Yes, it's normal if your baby is pooping after every feeding. When it comes to newborns, you'll quickly discover that poop frequency is within a wide normal range.
Some babies poop more than others. It's perfectly normal to end each feeding with a diaper change or not see a single bowel movement for several days. Unless you're changing three or more wet diapers a day, it's probably okay if your baby poops a lot. In this case, your baby may have diarrhea, which is something his doctor should be aware of.
How often should newborn poop be?
It varies. Poop habits vary greatly from baby to baby. The average frequency is one or more bowel movements per day. But some newborns produce five or more dirty diapers a day for the first 2 weeks of their life, while others go days without pooping.
It is not unusual for newborns to poop a lot as they spend most of their waking hours eating. In general, breastfed babies poop more than formula-fed babies. In fact, your baby may poop while nursing and again after it's done – which is why you may want to wait a few minutes after you've finished breastfeeding before stepping in with a clean diaper.
Because breastfed poop contains more fluid, they appear more watery than stools from formula-fed babies.
If a breastfed newborn is pooping after every feed for the first few weeks, take this as a good sign - it means they're getting plenty of milk. Although formula-fed babies have less frequent bowel movements than breast-fed babies, it's also normal for them to poop after each feeding.
The frequency of your baby's bowel movements may start to slow when they are around 6 weeks old, but some babies continue to poop for much longer after each feeding. (It's not uncommon for 1-year-olds to poop five times a day.)
How long can a baby stay without pooping?
If your baby hasn't pooped (constipated) in a few days, you don't need to be scared right away. Babies can go days or even a week without producing a dirty diaper. If a breastfed baby hasn't started solid foods yet, pooping can take a long two weeks. Of course, it is useful to tell the doctor about your complaint during routine doctor check-ups.
If your baby's poop is soft, constipation is probably not a problem. Babies who are exclusively breastfed rarely become constipated, as breast milk is the most economical and healthiest food.
True constipation in infants is typically caused by a change in diet, lack of fluid, or an illness. The tell-tale sign is hard, dry stool. If your baby is constipated, he may become more fussy and seem to strain uncomfortably when he tries to poop.
Should I be worried about my baby pooping a lot?
In general, if your baby's bowel movements are fairly consistent and behaving as usual, frequent pooping is nothing to worry about. However, if your baby has a sudden change in his pooping habits and his stool becomes watery or mucous, check with his doctor. Very watery bowel movements can be a sign of infection.
Call the doctor if your baby has any of the other poop-related symptoms:
Pulling your legs up to your stomach (a sign that their stomach hurts)
straining to have a bowel movement
Poop that looks like small, hard pebbles or is extra watery
irritability
a swollen belly
If there is blood in the stool, seek medical advice immediately.
If my baby poops a lot, is he more likely to get nappy rash?
Babies with frequent bowel movements may be more susceptible to diaper rash. Continued contact with feces can irritate the sensitive skin underneath.
The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep your baby's bottom clean and dry. To start, change diapers more often. Wash her skin with lukewarm water during each change.
You may want to cover the area with diaper rash cream to create a barrier.