My baby is 11 days old and was born at 35 weeks gestation.
He passed stool on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day after birth. On the 8th day, he was given rectal stimulation and passed stool on the 8th and 9th day. It has now been 2 days since his last bowel movement. He is passing gas but has not passed stool.
I am concerned because he is also being treated for jaundice, and I understand that passing stool helps eliminate bilirubin from the body.
Is this pattern normal in a late-preterm newborn? Are there any safe medications or natural remedies that can help him pass stool, or should we simply continue to monitor him?