Question
Is it normal for a newborn to not have a bowel movement for three days?
Answer
Not having a bowel movement for three days in a newborn may be a normal physiological phenomenon, known as “stagnant bowel.” This situation often occurs after a newborn’s digestive and absorptive abilities improve. If the baby shows no signs of pain and the stool is still yellow and soft, there is no need to worry excessively. You can help with defecation by massaging the baby’s abdomen and training them to have regular bowel movements. Additionally, be aware of whether the baby is fed breast milk or formula milk, and check for issues such as nipple blockage or difficulties in breastfeeding. For breastfed babies, it may be due to insufficiently open mammary ducts; for formula-fed babies, it may be due to a blocked nipple or the cap being too tightly tightened on the bottle. You can try giving the baby some water between feedings or use reed and seedless red dates to make water for the baby to drink, which can help alleviate the problem of heat.