With the birth of a child, parents have a significant increase in exciting issues. They are associated with inexperience, and therefore mothers and fathers often come up with a problem where it does not exist. One of these questions is what should be the color of feces in newborns. The norm differs depending on the type of feeding.
How is the intestine of the newborn?
When a child is born, his intestines are sterile, but after a few hours he begins to fill up with various bacteria. At this stage, it is important that the baby is next to the mother, it is also advisable to attach it to the chest immediately after birth. These actions will help to form a positive microflora in the child and colonize the intestines with the microorganisms of the mother.
The intestine of a newborn has a length in relation to body size greater than that of an adult, but it has not yet been fully formed, has high mobility and frequent inversion of the intestines. The final formation of this organ and adaptation to new conditions are the cause of colic.
The intestinal protective barrier in infants still has little protection, harmful substances can enter the bloodstream through it, which is why eating disorders occur so often in babies.
Primal feces
The baby, being in the womb, swallows amniotic fluid for 9 months. Within two days after birth, its stomach and intestines are released and meconium is secreted. So called the first feces of the child. During this period, green is the main color of feces in the newborn. Defecation by the original feces can occur several times.
Mekonium is odorless, and in its texture is similar to resin - sticky and thick. In rare cases, it happens that the original feces does not come out, this indicates obstruction of the rectum. This problem requires immediate medical attention, as it is necessary to remove the resulting "plug".
Contrary to popular belief, meconium is not sterile; it contains gram-positive bacteria and E. coli. These bacteria help the formation of immunity at the stage of fetal development.
From the 3-4th day, the color of feces in the newborn begins to turn yellow, and the consistency changes. This is a transitional phase. An intestinal upset is often observed at this time.
The color of the feces in the newborn during breastfeeding
A newborn baby is considered the first 28 days of his life. During this time, he usually manages to take shape and become a regular chair.
Children who are completely breastfed go to the toilet less often because mother's milk is absorbed to a greater extent by their bodies. Therefore, it is difficult to name the daily rate of emptying of the intestines of the baby. The average figure is from 4 to 12. But even if the child poop less than 4 times, but does it plentifully, there is nothing to worry about. Getting older, the baby on breastfeeding can not empty the intestines for 4 days. And that too will be the norm.
If the stool of a newborn is liquid and more often 12 times a day, it is worth contacting a specialist. He will examine the child, taking into account additional factors such as the color of the feces in the newborn, the smell, as well as the behavior of the patient.
Parents need to worry about the health of their child if the stool is green, yellow or dark brown. But if a child has recently been ill with something or has consumed large amounts of iron, then this can be considered the norm.
With frothy feces and a specific sour-milk smell, a lack of back milk is likely. An additional symptom can be considered weight loss and restless behavior of the baby.
Recommendations for resolving problems with stool during breastfeeding
The quality of the stool of a baby who is completely breastfed depends in most cases on the correct feeding technique. It is necessary to feed the baby in a position comfortable for both, as in the photo.
The color of feces in a newborn depends on whether it receives milk: front or back. The mother should keep her baby at her breast until she becomes empty. Only then her child will be able to get to the back milk, it is nutritious, it contains the enzymes necessary for the breakdown of milk sugars. Front milk has been said to provoke green liquid feces and gas formation in the stomach.
Nursing mothers should remember that she eats for two. Food that she doesn’t react to will be a big problem for her child. With caution approach fatty, salty, smoked and fried. These categories of products can easily cause dysbiosis.
Feces for Artificial Nutrition
Feeding the mixture differs from breastfeeding in many ways.
1. Frequency. Even the best mixture can not be compared with breast milk for digestibility. If the baby does not “do business” at least 1-2 times a day, he may develop constipation. To reduce the likelihood of its occurrence, a child on IV must be given baby water.
2. The color of feces in a newborn with artificial and mixed nutrition differs from the stool of a baby fed naturally. It has a darker shade, from yellow to brown, but if the feces are almost black, this indicates the presence of blood in the stool. In this case, you must urgently look for the cause of the problem.
