As a new parent, you are constantly worried about your baby’s health and well-being.

One common concern that many new parents have is whether their newborn baby is constipated. It can be challenging to understand your baby’s bowel movements, especially since they cannot communicate their discomfort.

In this blog post, we will explore some common signs that parents mistake for constipation and provide insights into how newborns’ bowel movements work.

Straining and Infrequent Bowel Movements One common sign that parents mistake for constipation is their newborn straining during bowel movements.

Newborns have to lay on their backs to push out poop, which takes some effort. Straining is a natural part of the process, and it does not necessarily mean that your baby is constipated.

Another sign parents mistake for constipation is infrequent bowel movements. Breastfed newborns may poop once a day, while formula-fed babies may go once every two or three days. Infrequent bowel movements can be normal, and if the poop is soft or runny, your baby is unlikely to be constipated.

Breastfed Newborns Breastfed newborns digest breast milk quickly, which means they may not accumulate enough residue to form a critical mass to have a bowel movement. Breastfed babies may take longer to have their first bowel movement.

As long as your baby is having the right number of wet and poopy diapers, there is no need to worry.

Formula-Fed Newborns Formula-fed newborns may have firmer stools than breastfed babies, and they may have less frequent bowel movements. If your baby is not having any other symptoms such as fussiness, vomiting, or refusing to feed, then they are likely not constipated.

The One-to-One Formula As a general rule, your newborn should have one wet diaper and one poopy diaper for every day of their life. For example, a three-day-old newborn should have at least three wet diapers and three poopy diapers in a 24-hour period.

This formula is only applicable for the first week of life as babies’ bowel movements change over time.

If your baby is experiencing extreme discomfort, vomiting persistently, or refusing to feed, then it is time to seek medical attention. These signs could indicate a more severe issue than constipation.

In conclusion, understanding your newborn’s bowel movements can be challenging. Straining and infrequent bowel movements are not always signs of constipation.

Breastfed babies may have fewer bowel movements than formula-fed babies, and the one-to-one formula is only applicable for the first week of life. If you have any concerns about your baby’s bowel movements, it is always best to check with your pediatrician.

In this page you will find links for resources guides: how to choose the right pediatrician for your baby, and also the Confident New Mom Guide. All those free resources can be found in my Instagram page and Facebook page. I also have my premium course, the Newborn Preparation course, which is a four module course that goes over everything you need to know that is essential to being confident to receive your newborn and care for them confidently. Go ahead and grab one of these.