1. Health

Your Baby Week Six

By , About.com Guide

Updated January 20, 2013

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

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Week Six Breastfeeding Issues
Although breastfeeding should be going well by the time your baby is six weeks old, there are a few issues to watch for. If you are not prepared for them, these very normal issues can create very real problems.

Growth Spurts

During a growth spurt, which can happen at almost any time, a breastfeeding baby may suddenly want to nurse more frequently. For example, a baby who is nursing every three hours may now want to eat every two hours.

Some breastfeeding mothers misinterpret this as a sign that they should begin supplementing with formula because they aren't making enough breastmilk. If they instead keep up with their baby's higher demands by nursing more, they will usually quickly boost their supply of breastmilk, and their baby will resume their usual schedule.

Pseudo-Constipation

Early in the first month, parents get used to changing quite a few diapers. In fact, some breastfed babies have bowel movements after each and every feeding. This is likely why they are unprepared for the decrease in bowel movements that often occurs once exclusively breastfed babies reach one to two months of age.

By their second month, in contrast to the frequent bowel movements they used to have, some breastfed babies only go once or twice a day. Others may only go every other day or even once a week.

If these bowel movements are soft or loose, then these babies aren't constipated.

Signs of real constipation would include having infrequent bowel movements that were hard or pellet-like.

Keep in mind that although exclusively breastfed babies rarely get constipated, they can get constipated if you are supplementing with formula and once you start them on cereal.

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