As newborn babies cannot be manually commanded, but they indicate their phase of health by some signs. Basically, what is in a baby’s diaper is what gives you all knowledge to get answers to all their questions: the color, amount, and uniformity. You must know what is going right and what not with the newborn baby so that there is no difficulty or issue in the baby’s growth.
Knowing about the uniformity, amount, and color of breastfed baby poop brings out in the starting weeks is very consoling as it offers an indication about what is going with your newborn baby’s health.
How Often Should A Breastfed Baby Poop?
In the starting days, you can expect from your newborn baby that nearly after every feed, the baby will poop. Basically, for 5-12 times in a day. But after some weeks, breastfed baby poop recurrence will decrease to 3-4 times a day. Whereas babies who are six years old may poop significantly less, it can be once or twice a week. But there is no requirement to get much more concerned or get worried about it because if the consistency and color are basically normal.
If the color is normal, it ensures that your baby has much to consume or eat. However, in the early days, newborn baby pooping relies on whether the babies are breastfeeding or formula feeding.
Because, in comparison to formula feeding babies, breastfed babies poop several times a day. During these days, your baby may also have 5-6 urine-filled diapers in a day.
First Week
In the first two days after the newborn baby’s birth, they proceed with a meconium material. This substance is thick. It may be of dark green or brown stool and includes material which the baby has devour while the baby was in the uterus. Basically, sometimes after the first day, when meconium has proceeded, you may see transitional stools whose color is dark greenish, yellow, and seedy in the texture and may sometimes include mucus. If there is blood, it may be because the baby may have devoured some blood of yours during the time of delivery.
First Week to 3 months
In the first six weeks, the newborn baby may poop at least three times a day. Whereas, for some of the babies, it may be more than that, like 4-12 times a day. Once the baby starts consuming solid food, the baby proceeds more stool in a day. Basically, during the period between 6 weeks to 3 months of baby’s age, the number of breastfed baby poop will dwindle to 1 time in a day, or it may be one time in a week, but you need not worry about it. Whereas formula feeding babies poop moderately less at every phase of baby’s growth.
How Long Can Be Breastfed Baby Go Without Pooping?
Sometimes babies do not poop for a few days together, but you need not worry about it as it is usual. Babies who are eight weeks older do not poop for 4-5 days, but it is normal, and it doesn’t indicate constipation at all.
It is because as newborn babies do not swallow solid food so they may not poop for up to 2 weeks. When they are basically 2-3 months older. As newborn babies devour breastmilk so it’s expected that the baby may not poop for some days. But when your baby starts to eat solid food and sometimes feel uncomfortable or the stools are hard or solid, they may be constipated.
So you need to give them warm water and a tummy massage and try home remedies for baby constipation as er their age. . But when your breastfed baby poops, you need to ensure that baby is not uncomfortable or spraining and the stool is normal. If your baby is continuously crying and not comfortable, you need to look forward to medical care. If the baby is vomiting or bleeding, this may be an indication of a poop impediment.
Is It Normal For Breastfed Babies Not To Poop Daily?
It is not uncommon for a breastfed baby to not poop for some days, especially when they are two months old. It is because they do not consume any solid food, but they devour breastmilk, which is perfect and nutritious for your newborn baby.
On the other hand, what you need to take care of is the baby’s mood is right, comfortable, the baby is playful and joyful, but if it is not so, it means your baby is not getting enough food, or the reason may be constipation.
Mainly, breastfed babies do not get constipated. It is relatively infrequent. But on the other hand, if in the early few weeks your breastfed baby poops less than one time in a day, it is an indication that the baby is not getting enough food to eat and the baby is hungry, so you need to pay attention to the same.
There may be greenish baby poop, which indicates the iron-related additives, or it may be due to any kind of illness or baby unable to tolerate enough his mother’s diet.
When your baby starts to eat solid food, so the color of a baby who is breastfed will be brownish, and the poop will be smelling. But it may be red too if the baby swallowed or ingested the mother’s blood.
In the early days, it is very typical that the baby does not poop for some days.
Can A Breastfed Baby Get Constipated?
Breastfed babies do not get constipated as they are conserving breastmilk, which is a natural laxative.
So it is unusual for babies to get Constipated, but in some instances, it may happen.
Symptoms Of Constipation
It is to be noted that the number of times your breastfed baby poops is not the correct clue of constipation.
