constipation?

[danou]

HI girls- my 3.5 mo son hasn't had a bm in 5 days. He is exclusively breastfed. I understand that their bm's can be infrequent due to using all the breast milk. However we just returned from South Africa and we were in transit for 36 hours and he has been making stinky farts. I, myself have been a little "bunged up" so I wonder if flying can have the same effect on him. He hasn't had stomach cramps or any visible signs of discomfort.
Have any of you had this type of experience? Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

[~Tara~]

I think I would give it a couple more days. As for yourself, eat some 'loosening' foods, that will transfer to the baby as well. Don't go overboard on them, too much fiber binds ;) but add a bit into your diet, it can help you both.
If baby seems uncomfortable after a couple more days, then I would look into other measures.

Just what that is I am not sure at this moment ;)

[Cheeseburger]

when katherine was little she had like 3 or more movements per day, but once she hit about 4 months she would have them a week and a half or more apart. And yes, stinky farts all the time. It's possible that your son is just one of those that gradually has bowel movements less and less often - which can be completely healthy. Personally I'm thankful I don't have to change poopy diapers every single day anymore LOL.

I would say as long as your little one isn't screaming or in any kind of pain, it should be OK, but if it goes really long, or he appears to be in pain, then maybe ask your pediatrician. Our public health nurse said the longest she's heard a breastfed baby without a bowel movement was 21 days, and that it can be perfectly normal.

[jessgr]

I have a little son that goes 9+ days between BM's. Our doctor said it is fine as long as he isn't struggling to get them out and doesn't seem like he is in pain. It seems strange that they can go that long, but DS doesn't seem bothered by it at all.

[EvaS]

Cheese wrote:
Our public health nurse said the longest she's heard a breastfed baby without a bowel movement was 21 days, and that it can be perfectly normal

Wow! Abby got like that at about 5 1/2 months and my health nurse told me to introduce solids bcuz she needed it bcuz she was using up all the breastmilk. Hmmm....I maybe should have researched it myself.

[danou]

YIPPEEEE! I never thought I'd be so happy to see poo! We had a major blow out- and he made up for lost time. I wonder if it's always going to be like this now... long awaited and an all in one?

Thanks for the reassurances and ideas. I guess the dried apricots and fiber bars I ate yesterday worked. :wink:

[Godzgirl]

hahaha :lol: ...i know what you mean i posted the same thing when my ds got constipated at about 3 months. I think it's just some sort of phase babies go through ( he went like 5 days no poop). I was worried because you are suposed to be pooping daily unless it's different for a baby i don't know. :? Gotta check that out.

[BlessedMommy]

Yep, breastfed babies can go a long time between bowel movements and be perfectly fine. I heard of the 21 day thing too. On the long side of normal, but still normal.