7 week old constantly straining

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Infants

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amother

OP ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 10:06 pm

I am exclusively nursing my newborn. She typically has an explosive diaper once every three days. The day before and often 2 days before, she is extremely unhappy, constantly straining, grunting, and going completely red in the face with her fists balled up. She'll sometimes pass wind but either way it doesn't seem to help until she finally gets it out. Then she's happy for a day and the same thing starts again.
I've attempted cutting out dairy and gluten; neither made a difference. (Okay, maybe I should have tried longer than a few days, but it's really really hard for me, and since I saw absolutely zero difference I gave up. I know they say it can take 3 weeks but surely there should be some kind of difference, anything at all, after 3 days?)

Any ideas how I can help her get more comfortable?

amother

Mulberry

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 10:12 pm

Following, I have the same thing with my newborn

#BestBubby

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 11:44 pm

Even if nursing, are you giving bottle once a day?

Add some prune juice to milk or formula.

If not using bottle, give some diluted prune juice in a syringe 💉 once a day.

Mazel tov.

salt ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 11:47 pm

Give a tiny bit of juice of a fresh tomato each day (on a tiny spoon or even with your finger)

↑ salt ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 11:49 pm

Very gently massage around her backside opening with a thermometer or something similar, while she's lying on her back when she's relaxed.

amother

Maize

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 3:44 am

Would you consider some kind of testing to help you know if/what foods to try cutting out?

mummiedearest

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 4:52 am

Newborns often have a hard time with gas, etc because they don’t know not to clench their muscles when they feel the need to release something. The frequency of your baby’s poops is not problematic for an exclusively breastfed baby. Try massaging her belly (look up the I love you massage on YouTube, for example), doing lots of leg movements with her, and giving her lots of cuddles and back rubs. She may very well outgrow this stage, it may not be food related. As a note, my kids think I think every concern is food related. They’re partially right. I had one baby like this, massage and time helped.

amother

↑ OP

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 5:50 am

Thanks all!

amother

Amethyst

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 6:18 am

Take magnesium and digestive enzymes

Yes, cut out dairy and gluten and stay off it...

Craniosacral therapy. I take my newborns for other issues and they almost always have a bowel movement during sessions. It's great for getting things moving.

amother

Daphne

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 6:46 am

Pear juice about 15ml to 30ml a day. Using a thermometer to stimulate a bowel movement. Moving the legs in a bicycle movement.

tweety1 ↓

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 8:20 am

salt wrote:

Give a tiny bit of juice of a fresh tomato each day (on a tiny spoon or even with your finger)

No way! Way to acidic for a tiny newborns stomach

amother

Caramel

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 8:36 am

amother Amethyst wrote:

Great recommendations, I've done this and seen a big difference.
Yes, it takes a few weeks for gluten and dairy to be fully out of your system.

↑ salt

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 7:54 pm

tweety1 wrote:

No way! Way to acidic for a tiny newborns stomach

I mean about 1 cc. It can help almost immediately.

amother

Violet

Thu, Jul 25 2024, 8:19 pm

Ask your doctor about a glycerin suppository. They use it for preemies. Also massage, rectal stim (like a thermometer).

↑ tweety1

Sat, Jul 27 2024, 9:55 pm

salt wrote:

I mean about 1 cc. It can help almost immediately.

I would never do this without asking a Dr. This is a newborn.

amother

IndianRed

Sat, Jul 27 2024, 10:12 pm

My son had this, turns out he had a hernia...

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