The newborn does not poop: what to do if the child suffers from constipation?
The newborn does not poop for a few days and here the mother immediately gets anxious! Don't worry, in general, constipation in infants is common and shouldn't worry you. In a newborn, stool can also be produced at irregular distances, whether the baby is taking formula or breastfeeding. Here's everything there is to know, but in the meantime, watch this video on breast and formula milk:
The newborn does not poop: constipation in the child who feeds on mother's milk
Infants in their first days, as well as in the first weeks or months of life, can suffer from constipation without this implying particular problems or needing to cause concern. In most cases, there is nothing a parent can do but wait.
If the infant who does not poop is breastfed (and therefore fed with mother's milk), it is not correct to speak of real constipation. Breastfed babies can poop very frequently, sometimes even after every single meal, but they can also discharge less than expected, once a day or even less. Usually these babies, compared to those fed with formula, tend to produce more stools.
The consistency of the feces of a newborn feeding on breast milk should be creamy and rather liquid, bright yellow or ocher in color and a sour smell. If the stool has whitish granules, there is no need to worry: it is casein, and it shows an excessive presence of milk proteins in the baby's nutrition, which in this way are excreted in the stool itself.
The breastfed infant who does not poop for several days does not suffer from actual constipation, but simply has to learn how to poop! Finding the right coordination between the urge to poop and activate the muscles of the rectum is not so obvious! The sphincter of the newborn does not yet feel the urge to discharge and it is not necessary for him to push to expel such liquid feces. For parents, therefore, it will be enough to have a little patience: even if several days pass, the child will be able to free himself!
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Constipation in the infant fed with formula milk
The infant fed with formula already tends to produce a smaller quantity of feces than the infant fed with mother's milk. Furthermore, his stools are more compact, more formed and pasty, with a color ranging from light yellow to brown.
Infants who are breastfed with formula therefore happen more frequently to not be able to discharge, thus suffering from constipation. One can speak of real constipation when the stool is not emitted by the child for more than three days in a row. In these cases, a little help from the parents, such as a small belly massage, may be useful, especially if constipation is accompanied by colic. A massage performed in a clockwise direction could promote intestinal transit, as well as lifting the baby's legs and lightly pressing the feet.
In some cases it could be the chosen formula that is the problem and, in consultation with your pediatrician, you could choose to change it with a lighter formula.
What to do if the newborn does not poop?
As we anticipated, if your newborn doesn't poop for several days, you don't need to worry too much, just be patient. The baby will soon learn to push to expel feces, you just have to give him time!
If your baby (even if he doesn't poop) doesn't seem to be particularly restless, nervous, or crying more than usual, he is fine. Also check the consistency of the stool: if it is soft (in case of breastfeeding) or pasty (in case of formula milk) you really have nothing to worry about! Wait a few more days and then, if necessary, try to stimulate him with a gentle belly massage.
You can also try using hot water: soak a cotton ball in hot water and rub it on the baby's buttocks to relax the anus, keeping his legs raised. The use of a tube, on the other hand, is rather controversial and still requires a consultation with the pediatrician.
When to go to your pediatrician if your baby doesn't poop?
If your baby is unable to poop, has difficulty in evacuating stool and you suspect that he may be suffering from constipation, a call to the pediatrician never hurts, especially if you feel anxious! Try comparing yourself with him after taking note of the baby's bowel movements in the last few weeks and any other symptoms: if, for example, the baby appears particularly irritable or if he turns red when he tries to defecate.
Taking into account the information you have given him, the pediatrician himself will tell you if it is appropriate to visit the baby or not, or if it is necessary to resort to systems to combat constipation. The evacuation stimulation must not become invasive for newborns, but must only be carried out if it can actually represent a valid help for the little one, and who better than a pediatrician will be able to tell you if this is the case or not!
Abusing invasive systems to lead infants to evacuate stool is not correct and should not become a habit because at that point the problem of constipation could evolve into real constipation and lead to hardening of the stool.
