What’s the Scoop on Your Baby’s Poop? Let’s Talk Constipation

Poop! As a new mom—or any mom, for that matter—poop is probably on your mind. One of the most common concerns Dr. Cait receives from parents is that their newborn baby isn’t pooping for days, or even weeks, at a time.

Constipation in newborns can be obvious, or it may seem like you just have a fussy baby. If your newborn is fussy, straining or crying when pooping, has a distended or bloated belly, or has hard, pellet-like poop, constipation could be a possibility.

Here are a few common reasons your baby may be constipated:

1. Mother’s diet
2. Mother’s stress level
3. Milk or food allergy/sensitivity
4. Baby is dehydrated
5. Supplementing with formula alongside breastmilk
6. Introduction of solid foods too soon
7. Stress as a result of traveling or being away from mom
8. Subluxation—this is what we chiropractors look for

Although chiropractors don’t claim to “treat” or “fix” anything, we do know that when the brain and body are communicating properly, everything works better. When the spine is adjusted, it allows the nerves in the body to better communicate with the organs, including the stomach and intestines. An adjustment affects the vagus nerve (the “rest and digest” part of our nervous system). When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it often helps relax the bowels—and baby will poop!

There is a common saying in the chiropractic world: “that post-adjustment poop.” It’s not unusual for a baby to poop 30 minutes after an adjustment—or, in many cases, during the adjustment itself!

If your baby is struggling to poop, or isn’t going at least every other day, give us a call.