Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Sign up now. I'm breast-feeding my newborn and her bowel movements are yellow and mushy.
Is this normal for baby poop? Answer From Jay L. With Jay L. Show references Shelov SP, et al. Basic infant care.
New York, N. Jana LA, et al. Poop happens. Elk Grove Village, Ill. By the end of the first week, your baby may have as many as 5 to 10 a day.
Your baby may pass a stool after each feeding. The number of bowel movements may go down as your baby eats more and matures during that first month. By weeks of age, your baby may not have a bowel movement every day. This usually isn't a problem as long as your baby seems comfortable and is healthy and growing, and as long as the stools aren't hard. Your newborn baby's bowel movements also called "stools" can change a lot in the days, weeks, and months after birth.
The stools can come in many different colours and textures—all of which may be perfectly normal for your child. As your baby grows and begins eating solid foods, you may notice changes in your baby's stool. Many parents worry about stool colour. But most colour changes are caused by food colouring or additives to food and not a serious problem. When you notice a colour change, think about what your baby has been eating. Your newborn's soiled diapers can give you clues about your baby's health.
Because a baby's stool does change a lot, it can be hard to know if your baby may have a problem. In general:. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if:.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn How this information was developed.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. In that case, your baby might have small cracks or fissures in her anus that caused the bleeding. Another possibility: Baby may have swallowed your blood if your nipples are cracked — and that blood can come out in the stool. Monitoring by your baby's pediatrician should solve the mystery.
Melena is thick, black or tarry stools. This is different from the meconium stools that occur during the first two to five days of life. Melena often indicates bleeding in the digestive tract, which can be dangerous for your baby. Contact your pediatrician immediately. For breastfed babies, constipation is rare, but fewer than one poop a day in the early weeks could mean your breastfed baby isn't getting enough to eat.
Later on, around age 6 weeks to 3 months, the rate could slow down to one a day or even one every two to three days. Call your pediatrician if your baby hasn't pooped for more than three days in a row. Formula-fed babies typically go a little longer between bowel movements. Check in with the doctor if she doesn't poop for more than five days as that could be a sign of constipation. Even little ones who eat a healthy diet can have a case of constipation. The good news is that it's easily treatable.
Check out this guide to baby constipation and how to help her feel better. Always consult with your pediatrician to confirm your suspicions. Stools that are frequent, watery and greener than usual could be a sign that your baby has diarrhea. Besides being messy, diarrhea could cause dehydration, and the frequent pooping could be making her uncomfortable and cause diaper rash.
Check out this guide to diarrhea in babies and how to make her feel better, and always contact your pediatrician for an official diagnosis and get-well plan. Just when you think you've got this whole diaper-changing thing down and know your baby — poop and all — inside and out, another surprise turns up.
But before you panic at the sight of what's filling your baby's diaper, think about what's been filling her tummy. But you should call your doctor if What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
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