Knowing the rhythm and characteristics of your baby's bowel movements

Your baby's bowel movements: something new to know.

Every time we return home with our baby, we often worry about the rhythm of his bowel movements (when he poops) and their characteristics. We would like to know if the number of times she has bowel movements is normal or if, for example, she has diarrhea or is constipated.

What should your baby's bowel movements be like?

From the day she is born and during the first days your baby will be passing meconium, the name given to the first bowel movements of newborns, which is black or dark green in color, with a viscous consistency. It is composed of mucus, bile and remains of the superficial layer of the skin, which were contained in the amniotic fluid and that the baby was ingesting during pregnancy.

Once she finishes passing the meconium, the stool will change color and consistency, taking on a light mustard color with contained particles similar to seeds, with lumps or pasty; The consistency can be soft to loose and/or liquid. It will not always have the same characteristics, they may change color and appearance.

The number of daily bowel movements can also be highly variable; from as many times as you breastfeed or bottle-feed, to just once every two or three days. They tend to be more frequent when the diet is based on exclusive breastfeeding and tend to be more consistent and less frequent when the diet is based on formulas.

Constipation

Babies work hard to have a bowel movement, so the straining is not necessarily alarming, even if the baby cries and turns red in the face.

For a baby to evacuate represents a great effort; Just try to imagine having a bowel movement lying on your back and you will have an idea of what it feels like.

If your baby is having less frequent bowel movements and seems to be straining harder because her bowel movements are hard, then she may be constipated. It doesn't hurt to ask yourself: Is she too irritable? Is she regurgitating more than normal? Does she defecate less than normal? Does she try for more than 10 minutes without success? These symptoms may suggest constipation.

Diarrhea

Because babies' stools are usually soft and a little runny, it's not always easy to tell when a baby has mild diarrhea. The warning signs are increased frequency and fluid content. You must ensure that your baby does not become dehydrated due to the loss of fluid in diarrhea.

When to call the doctor?

It is abnormal when the stools are white, this can be a sign of serious liver disease. When they are red, they can occur when there is bleeding. If your baby's poop has any of these characteristics, do not hesitate to go to your doctor immediately.