Is she getting enough??.....HELP PLEASE

[eireali]

If I don't pump can I be sure dd is getting enough to eat at each feed? We are a bit constipated or at least I think she is cuz she's been irritably gassy and it's been a good few days since her last poop. Anywho, the doc said to give her 2oz of water to see if that would help her. I gave her the boobs first of course, she fed till she stopped herself and then I gave her the bottle of water, which she drank really quickly almost like she hadn't eaten in ages. Now I'm worried that she isn't geting enough to eat and that's why she's not pooping regularly :( Her diapers are well wet when I change them and she does not cry all day or anything. But she has been doing this thing where she tries to sit up after she's done with one boob and then cries when I help her...I try to burp her which usually makes the crying worse, then I put her on the other side and she eats for a bit and then does the same thing. I'm seriously stressing out here...HELP!

[Irish-Eyes]

BF babies can go 7 days without a poop. Doesn't mean she is constipated, and gas is normal.

It's far easier to give a bottle than boob so it's possible that she wasn't thirsty at all, but it's very easy to suck down a bottle. If her output is great then is sounds like she is doing wonderfully.

[eireali]

I had tried offering her the bottle earlier and she wouldn't take it (after milk that time too), I just thought I would give it another go and then she sucked it down. The super bad gas is recent though, she never used to cry like that when she had gas. It was to the point today that I took her to the doc cuz I was worried it was her ears or something, she cried that long and hard. I suppose I'm being paranoid....

Irish eyes: You're from Ireland right? How did you deal with the docs over here? I find it kindof frustrating cuz most of them know nothing about breastfeeding and it was actually the doc that put it into my head that maybe she wasn't getting enough cuz of the pooping thing. Any advice there? :)

[eenchoo]

My ds only pooped once a week until he was on solids at 6+ months. As long as the wet diapers are sufficient I wouldn't worry, you lo is probably getting plenty.

[Irish-Eyes]

I had tried offering her the bottle earlier and she wouldn't take it (after milk that time too), I just thought I would give it another go and then she sucked it down. The super bad gas is recent though, she never used to cry like that when she had gas. It was to the point today that I took her to the doc cuz I was worried it was her ears or something, she cried that long and hard. I suppose I'm being paranoid....

Irish eyes: You're from Ireland right? How did you deal with the docs over here? I find it kindof frustrating cuz most of them know nothing about breastfeeding and it was actually the doc that put it into my head that maybe she wasn't getting enough cuz of the pooping thing. Any advice there? :)

Yup, I'm from Ireland. I haven't had to deal with the docs over there for my pregnancy. From what I've read, you're out in the boondocks up north, right? Might just be a country doc set in his ways?? My BIL is a doc in Dublin and when I was talking to him about my pregnancy, he was saying "I haven't even touched this stuff since college." He said mainly that over there, people were just sent to the GP's which to me means less specialty and less day-to-day experience regarding natals. They couldn't get over all the appointments I had during my pregnancy here and thought a few thought it was excessive. I was home for three weeks when I was 20 weeks pregnant so I talked to a lot of the family and friends about it.

There are a lot of old fashioned folks over there and they certainly do get touchy when you have a different way of doing things. My other BIL, his mother and all her family thought BFing was abnormal and sexual. He said one of his aunts was almost thrown out of the family for bfing her child. Now this was 40 yrs ago but that was the mentality. Mind you, my grandmother nursed all her 5 children and it was expected in her circles.

The Irish culture is very insecure in itself, if that makes sense. Any challenge to the norm always has an inferiority/superiority tinge to it. Has to do with our history.

I would've hoped that the doc would know that your dd could go up to 7 days without pooping and it be normal. If he truly didn't, then perhaps look at another doc (if possible) or see if you can find an LC? Your local hospital might have more info on that.

[HunterGreen]

My DD was popping in almost every diaper, until 3 weeks ago and now she is going once every 3-4 days. She has tons of gas, but is staying well hydrated. We forced a #2 by giving her Karo syrup in a EBM bottle...12 hours later massive blow out. We saw our doctor two days ago for her 2 month check and her growth has exploded and all items are above the 75th percentile, where she was below 50 before, so we know she is getting enough to eat.

So don't worry until its gone more than 7 days.

[sundrip]

There is often a 4 month growth spurt/developmental spurt that is just miserable. I suspect that's what's going on. To be sure that she's getting enough to eat, just keep track of her wet diapers. as long as you're getting 7 or 8 a day and she's not seeming hungry otherwise, you're fine.

As far as the gas, have you started eating anything different lately?

Also, your supply dips with ovulation. Is there any chance your cycles are starting?

[babyjoy414]

Watch your diet...it will cause gas. If she is really fussy try mylecon or gripe water. I ate shrimp when DD was 2 weeks old and she screamed bloody murder for hours. It took both mylecon and gripe water. I hope she gets to feeling better soon and poop is ok....DD went 7 days once and then oh boy watch out!!

[cheeksy]

If you can, just keep checking her weight. I think she is getting enough. We have an opposite story past 3-4 days - pooping in every diaper like she used to when she was less than 2 months old. But then again, she has been sick as well. But she has also been wanting to nurse every hour at night and very few times during the day. She pees a lot so I am not worried :wub:
And I agree about diet - if you are eating fresh greens or cabbage, as well as beans (in whatever form), even a little amount can do that. Fast food like fries and burgers as well as sausages used to cause gas in Tessa.