Digestion and bowel movements in babies: what is normal?
Even if this topic is frowned upon in everyday life, it is quite common among new parents: the baby’s bowel movement. But it makes sense to deal with it. A lot can be deduced about the health of the child from the contents of the diaper. You can read here what you should pay attention to and how often bowel movements are normal for babies.
The contents of a baby’s diaper are often a great source of conversation for parents. Because in fact: the stool changes again and again in the first year of life, and the frequency also varies greatly. It is therefore extremely important to regularly take a look at the full diaper. It can provide information about the health of the protégé.
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Dark green to black stool
Deep, dark green to black stools are usually passed within 48 hours of birth and, although a bit strange at first, are quite normal. Meconium, also known as “kid’s spech” because of its color and consistency, is the first part of the intestine that the baby passes out. After birth, a large number of red blood cells are broken down in the child’s body. These enter the intestine via the bile and form a tough, dark mass there with hair, amniotic fluid and old cells. The colostrum, the first breast milk, stimulates the intestinal activity of the new inhabitant and the meconium is excreted. Bottle-fed children will take a little longer to complete this process.
Light green, liquid stool
After the meconium comes the “squirting pups”, as midwives jokingly but aptly call this type of intestinal excretion. Because of the transitional milk, which is produced almost two weeks after the colostrum, the baby’s stool becomes so light-colored and runny that it can sometimes be a bit “livelier” during the diaper change. That too is completely normal.
Golden yellow stool that is liquid to soft
With the change from transitional milk to rich breast milk, your baby’s stool will also change. It turns light yellow and takes on a slightly sour smell. When it comes to consistency, on the other hand, anything is possible: from soft to liquid stool, your baby’s diaper now has everything – and that’s also considered normal.
Golden, soft stool
After about three to four weeks, babies experience a growth spurt. During this time, a lot changes for the little ones, as well as the intestines. It can now absorb more nutrients, but less mass remains. The result is a firmer stool and sometimes fewer excretions. Midwives explain that anything from once a day to once every seven days is normal. However, it is important to keep a close eye on the baby during this time. If it is not gaining weight, appears to be suffering or is very restless, a pediatrician should be consulted after five days at the latest.
Yellowish, solid and odorous stool
Babies who get the bottle and are not breastfed produce neither the squirt farts nor the barely smelling milk stool. Due to the bottle feeding, it can happen that they smell more intensely in the full diaper and the stool has a firmer consistency than breastfed children.
Fixed chair in different colors
If you start feeding your baby porridge, it can cause a surprise or two. Because: The contents of the diaper can be as colorful as your child’s menu. With beetroot the stool appears redder, with spinach greener. In dishes containing meat, it can take on a dark brown colour. The smell is also changing now, the stool no longer smells as sweet as it did at the beginning.
If your child is already eating solid food, you may also find undigested pieces of carrot, corn or grains in the stool. These can sometimes not be fully absorbed by the body and therefore make their way out again in this way.
What is not a normal bowel movement?
Sudden onset of liquid stool
If your baby is ill, teething or if he is prescribed medication or even antibiotics for health reasons, this can also affect the bowel movements. One speaks of diarrhea when the stool is very liquid over a longer period of time, large quantities are excreted and this occurs very suddenly. In this case, parents should make sure that their baby drinks enough. If diarrhea persists, parents should not hesitate to consult a pediatrician. This is because babies lose a lot of fluid very quickly and become dehydrated.
Very hard, crumbly stool
Because the consistency and frequency of bowel movements can vary widely among newborns, it’s important to keep a close eye on your baby. Does it seem tense? Does doing business hurt? Does it have to be pressed hard? If so, that could be a sign of constipation. The hardened stool can also lead to small tears in the mucous membrane of the anus, which means that some blood can be found in the stool. In this case, a mini enema can help soften the stool again.
Green, frothy and pungent stool
If your child’s stool looks frothy green and smells pungent for more than a day, it’s best to see a pediatrician. These signs can indicate an infection. The green color itself is due to an excess of lactose ingested with breast milk. Lactose stimulates intestinal activity so much that the bile pigment bilirubin cannot be completely converted. This can happen when your baby isn’t drinking enough to get through the fat milk at the end. You should therefore make sure that your baby always drinks one breast empty before you offer him the other.
Chair in other unusual colors
Although your little one’s big business can vary greatly in shape and color, a few combinations should catch your eye. If the stool turns black, you should see a doctor immediately. The reason for this may be blood from the gastrointestinal tract. Exception: Your baby has previously been given an iron supplement, because this can also cause the stool to appear blackish. Pale, whitish stools, on the other hand, can indicate that something is wrong with the bile system. Again, it is better for you and your child to consult a doctor.
The mini enemas work where they should – locally in the rectum. That is why MICROLAX® is also suitable for pregnant women, breastfeeding women and babies.
The tube neck of the mini enemas is narrower than conventional suppositories. In addition, the effect occurs after about 5 to 20 minutes. This not only means quick relief, but also predictable discharge.
MICROLAX® is a laxative that you as a mother can use with a clear conscience – on you and your child.
Microlax ® rectal solution
Areas of application: For short-term use in constipation (constipation) and diseases that require easier defecation. For emptying the intestines during diagnostic or therapeutic measures in the rectum area. Warning: Contains sorbic acid.