Constipation in a breastfed baby
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by Linda Shaw, MD
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The question:
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The Pediatrician Answers:
Whether or not this is a problem depends on your baby's age. Breastfed
infants in the first week of life should have several bowel movements per
day; this is a sign of good breastmilk intake. Stool frequency generally
remains high until about the age of 1-2 months. At 1-2 months of age, some
infants will have an abrupt change in the frequency of their bowel movements
from several per day to one every several days. As long as the baby is
growing normally, this is a normal pattern and should not be of concern.
Constipation is defined as firm stools; this almost never occurs in a breastfed infant who is being exclusively breastfed. Breastfed infants will often have firmer bowel movements after the introduction of solid foods into the diet.
Extra water is not needed in the breastfed infant. Studies done on
infants living in very warm climates show that breastfed infants who feed
frequently and are growing well get plenty of fluid from the breastmilk and
do not require extra water.
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