Baby Hasn't Pooped for 14 Days. Call Doctor or Wait?

oh my goodness. call hte doctor asap. tht is a REALLY long time to go without pooping and that means toxins are building up in his body b/c waste is how the body expels toxins. try prune juice as the others said in the meantime but call the doctor while you wait for the prunes to work.

Call the doctor. I was always told that if a baby goes more than a week without a bowel movement to call the doctor.

If they go longer than 4 days, you should be concerned. There could be a blockage or something. Call you doctor stat!

The nurses that I worked with said that breastfed babies do not become constipated except for cases that involve medical issues--and that frequency is not a sign of constipation--that the hardness of the stool is. I think my son went like 3 weeks without pooping once (and didn't seem uncomfortable). My friends baby would go almost a month! You should call if you're worried, but I don't think it's that uncommon.

I'd call to make sure, but you mention you're on vacation. It could just be that he's out of his element. My daughter would often go several days between poops, and our doctor said that he'd seen kids go as long as 14 days with no ill effects. He suggested Miralax or juice if she went longer than 10 days. I've often heard that you (mom) can eat canned pears to help things along as well. Also, massage his tummy in a clockwise direction and move his legs in a bicycle motion.

Good luck!

Call the doctor... also give the baby some apple juice or prune juice now. Yes, I breastfed my four babies, too and you aren't supposed to give kids juice- I know, but this is one of those cases where it is okay.

One of the ways the body absorbs things is through the intestines. All that waste is toxic.

I would give the doc a call but I wouldn't get worked up or too concerned.

Like another poster said, breastfed babies can go much, much longer than a formula fed baby without a bowel movement and it's perfectly normal. My son's normal was once about every 4-5 days before he stared solids.

As long as he seems perfectly normal, not in pain, not uncomfortable, nursing well he's probably ok. Breastmilk is used more efficiently than formula which is why exclusively breastfed babies can and usually do go longer between bowel movement.

But do give the doc a call just to see what he/she says and to alleviate any concerns that you have.

i would have called the dr after 3 or 4 days myself. i have a problem with pooping and have since i had my second baby. i have started taking 250 mgs of magnesium and it has fixed the probelm. maybe that's what's wrong with your baby or maybe your baby is allergic to something you are eating or to breast milk? oh, you can also try to give the baby some Karo syrup if you don't have juice. put it in with a little breast milk

Yes, I would definitely call the dr.

how difficult is it to call a doctor? i figure better safe than sorry...........

I've heard that it is normal for exclusively breastfed babies to poop less, and to even go for days without pooping, but I think 14 days is a long time.

I would call the doctor about this.

Call the doctor. Poop is waste and it can poison his system.

Yes, for sure call your Doctor.

I would give the doctor a call just to be sure.

Definitely call the doctor.

My daughter was breastfed and wasn't constipated, BUT she held her poop in from a very early age, causing it to harden a bit. When she went 10 days without pooping we gave her 1 part prune juice, 1 part water. It made her poop by the next day every single time. This is what the doctor said to do. We have done this with her since she was 3 weeks old... Just one word of caution, we used suppositories ONE time and never will again. For her, it caused WAY more problems because it created a fear for her. She is terrified of it coming out and her not being able to hold it in. She's 3 now, let me tell you how fun potty training is with this issue...

is he acting like he's in pain?

I'd be concerned, especially if the weather is hot in your vicinity. If you can encourage extra liquids, especially water with a little Miralax, that might relieve the situation. When the body needs more hydration, it draws it from stools passing through the digestive system, and this is a frequent cause of constipation.

ouch!!! that's gotta be uncomfortable!!

Try taking his temperature rectally - it stimulates the body...if not - there are infant suppositories that you can use...talk to your pediatrician BEFORE you give the suppository to ensure it's not too strong, etc.

My 11 year old used to hold his poop for days- was exclusively breastfed for the first 7 months as well - but this happened around 14 months as he had one poop that just hurt him and it scared him. Make sure your diet is full of fiber as well so that it will get passed on via the breast milk.

GOOD LUCK!!!

There are several things you can do:
1) Call the doctor
2) Try a gentle tummy massage
3) Evaluate your diet and see if that is causing any constipation
4) Give the baby a bit of water
5) Prepare for one major poop - it will come back with a vengeance. :-)

The longest my son went without pooping when I was breastfeeding was 10 days. He normally only pooped about every 5 days. Since he didn't strain or appear to be in pain, the doctor said he was fine, just very efficient! You can always try some prunes baby food or taking his temp with the rectal thermometer.

I've nursed 6 babies. Didn't start solids until 8 or 9 months. Wasn't surprised at all when I read your question. You're baby will poop, don't worry.

11 days is the longest that they say is normal. he might be totally fine, but it is crossing over in to being a bit long! my son went 11 days once. i was surprised!

is the baby fussy at all? if so, he might be getting ready to poop (my son was quite fussy when he was getting ready to poop). or if he's fussy, he might be needing to poop and can't. or he really might be just fine! there's always that odd one out there;-) does his tummy seem tender? is he happy? he might be going through a huge growth spurt and using up all the breastmilk perfectly.

i don't know what to suggest. if he's been fussy, i'd probably see a dr. if he seems fine, i would maybe give it one day more. i wouldn't go much longer, though.

That seems like a long time. Going too long could cause a serious blockage.
My first baby had some trouble and her pediatrician suggested glycerine suppositories.
The make them for babies. You can buy them at any pharmacy.
I only used half of one at a time and I had to hold her little fanny cheeks together to keep it from popping back out, but it definitely worked. I had to do that for a few days to get her cleared out, but after that she was fine.
Glycerine suppositories aren't harmful. I would try one.
You really should address these issues with the pediatrician though because your baby has had 14 days of stuff going in and nothing coming out.
That can't be good or comfortable.
~ My daughter's pediatrician is like, the best around. He was my doctor, my sister's doctor. He's taken care of all our children. He's very into holistic stuff when it's called for but doesn't mess around if antibiotics or conventional treatments are required. I totally trusted him about the suppositories. I'm glad I did.

Just my opinion.

Best wishes.

I would call the dr. that seems too long. Give him a little bit of water. That is what we did when our daughter went too long. Just alittle not alot. That should help. That is what the nurse at the hospital told us to do. That helps to move things along. Good Luck!

I think that is too long. My son was having constipation issues and I used Karo syrup which worked well (1 tsp in bottle or food). But b/c it is so sugary it isn't good for long term. I'd give him infant probiotics too. That helped my son stay regular as well. Udo's makes one that they sell at the healthfood store.

I have not read the other comments but if it was me I would have called a long time ago. I have a 4 month old and he didn't poop for 3 days and just as I was getting ready to call the doctor he pooped. I think that 14 days is a very very very long time. even 9 days is a long time to not poop. imagine it being you. How do you feel if you don't have a bowel movement for for then 4 days. Im sure its not pleasent to the babies either.