Learn About Common Reasons Why Your Newborn Might Not Be Pooping

(Last Updated On: March 6, 2023)

As a new parent, you may become worried about changing your baby’s diaper after a short period.

You must know that diaper is a key thing to know about your child’s health status and you must notify your baby stool to get information about your baby’s health.

Mostly babies face pumping issues like an adult and your newborn not pooping but passing gas.

If your newborn is not pooping but passing gas you must not be worried because it is pretty normal. It may be because of a digestion problem. 

There are several situations in which your baby is unable to poop but pass gas. It may cause uneasy conditions for your baby but in most cases, there is no need to worry.

In this article, you will learn about reasons why your newborn might not poop.

What Are Common Reasons For A Newborn Not Pooping But Passing Gas?

There are several times when your baby gets constipation and becomes unable to pass stool.

Research from trusted sources shows that there is more than a 30 percent of chance when newborns get constipation.

When your baby passes hard stool there are several chances that your baby will pass gas but will not poop.

There are also some situations when your baby can develop gas without constipation. It is because of countless reasons like swallowed air, some of the reasons are given below: 

As you know that babies are blessings and cute, thus they may suffer from gas problems naturally. Stinky gas most commonly occurs in babies and it is considered to be normal.

You must consult your healthcare worker if you notice pain with gas.

Breastfeeding babies

You will surprise to know that babies who feed on breast milk are more likely exposed to constipation and gas. It is because it is much more difficult for newborns to digest breast milk rather than formula feed.

One thing you must remember, if you are a breastfeeding mother then a little change in milk composition can affect your baby’s poop frequency. 

There is the absence of colostrum in breast milk when your newborn hits the age of more than 6 weeks. As far as colostrum is discussed it is a yellowish substance that enriches with proteins, antibiotics, and other substances.

As you know the liquid portion is a main part of your breast milk and it will help your baby to give a boost to the immune system against germs.

Modern research shows that this colostrum works like a Laxative and it will cause your baby to poop in the first few weeks of life.

This is another reason why newborns may poop more than 3 times a day. Your baby’s poop frequency may decrease to one in the absence of colostrum.

Formula-fed babies:

Formula-fed infants may have gassiness in their stomachs if they put away air through their mouth while feeding. It also causes if the type of formula is altered.

The digestive system of a new infant could be overcritical.

For all infants, a little amount of gas is usual. Some infants pass more gas by nature. If your child is more flatulence or burping, it doesn’t mean that it’s a health problem. You have no need to alter or regulate anything about it.

If your child has excessive flatulence but does not have any issues like costiveness, then there is all good. In case, your infant has pain while passing the gas, then you have to consult with a doctor or physician.

Solids:

Another reason for newborns not pooping but passing gas is the introduction of solid mass to your baby’s stomach. Your baby may become gassy without pooping for several days.

Digestive hiccups may also occur when you introduce your baby’s stomach to solid things because it is difficult to digest for the baby.

To prevent any health issues, you must introduce your baby’s body to solid or new food once at a time.

This is the best way to address the baby’s stomach-sensitive foods and eliminate toxic food. It will also help your baby’s stomach to increase digestion.

What Do You Know About Dyschezia? 

Mostly, new infants must pass through the problem of constipation or dyschezia. Sometimes, your infant uses many diapers by pooping several times a day.

And sometimes, cry and howl while passing poop due to bowel movement. This poop is obviously tendering or aching. So, it is called constipation or dyschezia in the infant.

In this problem, your infant has an unconscious reflex of stooling. Their anal muscles are not easy and comfortable.

So your infant pushes the stool hard by the muscles of the belly and diaphragm. During which the anus is firmly closed. It is done by the baby again and again but you don’t get any results of it.

It seems that the infant is going through dyschezia or constipation. But in the end, muscles passed through the child’s painful attempt and passing of the poop.

Your Baby Is Constipated If Not Pooping But Passing Gas?

It is important part to learn about common reasons why your newborn is not pooping? Your baby may get constipation if he is not pooping but passing gas.

In this case, there is a need to check out symptoms of constipation which are given below:

  • In case of constipation, your baby will cry and feel irritable.
  • A reduction in appetite may also occur in constipation.
  • If you feel severe staining or turning red without passing stool your baby may suffer from gas.
  • The typical sign of constipation is small hard poops.
  • Another sign of constipation is dry poop during stool passage.

Home Remedies To Treat Constipation Problems:

You must avoid any home remedies without consultation with a medical specialist. There are several home remedies that your medical specialist may advise some of them are given below:

Liquid intake:

You can introduce your baby’s stomach with more than two ounces of water to relieve constipation.

Remember, your baby’s age must be greater than 6 months and the baby’s age is important in this situation.

If your baby is about 1 month you can introduce your baby’s stomach to a small amount of pear or apple juice. Note that its typical dose is about 1 ounce for each month of age.

These sugar extracts will help your baby to relieve constipation because of a natural laxative named Sorbitol. Your baby’s poop will become soft on drinking such fruit juice.

If your baby is eating solid food, he can drink prune juice.

Food:

If your baby is intaking fiber-rich food then there is more than a 50 percent of chances to relieve constipation.

Fruits, sweet potatoes, and pureed prunes aid in constipation relief.

Keep in mind, food rich in fibers may cause your baby to make gassy but it will certainly help your baby to pass stool.

Exercises:

It is well known that exercise is much helpful in baby movement and it will play a key role in a baby’s poop frequency.

When you cyclically move your baby’s legs it will certainly help in digestion and make your baby pass stool easily.

You can also perform holding exercises for your baby which will help him in walking and pooping.

A warm bath and tummy massage:

When you try to massage your baby’s tummy or stomach, it will help to relieve him and cause your baby to poop because of healthy digestion.

The main phenomenon behind pooping is relaxation. You can also improve digestion and pooping capacity with a warm bath.

Medications:

If the above-described method like exercise, tummy massage, and diet changes does not help your baby to relieve constipation, you should consult your medical specialist. 

Your healthcare worker may prescribe glycerin suppositories which will help your baby to poop easily.

You have to put these suppositories in the baby’s rectum and then put them out after a short time.

This thing will help your baby to poop immediately but don’t forget to consult your medical worker before using any option like a suppository or medication.

Conclusion: Learn About Common Reasons Why Your Newborn Might Not Be Pooping

 It is much important to Learn about common reasons why your newborn might not be pooping. Constipation is the main cause of this typical problem.

You can relieve constipation in many ways like introducing liquid, massage, warm baths, and exercise. The typical sign of constipation is hard and dry poop.