Your Baby Is Crying A Lot
If your baby is crying more than usual or fussier than average, they might be gassy. Your baby might be crying due to gas because the gas is getting stuck in the babys tummy, which is uncomfortable.
We all know what gassiness feels like and that we need to wait for the uncomfortableness to go away, but babies have no clue. If the feeling does not go away immediately, then that could lead your baby to cry.
When To Call The Doctor Right Away
Trouble breathing. If your baby is breathing more than 60 breaths a minute, having pauses in breathing, or has a bluish tint to their skin, lips, and nails, it could be a lung or heart condition.
Fever. If the babys temperature measured in the rectum is 100.4 F or higher, they have a fever. For the first 3 months of your babys life, take temperatures in the rectum, not in the ear, mouth, or under the armpit. Fever in newborns may be due to a serious condition such as bacterial meningitis or , a bloodstream infection. Both can be life-threatening if they arent treated right away. Before you call, write down your childs temperature and the exact time you took it.
Blood in vomit or stool. It may just be due to diaper rash, but it could also be a sign of a more serious stomach condition.
Yellowish skin or eyes. This can be a sign of jaundice, which usually develops between the second and fourth day after birth. You can check by pressing gently on your infants forehead — if the skin looks yellow, they may have mild jaundice. Most hospitals check your newborn for jaundice before they go home, but it can develop in breastfed babies anytime during the first week of life. Your pediatrician will check for it during the first office visit, 1-3 days after the baby leaves the hospital.
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What To Watch For
Not eating. If your newborn refuses several feedings in a row or seems to be eating less than usual, check with your doctor.
Not peeing. A healthy newborn has 6 to 8 wet diapers in 24 hours after day 4 of life. If they have fewer than that, they may be dehydrated. Other signs include sunken eyes and a sunken fontanel , and no tears when crying.
Diarrhea. This can be hard to notice in a newborn, especially a breastfeeding one, as they have frequent, soft stools. If you suddenly notice more frequent bowel movements or very watery ones, it could be diarrhea. Call your pediatrician if it goes on for 6-8 diaper changes.
Constipation. Your newborn should have a bowel movement at least once a day during the first month. If they dont, call your doctor, as the baby may not be eating enough. After that, a formula-fed infant should have one at least one a day, but breastfed infants can go several days or even a week without one. If your baby is 1 month or older and is constipated , you can try giving apple or pear juice . If that doesnt help after a day or two, call your pediatrician.
A cold that doesnt get better. Even newborns come down with colds. Most of the time, the congestion and runny nose is uncomfortable for your little one but isn’t serious. But call the doctor if your baby is so stuffed up they have trouble feeding or sleeping, if they seem especially cranky, have a persistent fever, or if nasal symptoms last longer than 10-14 days.
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Baby Poop After Starting Solid Foods
The color, frequency, and consistency of your baby’s poop will change again once you introduce solid foods at approximately 4 to 6 months of age. At this point, the bowel movements will be thicker and more formed.
The foods that you feed your baby will change the color of the stool, too. For example, carrots and sweet potatoes can turn poop orange, while green beans and peas may turn it green. You may also see foods that do not get digested at all and end up in the diaper in their original form. The introduction of solid foods can increase the chances of constipation.
Is Your Newborn Puppy Not Pooping Easy 2
Puppies are the ultimate little bundles of joy.
As tiny and as fragile as they are, it can be very worrying when you find that your newborn puppies are not pooping regularly like they should be.
Dont fret though- this is actually quite common and can be easily explained! Puppies up to two weeks of age are still unable to do many basic things for themselves- including going to the toilet.
This is usually taken care of by the puppies mother, who will not only stimulate bowel movements but also clean up the puppy afterwards too.
Luckily, even if the mother isnt around, it is easy to copy what she does so that you can help newborn puppies to poop. All you have to do is take a warm, damp cloth and gently rub the area between its genitals and anal area in an up-down motion.
