Why does mucus appear in the feces of a newborn?

According to experts, normal stool in an infant should have a mushy state without pungent odors and foreign inclusions. Note that in this case it does not play a special role whether the baby eats breast milk or prefers artificial feeding. However, very often young mothers notice mucus in the feces of a newborn. What is the true reason? Is it worth it to fight? We will give answers to these and many other related questions in the article.

general information

If the mucus in the feces of the newborn is present even in the smallest amount, this fact must necessarily alert the parents. If at the same time an unpleasant odor and relatively small inclusions of blood are observed, most likely the reason lies in indigestion. In addition, carefully examining the chair, also pay attention to the general condition of the child. If your appetite is gone, your stomach is swollen, it's time to consult a pediatrician.

Mucus in the feces of a newborn. Diagnostics

First of all, parents themselves must constantly monitor the child's stool. Note that initially the amount of discharge may be small, but now the help of a pediatrician will be needed. Mucus in the feces of a newborn is determined very simply. These are jelly-like or watery inclusions. It is noteworthy that through the mucus, the intestines are protected from acids and alkalis. Then it mixes with the existing feces, and at the exit it is almost indistinguishable. Particular attention should be paid to individual inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Causes

• According to experts, mucus in the feces of a newborn appears most often due to intestinal dysbiosis.
• On the other hand, such an unpleasant symptom can also occur due to the insufficient content of enzymes and microorganisms in the organ itself, which are necessary for proper digestion of food.
• Many doctors claim that inflammatory processes in the large intestine provoke the appearance of such a problem as mucus in the feces of a child. Komarovsky, for example, talks in some detail about the main causes and methods of treating this ailment in his lectures.
• Only in some cases, the nature of the stool changes with dysentery or salmonellosis. Note that in this case, the children also complain of concomitant symptoms in the form of sharp pains in the abdomen, as well as diarrhea. There is no way to delay here, the therapy should be carried out as soon as possible.

Mucus in the feces. Treatment

First of all, it should be noted that with the appearance of the first violations in the stool, you should immediately seek help from a pediatrician. The doctor, in turn, must conduct an examination and only after that proceed to treatment, depending on the true cause that provoked this problem. For example, if dysbiosis is to blame, you will need to completely review the diet of the crumbs. It is best to leave breastfeeding, but if this step is not possible, special treatment mixtures are prescribed.