how do you help a newborn with constipation?

5 days old and constipated...are you SURE? At such a young age, I seriously doubt it's constipation. Is she even finished with her meconium BMs at this point??

It's VERY NORMAL for newborns (up to a couple months of age) to grunt, strain, turn red and cry when trying to have a bowel movement. True constipation is when she does have a BM and it comes out in very hard, dry little pellets--almost like rabbit poop, for lack of a better description. Just because she might be crying and straining, doesn't automatically mean she's constipated. How often does she poop? What's the consistency like? Some babies poop two or three times a day, some only two or three times per week. If you're truly concerned, you should call her doctor's office.

Best Constipation Cures

try using a little bit of karo syrup it has to be the light though is what i always used add it to the bottle with her milk also u can try the mylicon gas drops usually u can find them at walmart or any drug store also my son had the same problem when he was newborn i asked his pediatrician & he said that he was getting to much iron in his formula so u may want to change that but i would try some of these ideas & then if it doesnt work then maybye you should contact the doctor well good luck & i hope the baby gets better :)

sometimes nothing you can do will help. At 5 days she is way too young for anything. My son had the same problem and all i did was masage his tummy to help move things along. Once she is a couple months old and is still having this problem you can mix a little bit of Prunes baby food with her milk.

i changed into in no way informed pedialyte, yet in case you do use water my pediatrician reported to positioned an exceedingly small quantity like a teaspoon of sugar contained in the water...i imagine it facilitates them from gagging. I had the same project even as my babies were given switched to formula. i did not truly seek for suggestion from their well being practitioner, my mom in regulation informed me to positioned one small teaspoon of Karo syrup(the gentle shade variety) into one bottle each and every time needed. It would not do any damage and also you'd be shocked the way it may actually help them go. you could also positioned a teaspoon of prune juice yet that did not artwork besides because the Karo syrup for me. that is going to all bypass over although and also you wont ought to save any of this up. If it would not get better effective it will be the formula. My son went via like 4 different ones because of this. reliable success to you and yours!

Newborns can go 10-15 days without pooping it happens regularly. Especially if you are changing formulas trying to find the right one. If you are really worried call your Doc and see what they say.

Some home remidies are giving her a bottle of water or a drop of pruine or apple juice in her formula or changing formula to lactose free or maybe just another brand.

Good luck. And remember Mother knows best.

We had the same problem with our son. He was about the same age. Our doctor told us to make a simple syrup of brown sugar and water. Check with your Dr before doing this.

1 tsp of Brown sugar to 1/2 cup of water. I would only suggest boiling it for 3-5 minutes. You don't want it very thick. Let the mixture cool and feed it to the baby.

Prune and other juices are more for children over 3 months.

Call your ped. If there is a problem with passing stools at this young of an age, there might be something amiss with her "plumbing". She's so little that I wouldn't recommend giving her anything but the formula, unless directed by your doctor.

do not give the low iron formula. it is not recommended. Karo syrup is a good choice. Prune juice is too early for new born.

Most important, see your pediatrician because there are many cause for constipation. One common one is Hirshsprung disease.

I would really take your baby to a doctor if he/she is constipated and only 5 days old!