Done long enough, it should encourage the puppy to relieve its bowels.
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Newborn Not Pooping But Passing Gas: What Is Normal In Your Babys First Year
A babys first year of life is loaded with big changes. They grow, move around more, notice more, and eat different things.
How often your baby poops is also in for big changes and will depend on what they are eating , how much and often they are eating, how old they are, how much they are moving around, and the speed at which their digestive system moves food.
When comparing your babys poops to your friends babys poops, a normal number of poops per day can be very different. So dont compare poops.
There are, however, some general guidelines that can help you determine why your baby hasnt pooped for a whole day or why your baby hasnt pooped for five days.
It is NOT just the number of poopy diapers, but many other factors, that come into play when determining what is a normal number of poops per day for your baby.
Is Breast Milk Or Formula More Likely To Cause Constipation
Babies that are breastfed are much less likely to become constipated than formula-fed babies.
Breast milk has just the right amount of everything that a baby needs and is very easy to absorb. Breast milk keeps your babys digestive system running like a champ.
Something to keep in mind is that breast milk is so efficiently absorbed that there is usually little waste for your baby to eliminate.
Dont confuse constipation with good absorption in a breastfed baby. When your babys poop looks and smells as it usually does, pooping once every 3-5 days may be normal for your breastfed baby.
Formula is harder for a baby to absorb. Therefore, formula-fed babies are more likely to become constipated.
With so many formulas on the shelves, an ingredient in one brand of formula may be difficult for your baby to digest or tolerate.
If you think that your babys formula is causing constipation, it is best to ask your pediatrician before switching your baby to a new formula.
Finding a formula that agrees with your babys digestive system can often put an end to your formula-fed babys constipation
Recommended Reading: Can I Breastfeed And Formula Feed My Newborn
When Is Baby Constipation A Sign Of Something Serious
After the first couple of weeks, babies usually settle into a pretty good pooping routine. For bottle-fed babies, that schedule is one to two times a day. Breastfed babies may actually skip a day or so in between bowel movements. In fact, by 1 month of age, they sometimes go a week without having a stool!
Signs Of Inadequate Nutrition
Irregular or infrequent pooping can indicate that the baby is not getting enough food, especially if they are breastfeeding.
A lactation counselor can help increase the amount of milk. Often, this involves nursing more and pumping after each nursing session. Receiving the right guidance early on increases the chances of the baby receiving enough nutrition from breast milk alone.
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Symptoms Of Constipation Among Kittens
If you observed that the kittens are having difficulty in passing stool especially if its been around 48 to 72 hours already then you should contact your vet immediately.
Here are the common symptoms of constipation among kittens:
- kitten has dry, hard stool
- kitten is crying or straining in the litter box or avoiding it
- nausea
- peeing more but drinking less water
- walks stiffly
- has difficulty in jumping up
- kitten is hiding
How To Get Your Baby To ‘latch On’ During Breastfeeding
Position your baby facing you, so your baby is comfortable and doesn’t have to twist their neck to feed. With one hand, cup your breast and gently stroke your baby’s lower lip with your nipple. Your baby’s instinctive reflex will be to open the mouth wide. With your hand supporting your baby’s neck, bring the mouth closer around your nipple, trying to center your nipple in the mouth above the tongue.
You’ll know your baby is “latched on” correctly when both lips are pursed outward around your nipple. Your infant should have all of your nipple and most of the areola, which is the darker skin around your nipple, in their mouth. While you may feel a slight tingling or tugging, breastfeeding should not be painful. If your baby isn’t latched on correctly and nursing with a smooth, comfortable rhythm, gently nudge your pinky between your baby’s gums to break the suction, remove your nipple, and try again. Good “latching on” helps prevent sore nipples.
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What Causes Constipation In Babies
Constipation in babies is primarily caused by diet. Here are some things you might want to discuss with your pediatrician:
- Baby Formula: The intestines of some babies just seem sensitive to a particular brand of formula .