Some babies basically push themselves so as to poop. It is because the babies use abdominal muscles so to pass the stool. Primarily, the main clues or signs of constipation are:-
- Hard or solid like stools
- Crying or straining at the time of pooling
- Tight, enlarged belly
- Bloody poop, which is hard or solid
(This is because when he passes the hard stool, so some anal tissue gets torn).
Causes Of Constipation
Without consuming solid food, they do not get constipated, but it does not mean that it does not happen. But there may be specific causes of constipation:-
1. Cow’s milk
This is fed to a baby when the baby is about one year old.
2. Rice
Rice is unalterable as it soaks up water and results in making the stool harder to pass. If your baby gets constipated, you need to switch to Oatmeal or Barley as per your preference immediately.
3. Bananas
This is the prime reason for constipation in breastfed babies. So, you need to feed it in other ways such as through 100% mixed fruit juice form or by mixing it with some water. You should avoid giving bananas directly to the baby. Instead, you can follow any of the mentioned steps.
4. Low fiber diet
Bread is considered to have low fiber. And if the baby does not get fed with much fiber, so it also causes constipation.
5. Lack of liquids
It is essential to give liquids to the baby. It is because it makes it easier for the baby to poop easily and smoothly and not to strain.
6. Sickness
As if the baby is sick, the baby is suffering from stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea, so it can also be a significant cause of constipation.
Remedies For Constipation
- You should add more fiber to the diet so to overcome the issue of low fiber.
- Instead of rice, you need to switch to Barley and also some fruits and vegetables.
- You should give a tummy massage to your baby.
- You should give a warm bath to your baby so the baby can get relaxation.
When Should I Worry About The Baby Not Pooping
If the baby is not pooping in the early days, it is normal, and there is no need to worry about it as the baby is not consuming any solid food yet.
Babies who are eight weeks old do not poop for up to 5 days. But when your baby devours solid food and does not feel comfortable enough, it might be due to constipation, and at that time, you need to worry about your baby. On the other hand, if the baby’s stools are soft, there is no chance of constipation.
You need to worry when:-
- Your baby stools are hard and solid as well as thicker.
- When the stools are watery.
- If there is mucus in the stool as this may be due to diarrhea.
- If the stool is red because of the blood.
- The baby’s stool is white, which is due to any liver issue.
- If the baby passes Blackish, hard as well as bloody stools.
There can be changes in the breastfed baby poop and the texture and the smell coming out of the poop.
Then, you need to make sure that you have access to the pediatrician to get your baby’s health good, and you need to pay more attention to the same.
Melena
Melena is said to be thickest, blackish color stools. It is dissimilar from meconium. It is said to be harmful or dangerous to babies, leading to bleeding in the digestive system. You need to immediately contact your baby’s doctor at the same time and get regular check-ups of your baby.
Can a Mother’s Diet Affect Breastfed Baby Poop?
Yes, a mother’s diet can affect the breastfed baby poop. It is because everything the mother eats is transferred to the baby through breast milk. At the same time, some babies are very subtle regarding breast milk than others who are not. Some of the breastfed mothers get to know that due to what they eat, like chocolate, onions, or other broccoli-like vegetables, the baby may feel uncomfortable. The diet of the baby’s mother plays a vital role.
But on the other hand, it is essential for the baby’s mother to eat a healthy diet so the mother and baby both have good health. It is imperative for mothers to have a balanced diet that contains all vitamins as well as all necessary minerals. Whereas on the other hand, if the baby’s mother consumes fat in their diet so it will not affect the milk. But there are two types of fat known as good fat and bad fat. Of course, the bad fat will affect the breastmilk, so the mothers should get information about it and should avoid it. The breastfed mother need to totally avoid alcohol as well as caffeine to some limit. Babies may react to some types of foods, but it is an obvious reaction.
Conclusion
During the first days of a baby’s birth, it is crucial to examine the baby’s diapers seriously so that you can know about your baby’s health. You need to monitor the color, consistency, and texture of the baby’s poop. If you note that the stool is red due to blood, you need to be concerned about the same, and you need to have access to your doctor and get a regular check-up. But if the baby is not pooping in the starting days after birth, so it’s normal and not a matter of getting worried. Otherwise, if the breastfed baby poop is solid or hard, then it may be due to constipation at that time. You need to take proper care of your baby.