The first few days baby's stools contain a black, tarlike,fine mist sprayer sticky substance call meconium, which is composed of amniotic-fluid debris from the newborn's intestines. Your newborn should have a meconium stool within the first twenty-four hours. If not, notify your doctor. Near the end of the first week your baby's stools will become less sticky and turn greenish brown. between one and two weeks later they assume a yellowish-brown color and more regular consistency.Breastfed versus bottle fed.The stools of breastfed and formula-fed infants are different. If you are breastfeeding, after a week or two, as your baby gets more of the fatty hindmilk, expect his stools to become yellow, seedy, and mustard like in consistency. Because breast milk has a natural laxative effect, the stools of breastfed babies are more frequent, softer, more yellow, and have a not unpleasant buttermilk-like odor.
The stools of the formula-fed infant tend to be less frequent, firmer, darker, greenish, and have an unpleasant odor. While the stools of the newborn baby are usually mustard yellow, an occasional green stool is of no significance if your baby seems generally well.How frequent.How many stools a day varies greatly among newborns. As mentioned previously, breastfed infants usually have more stools than formula-fed infants. Some babies have a loose stool after or during every breastfeeding. And mothers often hear the gurgly sounds of the soft stool a few minutes into the feeding. An occasional watery gush (called an explosive stool) is usual and not to be confused with diarrhea.
A newborn who is getting enough breast milk usually has two to five bowel movements a day, but I can also be normal to have one or two a day. Occasionally baby may even go two to three days without a bowel movement as a normal bowel pattern, but usually not until one or two months of age. Infrequent stooling in a breastfed baby less than two months old may mean he baby is not getting enough milk.Blood in the stool.Occasionally babies have a hard stool, or a sudden explosive stool, that causes a tiny tear in the rectum, called a rectal fissure. If you notice a few spots of bright red blood on baby's diapers or streaks of blood in the stools, a fissure is probably the cause. These heal easily by lubricating baby's rectum with over-the-counter pediatric glycerin suppositories (cut in half lengthwise). After a few weeks the urine may assume a more concentrated yellow-amber color. During the first week your newborn may normally have two to three wet diapers a day. Thereafter expect your baby to wet at least six to eight cloth diapers (four to five disposables) a day.What about reddish urine? Within the first week it is common to see a few orange or reddish spots on the diaper that may alarm you, since they resemble blood. These red spots are caused by urates, normal substances in the urine of the newborn that form an orange-to-red color on the diaper.RX For Inconsolable CryingSometimes a baby who is generally not colicky and was previously well suddenly shows an outburst of unexplained, inconsolable crying. Before racing to the phone to summon your doctor, go through the following checklist.[] Does baby have an emergency medical problem? Two concerning signs are (1) persistent vomiting and (2) pale all over. If neight4r of these signs are present and baby does not look sick, it is not necessary to call your doctor immediately before going through the next steps.[] Is baby hurting? Undress baby completely and observe the following:* Are any of baby's limbs not moving normally? Do you notice any unusual lumps or welling? These observations are important to detect any injury from a recent fall; consult your doctor if a problem is noted.* Is there swelling in the groin? This could indicate intestinal obstruction from a hernia, which requires medical attention.* Is baby's abdomen tense and bloated, with more welling on one side than on the other; or tense or tender when you try to massage it?
These signs plus sudden onset of colicky behavior could indicate an intestinal obstruction, but this emergency medical problem is usually associated with persistent vomiting and a pale, generally ill-appearing baby. Be sure to feel baby's abdomen. between outburst because crying babies often swallow air and have tense-feeling abdomens.* Does baby have a scalded-skin type of diaper rash? This can be very painful.* Is there a thick yellow discharge from the nose? This is often a sign of ear infection.* Has baby been straining to pass a stool? This suggests constipation: try a glycerin suppository.* Does baby have swollen gums with profuse drooling? He may be experiencing teething pain.* Does baby have a hair wrapped around a finger or toe? Carefully remove it.If your parent exam does not suggest any of the above problems or trigger an alarm that you need to seek immediate medical attention, proceed to the next step.[] Have you introduced any new foods that could upset baby? If breastfeeding, have you eaten any gas-producing foods within the past few hours? If bottle-feeding, have you recently changed formulas? Have you introduced baby to a new solid food?[] Is your baby just upset? If you parent detective work does not suggest any medical, physical, or allergic cause of baby's crying, try the following soothing techniques:* putting baby in a sling and taking a walk* nursing while carrying baby* infant massage, especially the abdomenIf none of these suggestions yield either cause or consolation, consult your baby's doctor.There will be more articles on infants, breast or bottle feeding and other related topics to follow. So please keep an eye out for more of my articles.