THE 9 DAY HOLD OUT

The past few weeks have been flying by.  Between work, school <daycare> and spending time together as a family – time goes so fast.  Maxwell is so big – it’s amazing! I remember when I would sit in the chair feeding him and he was so small <well still much bigger than most newborns, but small>, now he’s legs are sticking out well beyond my body when he eats! Awe love him!! He’s perfect!  So perfect in fact that he chooses to only poop every NINE days.  Okay I don’t know if this makes him perfect, because it certainly had mom, dad, and both of our parents worried. 

Where should I begin with this story? I guess it’s best to begin with this 2-month doctor’s appointment.  At our 2-month appointment our doctor, Dr. C. had warned us that his BMs may not happen as often, so naturally they immediately <the next damn day> went from everyday to once every 3 days and we weren’t surprised.  Then they went to once every 4 days, with a really big poop happening when it came – we call it a ‘Poopcano’ okay I just made that up but seriously it’s just keeps coming and coming out. Ha-ha!  So last week Max was at 7 days and I was beginning to worry. 

Naturally I scoured the internet and talked to everyone that I knew about it. Had anyone ever heard of a baby holding out this long?  Apparently I’m not the only mother clueless in these matters because I found dozens of websites addressing/asking about this same problem – the common denominator you ask – breast milk.  All of these babies were breastfed and apparently it’s quite common as they begin to get older, as the babies are naturally absorbing all of the breast milks nutrients. 

So I found some relief in these articles and information, but I was still worried.  I did what any new mother would do – I called Max’s doctor.  What prescription was Max given you ask???  I’ll tell you it involves someone taking his temperature in his BUTT. Yes I said it - his butt… I didn’t even want to type the word because I still feel horrible about it.  But we did it – and what happened might you ask – nothing! The kid stared at me and laughed. He couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was about and why everyone was talking about him going POOP.  I couldn’t help but laugh too. This was after all ridiculous. The kid wasn’t uncomfortable and was happier than ever. What goes up must come down after – so what goes in must come out -- right!!

DAY 9 – Saturday! Kevin is out of town hunting – aka drinking in the woods – and my mother is in town staying with Max and me. I need to run some errands and do some shopping so we get all ready to head out. I naturally put Max in a cute outfit and hope that maybe just maybe the combination of being out and about and his cute outfit will motivate him to poop.   Let’s just say that this did the trick. We made it through 3 stores without a peep or stink, but after I ran into the Home Depot and was loading up the car with my new shelves… I could smell that something had happened. 

We got home and I immediately changed his diaper.  Low and behold we have a POOP.  I have never been so excited in my life, especially for poop! Gezz.. are you kidding me. Hell I can’t even believe I just wrote a whole blog about it.  But this is what excites us parents now.  Poop! He didn’t poop just once that day he pooped 3 more times, silently, slyly and coolly – so I didn’t even know it until I smelt it.  What a little stinker!!! Needless to say after his great and wonderful poops, my mother and I went to lunch and I celebrated with a well-deserved glass of wine.

And that’s the “Great Poop Holdout” of 2011.