The amount and frequency of poop in breastfed babies varies with age. Poop frequency may change from time to time. Babies who are breastfed may defecate after each feeding, or vice versa, sometimes defecation may occur every ten days.
Lack of breast milk in the newborn period is one of the common causes of constipation. One of the common causes of constipation is insufficient fluid administration after starting supplementary food.
Constipation may be due to cracks in the anus called Anal Fissure. As a result of holding the poop, the liquid in the poop is absorbed by the body and the poop becomes harder. As hard poop passes through the anal canal, it causes cracks in the anus called anal fissures, and the child begins to hold in the poop more due to pain. The more the poop is retained, the harder it becomes, thus creating a vicious cycle and constipation becomes chronic.
Generally, if the poop is soft, weight gain is sufficient, there is no swelling in the abdomen, and the baby is not vomiting more than normal, there is a high probability that the baby is normal. There is no need to intervene.
If your baby is extremely restless, vomiting more than usual, vomiting with bile, if his/her stool is harder than normal or bloody, it is necessary to see a doctor.
Constipation. More rarely, it may be due to Hypothyroidism, Hirschsprung's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis and some Metabolic Diseases.
Although constipation is rare in the neonatal period, especially when it starts after birth, it brings to mind diseases that require surgery in terms of Pediatric Surgery.
Your baby should pass his/her first poop (meconium) within the first 24 hours after birth. If he hasn't pooped for the first time even though 48 hours have passed since birth, or if he has been pooping with intervention since birth, it would be appropriate to see a pediatric surgeon for an underlying organic cause.
Read: 0
