Infant StoolsWeird subject to be talking about, but most moms want to know about their baby’s poop. Is he constipated? Does he have diarrhea? Why is his poop a different color? What’s normal and what’s not when it comes to infant stool… Your baby’s first poop ( meconium ) Newborn poop “Meconium” which is usually a dark greenish or black color, is sticky and is excreted after birth. This newborn stool is actually bile, amniotic fluid and dead skin cells that have collected in baby’s intestines while in mom’s womb. Meconium is usually passed within 12 hours from birth but is actually moved out of baby’s system faster with colostrum , so the more you breastfeed the faster this meconium is removed from baby’s system.
- Normal breastfed baby poop is usually a mustardy yellow color, grainy in texture and quite runny. - Many breastfeeding mothers say that their baby’s poo doesn’t have a bad smell, but rather a sweetish smell. - Some moms might be worried that their baby has diarrhea but a runny infants poop is perfectly normal in breastfed babies. - Formula fed babies have stools that are firmer and darker in color. Frequency of baby bowel movements - Breastfed babies usually have a bowl movement after every feed for the first few weeks of life. - Formula fed babies usually only poop about 5 times per day in the beginning and after a few months it decreases to about one poo per day. Constipation Is your breastfed infant not pooping? Breastfed babies don’t need to poop everyday, some breastfed babies may even go 8 - 10 days without a bowl movement.This is because the breast milk is absorbed better than formula. If baby goes for more than 10 days without a bowl movement you should contact your pediatrician. Moms might worry that baby is constipated when he makes noises (grunts and groans) while pooping but this is normal, baby is still getting use to the workings of his body. Formula fed babies should have at least one bowl movement per day, and they should be soft.
- Tight tummy - Cramps and colic like symptoms - Stools are dry, small pellets “hard baby poop” - Fussiness, crying - Blood on the stools Read more on constipation in the breastfed infant Diarrhea How do you know when its diarrhea? There will usually be a sudden change in frequency and in runniness, also these poos will usually be quite squirty. Baby may have signs of a fever etc. Try keeping baby away from fruit juice, check baby for food sensitivities if the problem persists. Breastfed babies are less likely to get diarrhea as a result of not using bottles etc. Read more here on newborn diarrhea Most of the time a green bowel movement is nothing to worry about but there are a couple of things that can cause green poop... - Jaundice can cause green baby poops and will go back to normal as soon as the jaundice problem is resolved - Formulas that are fortified with Iron can also cause green baby poo - Green poop breastfed baby ~ food sensitivities that are usually also accompanied with a rash… Read more on food sensitivity or allergy here - Green mucus poop that is frothy can indicate foremilk/hindmilk imbalance Oversupply of breast milk can cause that baby drinks too much of the watery foremilk in the front of the breast. Moms should make sure that baby drinks one breast finish before offering the other one so that he receives the fatty hind milk as well. Mom can always just pump the other breast…and breastfeed from that side with the next breastfeeding session. - If mom eats a lot of salad or green foods it can affect baby’s poop color
Baby black poop can be a result of taking iron supplementation or iron fortified formula otherwise, if this is not the case moms should contact a pediatrician so that they can check for intestinal bleeding. Chalky white baby poop This indicates a lack of bile in the liver needed to digest food. You will need to get baby to the doctor. Blood in poop - Bloody poop can indicate constipation - An infant blood stool can also be caused by blood in breast milk which is usually due to cracked nipples. - Food allergies can cause this - Intestinal bleeding ~ Seek the help of your pediatrician Read more on blood in infants stools here Introducing solids This should be done gradually to help prevent constipation in baby and engorgement in mom. Many foods may also change the color of infant poop, for example pumpkin could turn the poop orange or peas might turn it green. The infant stools will also start becoming more pungent, darker in color and thicker. Signs of a problem in infant stools - Infant stools that contain blood ~ Can be a sign of constipation (try increasing baby’s fiber and fluid intake) Yogurt can also keep constipation away. - Sudden change in frequency and fluidity in infant stools can be a sign of diarrhea
Learn all about using cloth diapers, including how to care for and wash cloth diapers, and how to choose the right diapers and diaper covers for your needs. Other pages on "breastfeeding problems" in connection with infant stools- Baby massage - Breastfeeding diet guidelines - Breastfeeding a lactose intolerant baby - Food sensitivities in the breastfed infant
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