Question
My baby is 43 days old, and she had a bowel movement last night. It’s now been two days since then, and she still hasn’t had a bowel movement. She has been breastfed, and today she passed a few farts with a slight stool odor. Is she constipated? What should I give her to eat? Additionally, 30 days from now, I plan to give her some orange juice every few days. Could this be related to her constipation?
Answer
Newborns do not have a well-developed defecation mechanism, so they cannot defecate on a regular schedule. Often, stool accumulates and the rectal wall’s nerves sense the pressure of distension, triggering a reflexive bowel movement. This is why some infants only have a bowel movement once every few days. Stimulation with a thermometer can also induce this reflex and prompt defecation. For babies breastfed with milk, since breast milk is more easily absorbed, the amount of stool produced is less, and some infants may only have a bowel movement every few days without it being unusual. Therefore, not having a bowel movement for several days in newborns does not necessarily mean constipation. The way to determine if a newborn is constipated is to observe the characteristics of the stool. If the characteristics are normal, then not having a bowel movement for several days is also normal. If the baby is formula-fed, be sure to dilute the formula and ensure the baby drinks plenty of water.