Bowel Movement when I Change his Nappy

Dear Christina

Well ... with premature babies the procedure is often as described by you, i.e. push the legs over the baby's tummy, massage gently around the navel, which helps them pass the stools. With this in mind, little by little they learn to have bowel movements without any help. I understand that the stools are about to pass and that you help by massaging and pushing his legs up - or ...?

On the other hand, I agree with your husband that your son has to learn to do it himself, but he is still so young and I do not think that it could influence his behaviour in this regard in future. The most important is to be sure that he has his bowels moved and you just have to help him the best you can.

Bowel movements every second day is quite normal, but you have to pay attention to how your son reacts when he has his bowels moved as well as to take a look at the stool consistency, i.e. he should not be in any pain, and the stool consistency should be soft and be passed without any problems. It is fine that you regulate his stomach via the food, i.e. offering him fruit/prune purée should the stools seem too hard, variate between the different cereals. As he will start on vegetable purée, this way having an even more variated diet, you will experience that his bowel movement routine will change.

I hope this is helpful. I wish you and your son the best of luck:o)

Kind regards,

Helen Hansen