a nice pattern going and will feel more confident. You really are doing such a great job. He is very new still!

Thanks Alan - I am quietly freaking out! I can go to GP at 7am tomorrow - but will try all those strategies this arvo/tonight in the hope of getting this sorted...who knew I wanted to see poo sooooo much?

Please try not to freak out too much. You are doing exactly the right thing by doing something about it early. :hug:

LOL at wanting to see poo so badly - I can assure you the novelty will wear off!!

Try not to worry hun, I am sure that your baby will be fine. They can be very scary things to look after. You are doing a fantastic job.

cf dont freak out too much you are doing all the right things...
suggestions here are great! hoping for a poo for you lol!

Well I woke him up for a 3 hourly feed at 5.45pm - and implemented all the suggestions - he didn't seem to mind any of it and his little timmy wasnt sore or painful which is good I guess - still lots of farts while feeding.

I can be at the medical centre at 7am in the morning and there is a nice doctor on duty - so will be up early to get in the queue! Hoefully there will be some poo action overnight.

I will wake him again at about 9pm for another feed...he does love his boobies LOL So I guess that has to be a good start!

Thanks for all the support - had a good cry in the shower (damn hormones) and am feeling a bit better.

Hi Control Freak
No need to feel guilty. This is quite common.
As long as he is still making lots of wet nappies don't worry until about day 10.
Remember that breast milk is made especially for your baby and it is possible that he is getting the perfect amount at the moment and not needing anymore just yet so not drinking more to try and increase supply...does that make sense?

If you are worried visit your GP or nurse but don't panic.

OK - new reason to panic - gosh this mum stuff is hard.... can I take him to the GP without a medicare card? We have the paperwork to send away? Any ideas? DH thinks i am overreacting and should just wait and call the MCHN tomorrow? But if I am not at the med centre early - you can wait all day? ARRGGHHH... what to do? I think I will go to medicare tomorrow anyway and lodge in person...

Please POO Blake :pray: Please...

Now that is a prayer I never thought I'd say!

Thanks again...

Just go - I'm sure this happens sometimes with such young babies. They'll sort it out

Hope you get poos soon.

I agree. Forget the medicare card, and tell the Dr you have put your application in, even you have to go to medicare straight after the dr. You can always pay for the consult and claim it back when you do get the card.
Good luck. Hope tomorrow brings the poops.

I would feel pretty certain that a Dr would see such a young baby without a medicare card. I don't think it would be a drama at all.

Sounds like all went well with the last feed, good on you :D. With that bit extra going into his tummy you might just get that poo during the night :crossfingers:

Hang in there CF, you're doing a great job :hug:

As I remember it, if you hand the paperwork in at medicare you can get a "temp card" given to you on the spot.. which really is just a piece of paper with all the relevent numbers on it. I handed mine in at centrelink this time so not sure if they still do that.

Hoping you get to see your first dose of "chunky pumpkin soup" overnight though!

I think from memory there is a "grace period" - probably a month or so - where the baby is included on your card even though they don't appear on it yet, so that they can get any medical attention that they need. It shouldn't be an issue.

Hi controll, big hug love, you're not a freak at all I promise.

My little boy stopped pooing at about three months, so my experience is a bit later down the track but we went to all the specialists totally freaked out, longest he went was about 16 days! At the end he was fine and now I wish he'd stop pooing

if all else fails you can use a little cotton bud to stimulate his little bum which can cause a poo, we ended up using some glycerin suppositories and they don't seem to mind this at all.

Go to the doctor tomorrow, dont worry about the medicare card, I didn't have a problem when I went at about 6 days old. Most GP's have seen it all before and if by some chance there is a problem you're in the right spot. Also, see if you have a government telephone line for a nurse or child health nurse in the telephone book, we have a great service in victoria and they may allay your fears for the evening.

Take care
XX

Hi control freak, like everyone's saying you're doing a great job it's an exciting but scary thing getting a brand new human to look after with no instruction manual!! You're doing all the right things.

I'm eagerly awaiting to hear more about the poo:crossfingers:

CF - If you are worried overnight, dont forget the parent help line if you need to talk to someone before you get to see the Dr tomorrow, it may help you get through the night if you are worried, talking to someone will help and may give some guidance

In your state its (02) 9787 0855 or Freecall 1800 637 357 (outside Sydney metropolitan area)

Sending Blake POO vibes!!! hehehe

I called the parent help line and a lovely nurse gave the same advice as all of you - go to the docs in the morning. So we will be in the queue at 6.30am - usless there is some pootastic action in the meantime...COME ON POO:pray:

Thanks for the number Naomi:clap:

WE HAVE POO!!!!!!!!:dance:

Blake woke after an enormous feed after 30mins - i got up and could smell it!!!!

it was really dark brown so still some of the end of the mec - managed to change him before he'd sqeezed it everywhere tho :dance: there was heaps of it!

Yay for Poo!!!!:dance:

Fantastic news!! well done Blake...and well done Mummy!:clap:

YAY!!!!!!!!! Very happy for you CF :dance:. I hope you're feeling a bit more relaxed now hun. I would keep up with the three hourly feeds and see if you can get some regular poo action :lol:. And with three hourly feeds you'll probably find that he doesn't need any top ups.

Good work hun, you're doing great :D

Thanks Marlene n Janie - had a horror night (except for the poo) have fed every 90mins or so....till 4am - then slept 4.30 - 7am and he's havIng another feed now! But thats ok cos... WE HAVE POO!!!!!:dance:

Glad you have some poo :lol:

IT does get scary when its your 1st. We had a few days without one when DD was about 2 weeks old, had made a dr's appointment which we ended up being late for because she exploded as we were walking out the door..

I know that seems really full on CF, but it sounds quite normal for a week old baby. Sometimes babies are a bit sleepy for the first little bit, and don't feed as often, but then they wake up! He's probably just making up for that sleepy time. Remember that 8-12 feeds in 24 hours is normal, and what you need to be aiming for. But it sounds as though Blake has got the demand thing figured out now, which is great!!!

YAY poo!:dance:

Congratulations on the poo CF!! That's fantastic news.

I was going to say the same as Janie - it sounds as though he may have been too sleepy to have all the feeds he was needing, but now he's started drinking more he is able to wake up for feeds as he needs to. As tiring as it is, it is a very good sign. It will settle down again soon. In the meantime, try and rest as much as you can while feeding. If you haven't got the hang of feeding lying down yet, it might be the next thing you could try.

Keep up the great work hun.

yep i realise its normal and have been expecting it! i will sleep all day while he does/if he does between feeds if need be! thanks for all the support!

Wooooohoooooooooooooooooo for Poo!!

Glad the number helped CF - I have the SA parent line number on my fridge (just in case)

YAY for poo!!!!!

Hooray!

~Love a member of your poo cheer squad ;)