- Dairy or Soy Allergy: Babies that have a milk allergy can experience constipation, excessive gas and other discomforts. A doctor can determine if your baby has a dairy or soy allergy.
- Change in Diet: Sometimes when babies are given the green light for baby food they can struggle with regularity. Many first-time foods are very starchy and if he isnt getting enough water this can lead to poop troubles. Check with your pediatrician on the best first foods to help avoid constipation and how much water he needs in a day.
- Iron Supplement: Vitamins with iron can make poops into hard little black-green colored pellets.
- Dehydration: If a baby is not getting enough to drink, stools can get drier and harder. Its super easy to check for this problem: The inside of the mouth will get dry and sticky your baby will pee fewer than six times a day the urine will become much more yellow and a bit smelly.
Certain Medical Treatments Discourage Pooping
It is understandable that your kitten wont want to eliminate themselves after getting spayed or neutered. If this is the case, dont try to force them.
Deworming can also be a cause. While deworming generally causes diarrhea, there are some cases where it can have the opposite effect.
This isnt normal, however, if it is short-lived you may not have anything to worry about. Its always best to check with your veterinarian to be on the safe side.
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Days Without Pooping Wasnt A Reason For Concern
As for the 3-month-old who went 18 days without a poop, he was fine! Because he was exclusively breastfed, happy, feeding well, and previously pooped regularly, I wasnt concerned. He got a glycerin rectal suppository and pooped almost immediately, filling his diaper with that distinctive breastmilk poop that only a mother could love.
Can Switching From Breast Milk To Formula Cause Constipation
If youve recently switched to formula after exclusively breastfeeding your baby, you may notice changes in your babys poop. Its not uncommon for it to become harder or change color.
You may also notice an increase in gas, particularly if your baby is transitioning to using a bottle. Every baby is different though, and you may not notice much of a change.
Looking at supermarket formula displays can be enough to set your head spinning.
First, there are three different forms of formula you can choose from:
- powders
Then, within these forms, they may be:
- milk-based formulas
- specialty formulas, like organic options
Some formulas advertise themselves as easier to digest.
This can be because they are homogenized, which means theyre processed in a way that breaks down molecules for easier absorption. Or they may be made with ingredients designed to be easier on the digestive system.
For many parents, the answer lies in asking fellow parents and caregivers about their experiences with formula and researching the ingredients to find one that feels right.
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Constipation Is Rare In Breastfed Babies
Infants older than eight weeks often go 4 or 5 days without a dirty diaper, and it doesnt mean they are constipated. Breastfed babies, especially if they have not started solid foods, can easily go two weeks without a poopy diaper once they are 2-3 months old. Breastmilk is exactly what your baby needs, and so there is little waste product left for the baby to poop out. Exclusively breastfed babies are almost never constipated. They may go a long time without pooping, but their belly is not full of poop. If your baby seems uncomfortable, there is probably something else wrong. Breastmilk is a natural laxative and exclusively breastfed babies who have not started solid foods almost never need a laxative.
What If My Newborn Isnt Pooping
March 22, 2016 By AP Admin
One of the things I want to talk about, because its a big stress for parents, is pooping. When theyre first born, babies have lots of poop, and were going to look at some of what they look like when they first are born. Breastfed babies sometimes can skip pooping. They may go every three days or four days. Ive even had some normal babies that poop only once a week, and that can be normal. As long as the baby is healthy and doing fine, its not anything that we would worry about.
However, we do want the babies to poop within the first 24 hours to make sure that their intestines are working fine. A lot of the phone calls we get are, my baby is constipated. They just cry and look so ugly when theyre pooping. They do not like pooping. They turn red. Their legs go up. They are just not having a good time when theyre having a bowel movement. Remember, theyve never had a bowel movement in their entire life.
But it is always fine to give us a call and say, Is this normal? It definitely can be a very stressful time. If you feel it is an emergency please call 911 however.
Filed Under: Blog, NewbornTagged With: Pooping
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