If the bowel movements are green, this is a direct indication of dysbiosis in the baby.
When feeding the mixture, this can occur even if the product is not suitable for the child and is not absorbed.
3. Consistency. The feces of artificers always have a denser and denser texture, but too hard stool is a sign of an improperly prepared mixture. The result of normal bowel movements has a homogeneous mushy consistency. If there is white cheesy blotches in the feces , you should be more careful about the proportions of the diluted food. Also, in some cases, this may indicate overfeeding the child, he does not have time to digest the food to the end.
4. The smell, like the color of feces in a newborn baby on artificial nutrition, is different, it has a higher odor and is closer to the usual smell of adult feces. On the contrary, baby feces do not have an unpleasant odor, and many people say that they smell like milk.
Recommendations for resolving stool problems with artificial nutrition
Unlike babies, artificers do not depend on what their mother ventured to eat.
But their stool is affected by the frequency of food intake, the proportions and quality of the milk replacing product. An improperly selected mixture can cause health problems. To prevent this, you must consult a doctor so that he selects the most suitable mixture.
It is best to feed the child artificially according to the established schedule and regularly in equal portions. When diluted, the proportions recommended by the manufacturer are strictly observed.
Causes of stool disorders in children
A newborn is a time when immunity is only being established and even small changes in nutrition are enough to disrupt the normal functioning of the intestine, not to mention serious illnesses.
What color the feces should be in the newborn is normal, it was disassembled above, options for deviations and their possible causes are also indicated here.
- Very thin, watery stools, accompanied by unpleasant amber, indicate food allergies, infections, or poisoning. Typically, these diseases are also accompanied by loss of appetite and weight loss. For newborns, this is extremely dangerous.
- Feces of a solid consistency in a baby indicate constipation. The child is constantly pushing, crying, and bowel movements occur little by little and several times. Sometimes the cause of constipation can be the mother’s improper diet, when she eats fastening foods and is treated with iron-containing drugs.
- If the bowel movements have a green tint and a foamed structure, and also occur more often than normal, this may be a sign of lactase deficiency of both degrees and dysbiosis. It is also accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss, constant anxiety of the child, irritation and redness around the anus. But stools of a green tint become normal if the baby has recently suffered a cold or his teeth begin to cut.
- The dark color of feces with blood can be due to intestinal problems, such as rectal fissures or hemorrhoids. Blood is also observed in the baby's stool when he is allergic to milk protein. If blood streaks were found in especially fluid excrement, it is possible that the newborn caught a bacterial infection.
What does feces look like after feeding?
From the age of 5-6 months, complementary foods begin, then the baby's stool can undergo constant changes, unlike the color of feces in newborns with breastfeeding without additives. Each time you change the type of complementary foods, the shade of the stool may also change. There is nothing to worry about, you just need to remember that the child ate the day before.
Therefore, do not be surprised if, after introducing zucchini or cauliflower into the diet, the baby's excrement turns green.
- Green - zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower.
- Red, orange - carrots.
- Burgundy - beets.
- Black is prune.
But if feces of undigested food are constantly found in the feces, it is probably time to see a doctor. This is usually a symptom of dysbiosis and gastrointestinal tract diseases. If these problems were not found, it means that the parents are overfeeding the child, and his stomach does not have time to cope with the tasks.
It is important to remember that mashed potatoes from some products can weaken or harden, this must be considered when constipation or diarrhea occurs.
Which specialist should I contact?
If the violation of the stool in the baby has a regular form, then parents need to see a doctor. First, you should visit a pediatrician, he knows exactly what color feces in newborns are and under what circumstances.
The doctor will prescribe tests and, if necessary, give a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist or other specialist.
At first glance, it seems to some parents that a violation of normal stool is a problem that does not deserve much attention. But in the case of children, diarrhea or constipation can cause poisoning or severe dehydration of the body, as well as the development of pathologies.