If my breastfed baby has no bowel movement for several days, should I be worried? Is my baby constipated?

The above is a common question asked by a lot of new mothers who breastfeed their babies.

Here is one question posted by a mom.

My Nina now is nursing fully, but it’s been 3 days since she’s moved her bowels. Is this something I should be worried about? I’m thinking of taking her to see my paed if she doesn’t do anything today. How long can a baby go without doing it? -Yat

And the other mothers who breastfeed their babies shared their own experiences :

Bowel - If Nina is not straining or looks uncomfortable, just sit and wait. You will be ‘rewarded’ with a big one soon. My son is also the same - sometimes poo about 7-9 times per day, then suddenly 3 days without bowel movement. All the moo-mies here will chorus - this is normal! if you are exclusively breast-feeding her. - Lilian

Not to worry! It’s normal for exclusively BFG babies do not pass the bowel very often. This is due to our super duper milk is almost 100% absorbed as nutrition by their body, thus not so much to be passed. At one time Wafiq (when he was 3 mths) did not do ‘bisnes’ for almost 10 days. Just minutes away before we went to see a paed, he gave us a surprise with long overdue bullet! - Fiz

There’s nothing to worry about. Joe Yue, now 3.5 months old, has been having bowel movement (since he turned 3 months)every 4 - 5 days. At first, I was worried like you too but after that I realised that it was normal. His paed said that there’s even a record of 11 days! As long as the poo-poo is not hard and pellet-like and your baby is not crying, it’s perfectly fine. - Christine

Tags: Breastfeeding, constipation