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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Less Bowel Movements In An Infant With Jaundice Indicate?

I have a thirteen day old baby who is exclusively breastfed. She has jaundice but has been eating well. She has 6-8 wet diapers a day but yesterday had no poop diapers. Today she has only had one. Doctors told me the jaundice will pass when she poops. Is it normal that she isn t having at least 3 poop diapers a day?
Tue, 18 Oct 2022
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Anesthesiologist,  's  Response
Hello,

It isn't unusual for an infant who is exclusively breastfed to not have a bowel movement for several days. so please don't worry it's normal. There is no rule that babies must have 3 poop diapers per day. Your baby is certainly not constipated. Most babies with jaundice do not need treatment because the level of bilirubin in their blood is found to be low.

In these cases, the condition usually gets better within 10 to 14 days and will not cause any harm to your baby. Newborn jaundice can last longer than 2 weeks if your baby was born prematurely or is solely breastfed. It usually improves without treatment.

If your baby's jaundice does not improve over time, or tests show high levels of bilirubin in their blood, they may be admitted to hospital and treated with phototherapy or an exchange transfusion. But in most of the cases jaundice disappears on its own and bowel movements are definitely irregular in some newborn babies and it's normal. You don't need to worry.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
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What Does Less Bowel Movements In An Infant With Jaundice Indicate?

Hello, It isn t unusual for an infant who is exclusively breastfed to not have a bowel movement for several days. so please don t worry it s normal. There is no rule that babies must have 3 poop diapers per day. Your baby is certainly not constipated. Most babies with jaundice do not need treatment because the level of bilirubin in their blood is found to be low. In these cases, the condition usually gets better within 10 to 14 days and will not cause any harm to your baby. Newborn jaundice can last longer than 2 weeks if your baby was born prematurely or is solely breastfed. It usually improves without treatment. If your baby s jaundice does not improve over time, or tests show high levels of bilirubin in their blood, they may be admitted to hospital and treated with phototherapy or an exchange transfusion. But in most of the cases jaundice disappears on its own and bowel movements are definitely irregular in some newborn babies and it s normal. You don t need to worry. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist