Patient's question:
Newborn babies only pass gas and urine, and they urinate very rarely. The meconium hasn't been passed for four days. The gas has a slightly sour smell. How long is it problematic if a newborn doesn't pass meconium?Doctor's answer:
As you mentioned about the child's condition, newborn babies should start passing meconium within one day after birth. Newborns generally should pass meconium within 24 hours, and it should be completely passed within two to four days. If the baby can eat, and does not pass meconium after four days, it is necessary to go to the hospital for a check-up. Currently, the baby is only passing gas and urinating little, which may be due to insufficient milk intake. The baby should be encouraged to eat more milk, and the abdomen can be massaged in a clockwise direction to promote intestinal movement.