Meconium is a newborn's first poop. This sticky, thick, dark green poop is made up of cells, protein, fats, and intestinal secretions, like bile. Babies typically pass meconium (mih-KOH-nee-em) in the first few hours and days after birth. But some babies pass meconium while still in the womb during late pregnancy.
Your newborn will most likely have his first bowel movement some time in the first 24 hours of life. When stooling takes longer than this, doctors look for problems such as intestinal blockages, an underdeveloped anus, or stool that is stuck, called a meconium plug.
Meconium is the early stool passed by a newborn soon after birth, before the baby starts to feed and digest milk or formula. In some cases, the baby passes meconium while still inside the uterus. This can happen when babies are "under stress" due to a decrease in blood and oxygen supply.
If a baby does not have a bowel movement in the first 24 hours, a doctor needs to see the baby. If a baby does not have a bowel movement in the first 24 hours, this may be due to an illness such as hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, blockage of the intestines or Hirschprung disease.
Yes, just like breastfed babies, it can be normal for formula-fed babies not to poop. Some formula-fed babies don't poop for 3-4 days at a time, because many types of formula milk have just the right amount of nutrients for baby. So, like with breast milk, there might not be anything left for baby to poop!
Meconium is a newborn's first poop. This sticky, thick, dark green poop is made up of cells, protein, fats, and intestinal secretions, like bile. Babies typically pass meconium (mih-KOH-nee-em) in the first few hours and days after birth.
Sometimes giving your baby a warm bath to relax them or exercising their legs, like riding a bicycle, will help stimulate the bowels to move (Picture 1). If it has been a few days since your baby has pooped and the juice or pureed food has not worked, then you can try a glycerin suppository.
Straight talk: The first poop after giving birth can be challenging. It can be hard to pass, and may be more painful than you expected. That's because after you give birth, the perineum (the area between the bottom of the vaginal opening and the anus) is still sore and tender, especially if you have stitches.
Offer your baby a small amount of water or a daily serving of 100% apple, prune or pear juice in addition to usual feedings. These juices contain sorbitol, a sweetener that acts like a laxative. Start with 2 to 4 ounces (about 60 to 120 milliliters), and experiment to determine whether your baby needs more or less.
To summarize, it may be normal for a baby to go 24 hours or even a couple of days without pooping. As long as they are gaining weight, have an appetite, and are passing stools easily and painlessly, then they are likely alright.
When you're ready for your first postpartum poop, or you're in the bathroom because ready or not here it comes, try to let gravity assist you. Small, gentle pushes are okay but let your poop come naturally, without straining.
In the first few days after giving birth, you may feel pain or burning when you urinate (pee). Or you may try to urinate but find that you can't. Sometimes you may not be able to stop urinating.
Avoid stairs and lifting until your doctor says these activities are OK. Don't take a bath or go swimming until the doctor says it's OK. Don't drive until your doctor says it's OK. Also wait until you can make sudden movements and wear a safety belt properly without discomfort.
Remember, babies cry to increase pressure in their tummies, which helps push out the stool. This is a self-limited problem, and all babies seem to get the hang of it after a while.
During the first 24 hours, your baby should produce at least one meconium stool. During the second 24 hours, baby should have at least two poopy diapers. When the baby is three to five days old, she should make at least three poopy diapers each day.
If you're worried about your baby not pooping in two days, don't freak out just yet. Not pooping for two days is normal, especially for a breastfed infant. It could be due to a change in formula or adding formula to your baby's diet.
Because breastmilk is a natural laxative, a baby aged between 4 days and 6 weeks who is breastfeeding well should pass at least 2 yellow poos a day. If your baby has not pooed in the past 24 to 48 hours, speak to your midwife or health visitor as this may mean they are not getting enough milk.
There's no 'normal' when it comes to how often babies poo – breastfed babies will sometimes go several days, or even a week without having a poo (this is more common in babies aged 6 weeks or older). You'll quickly get used to your baby's bowel movements, so you'll be able to tell what's normal for them.
You are not required to poop before you're discharged, but your baby is. Your baby will not be able to go home until they poop. Their poop for the first several days is called meconium.
“Sometimes, after a C-section, the bowels can take some time to wake up since you've just gone through a major surgery,” explains Dr. Newlin. “It can take three or four days for your first poop after delivery.” That same timeframe holds true if you're taking opioid pain medications.