thread: Can Breastfed babies get constipated?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Country VIC
    930

    Can Breastfed babies get constipated?

    I know this has been asked before so I am sorry for asking it again but I have searched and searched and cannot find the thread.
    Georgia seems to grunt and do long groans and I can sometimes see or feel her trying to push. She has done a couple of smaller poos in the last day or so but she just seems to be struggling a bit.
    She has been on Daktarin for oral thrush so I thought maybe this might be making her constipated.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Warrnambool Vic
    1,476

    Hi,

    It is really uncommon for breastfed babies to get constipated. True constipation involves hard, dry poos. In the early days it's more normal for babies to have several poos per day - it can almost be at every feed. Usually the poos are runny/mustardy/ seedy/grainy or pumpkin soupy - really the colour does not matter much as long as their are plenty!
    Around 12 weeks things can change and some babies can go a week or two without a poos - but when it comes - stand back. It is still usually runny and a variety of colours/consistencies. There can be quite a bit of grunting involved even for these soft poos - but there is no problem.
    It's important to get a handle on the way baby poo changes - because lack of poos in the first few weeks can be a red flag to indicate baby is not getting enough milk. If this sign is picked up on, and mother seeks assistance then baby gets enough breastmilk and it can all work out very well

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    At Georgia's age my DD was trying to beat the world record for longest time between poos while perfectly healthy - I'm sure! She went 17 days once without a poo - and boy did you need to stand back for that one!

    I almost miss those days, doesn't take long for poo-ing habits to change back to the more frequent ones. If she is exclusively bf then I don't think there'd be any problem with constipation. Do you have any other reasons to be concerned?

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Country VIC
    930

    I dont think there is anything else to be concerned about, she just seems to grunt and groan - i dont know how to explain the noise she makes. she still seems happy and has done some small poos. She seems to do a lot of pushing with no result.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    What are the poos like that she has done - soft or hard?

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Country VIC
    930

    just soft runny normal breastfed baby poos - no change in colour or anything.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Salad as long as they are not dry and hard (little pellets) it sounds like that is completely normal for a bf baby. I don't think you have anything to worry about!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Country VIC
    930

    Thanks heaps Jennifer I really appreciate it