Problems with Pooping

Hi,
I read about this recently as I have a 6 month old. For newborns it's just hard for them to coordinate their pushing with the sphinter relaxation at the same time. As long as she isn't constipated there really isn't much you can do. You could try pushing her knees to her chest (worked some with my son) but you've just gotta let her work it out. It will just get better and easier for her with time (probably not very long). Good luck!
E.

I agree with pushing her knees up to her chest back and forth, even one leg at a time. This works well with my 3 month old daughter, especially when she's gassy.And sometimes you really have to push hard, even going in a clockwise circle while up to her chest. I also feel she poops better when in a sitting up position, whether in an upright bouncer or in your lap. A friend of mine use to sit her daughter on the potty and she used to poop and pee all the time in it....i think it has to do with positioning, i imagine it would be hard to poop laying down, whether on your back or tummy.(esp. when first learning!) Believe it or not, just this A.M., i put my little one on the potty first thing this morning and she did a huge poop!!! lol Good luck!!

seriously, like a previous mom mentioned, i know it sounds weird (in our culture) but you could totally try sitting her on the potty at diaper change time. i did it with both my babies from about 3 weeks old on up, and "caught" pee and poop all the time. get one of those little plastic Baby Bjorn potties, put it on your changing table facing away from you, and hold your baby in a sitting position with your hands under her thighs and her back resting against your chest. it's pretty much a "squat" position (and very well-supported), and it really helps baby to eliminate (gravity helps). there's a couple of benefits to this: 1) you just might save a diaper; 2) it's easier to clean the potty than to wipe a bottom; 3) might help with the pooping problem; 4) baby never develops fear of the toilet; 5) potty becomes a natural part of the routine; 6) potty training happens earlier. Hope your baby feels better soon!

HI Angie..Our youngest had this same thing from the start.. The dr stated is still learning how to go ..What we did was when she was straining.. I layed her on her back and let her push her feet into my hands.. She was then able to go . It lasted from I can recall until 5 or 6mths old .
Good luck

My daughter was formula fed but on thing that would help her go to the bathroom was filling the kitchen sink up a little with warm water(check temp of water w/ur wrist to be sure) & we would hold her while she sat down and it would help her get ready to go. Just be ready w/a nearby diaper or towel for her to grab her from the sink to put her on. We would also hold her legs up & kind of bend them left & right (like riding a bike) - this would help her go to. Good luck!

My 5 month old had that happen too. Honestly, like a couple of other responders told you, you really just have to let her work it out. She is not constipated; you really shouldn't interfere much other than gently pushing her legs up to her belly (according to my ped.). I think she strained most of the time until around 4 months. It WILL get better. Oh, also expect that one day soon she will just stop pooping for several days and then the poop will change color and consistency. My daughter went through like 4 phases; she finally seems to be in her last phase. Good luck. DO NOT worry!

speak to your pediatrician, some recommend camomile

Someone recently said on here to put a tiny bit of personal lubricant or petroleum jelly on the end of her rectal thermometer and just stick it up her anus just hardly 1/4 of an inch and that will help. It is probably a muscle development thing, pushing poops out isn't easy for a new baby! It will probably pass soon. As long as there isn't any blood in her stool or signs of a hemorrhoid (I haven't heard of that in an infant anyway but you never know I guess) It will probably be easier for her very soon.