Our infant’s poop won’t start talking anytime soon, but you can “listen” to what it is telling you about your infant’s health and overall well being. Before becoming parents no one can understand how perplexing caring for an infant can be, and as parents we need to knowledgeable. As your infant goes through different stages in their diet, their poop will change and you undoubtedly have questions from time to time.
A newborn usually has their first bowel movement within their first day of life. These first feces are referred to as meconium. Meconium is formed while the infant is still in the womb and mostly made from amniotic fluid the baby consumes before birth. Occasionally the baby has a bowel movement before birth. This is generally a sign of distress in the infant and requires delivery within an hour or so. Only your doctor can make a decision on the next step should your infant have a bowel movement before birth. Meconium is usually a thick, black to dark green, sticky substance. Parent’s are often alarmed at the consistency and color of the poop and wonder what is happening. This is perfectly normal. You can always have your nurse examine the meconium to be sure the infant is having a normal bowel movement. If no meconium is passed within the first 24 hours after birth, the infant’s doctor should be alerted and examine the infant to rule out a bowel obstruction.
Once the infant is consuming milk on a regular basis, the poop will change again. The meconium will give way to a lighter green color. If a baby is breastfed, the bowel movements should turn into a rich golden yellow color within the first week. In a formula fed baby the poop will be orange to brown to green in color. In the first few weeks of life a breast fed baby will generally have a bowel movement with every feeding. The poop will usually be very soft, but that does not mean the baby has diarrhea. Sometimes these poops can be explosive which makes for many extra loads of laundry, but is not of concern for the babies’ health. An infant’s digestive tract is still developing and is very immature. A formula fed baby should still have frequent bowel movements in the first few weeks of life, you can expect about 4-5 dirty diapers in a day. The formula fed baby’s poop may be more formed, but should not be hard. If your baby is showing signs of discomfort while having a bowel movement, she may be constipated. If you have reason to believe your infant is constipated, you need to consult your doctor for further instruction. A breast fed baby rarely struggles with constipation since breast milk contains a laxative type ingredient. If you ever notice any blood in your infant’s poop, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. This may be a sign of severe health problem that needs medical assistance. Blood may also be a result of an anal fissure. Anal fissures are fairly common and can be remedied easily at home.
Once your infant is 2-3 months old the number of bowel movements a day may decrease. This is completely normal and not a reason for alarm. As the digestive tract matures it absorbs more nutrients from the milk and slows the speed of digestion down. This is actually a sign that your infants tummy is working well! If you notice mucous in the poop, your infant may be having an allergic reaction to something in the milk. In a breast fed baby the mother may need to alter her diet to avoid a food that the baby is sensitive to. Often babies out grow these food sensitivities and the mother can go on with her normal diet. Dairy in the mom’s diet is one of the most common sources of the sensitivities in the infant. In a formula fed infant you may need to try a different formula. If you suspect an allergy you should consult your doctor to help you remedy the situation.
If your exclusively breast fed baby has bright green poop, this may be a sign of a hind milk, fore milk imbalance. Sometimes a mother has an oversupply of milk which results in the baby consuming high amounts of the thinner fore milk, and less of the fatty hind milk. If you think this is a problem for you, consult a lactation consultant and she can help you work through this. Forceful let down is also a contributor to bright green poop in an infant’s diaper.
You will also want to keep track of your infant’s wet diapers. You should go through at least 6 wet diapers in a 24 hour period to be sure your infant is well hydrated. Lack of wet diapers is the most common symptom of dehydration. If you suspect your infant is dehydrated increase their liquid intake and consult your doctor.
Once your infant has started on solid foods the poop will change even more! It is not uncommon for the poop to resemble what you fed you baby. If you fed your infant baby food peas, expect some green poop. If you feed carrots, squash or sweet peas, expect some rosy orange poop the next day. This is all very common and just the natural way your infant’s digestive tract works.
While there are so many questions regarding the health of your child, the diaper can be a place to look for answers. Poop comes in all sorts and may leave you stumped when you open that diaper. The smell can range from little or no foul smell in a breast fed infant to a plug your nose smell in an infant that has started eating solid foods. Either way, I’m sure you will find yourself talking about poop after the birth of your baby more than you ever could have imagined!
