Baby's bowel movements
According to the stereotype, it's the favorite topic of new parents: their child's diaper contents. Is there any truth to this prejudice? At least, it would be understandable. After all, as a mom or dad, you are confronted with it daily on the and possibly even multiple times. So, if your little explorer's diaper suddenly looks or smells different, you will inevitably notice it, and it can reveal quite a bit about your child's development and health. Not every change in color, consistency, or smell of the stool is necessarily a cause for concern. As your baby develops and your diet changes, it is completely normal for the stool to change. To help you understand from yellow to black, from liquid to foamy, and from sweet to pungent, we provide you with a little diaper knowledge in this article. ;)
Baby's stool color
Generally harmless stool color
Color: dark green to black, consistency: viscous
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Designation: Meconium or also Animal feces
Description: Occurs in newborns shortly after birth: excretion of amniotic fluid, skin cells, and everything the child swallowed in the womb
Other characteristics: Odorless, reminiscent of motor oil
Cause: Colostrum stimulates digestion and leads to this first excretion
Color: light green to yellowish, consistency: liquid
Designation: Transfer Chair
Cause: Transitional milk (produced for just under two weeks after colostrum) causes stool to become lighter and more liquid when the digested milk mixes with meconium residues
Color: golden yellow to ochre, consistency: liquid to soft
Description: For newborns
Additional features: Mild, slightly sweet aroma
Cause: The breastfeeding process stimulates bowel movements, so bowel movements often occur during or immediately after breastfeeding
Frequency: Ranges from several times daily to once a week
Color: light yellow to ochre brown, consistency: mushy or shaped
Description: For babies who drink formula milk
Additional features: Strong odor caused by coliform bacteria formed in the intestines of bottle-fed babies
Cause: Artificial milk contains harder-to-digest components, resulting in firmer and less frequent bowel movements, but in larger amounts
Others: If the baby experiences digestive problems, try different types of milk substitutes. Depending on the formula and the baby, the bottle feed can have a constipating or stool-softening effect.
Color: varies, consistency: firm
Description: From the start of complementary feeding
Additional features: Stronger odor compared to meconium, undigested components may be found in the diaper
Cause: Color depends on the choice of fruit and vegetable variety, undigested components, as the intestine only gradually begins to produce the necessary enzymes for digestion
Others: Regardless of diet, medications can also change the color of stool, but this is usually not a cause for concern. Iron supplements can turn the stool dark green to blackish.
Please note: Even if changes in vaginal discharge are normal and the above-mentioned stool changes are generally harmless, always consult your pediatrician in case of doubt.
Chair color to keep an eye on
Color: green, consistency: foamy
Additional features: Pungent smell
Cause: May indicate signs of a viral illness, so it is best to see a pediatrician if the stool looks like this for longer than a day
Diarrhea
Description: Frequent bowel movements
Additional features: watery to liquid consistency, unpleasant odor
Other: If symptoms last more than one day: contact a pediatrician. To compensate for fluid loss, give the baby enough to drink: breastfeeding infants are usually continued to be breastfed, for bottle-fed babies ask the doctor or midwife whether it makes sense to temporarily replace milk with tea
Constipation
Description: Rare bowel movements
Additional features: Very hard consistency, possibly spherical, baby must press strongly to empty itself (recognizable by red face and crying), possibly blood in the stool due to intense straining causing tears in the anus
Others: For persistent complaints: consult a pediatrician, ensure the baby drinks enough fluids. If the baby is already eating porridge, pear, apricot, and plum purées can help loosen the stool.
Mucus/Blood in stool
Cause: Can have a variety of reasons, ranging from relatively harmless to more serious, so it is always safest to consult the pediatrician
Color: earth-colored to whitish- colorless, consistency: variable
Cause: May indicate signs of hepatitis or jaundice or a blockage of the bile ducts, so contact a pediatrician as soon as possible
How often should your baby have a bowel movement?
Stillbabys have a bowel movement in the first four to six weeks of life after almost every feeding. This means that your little explorer's diaper between two to five times daily can be full. Afterwards, the frequency decreases. There are babies who continue to have bowel movements three times a day, while it can take several days for others. Each child has their own individual digestion pace. As long as your baby appears healthy and has no pain, you don't need to worry if bowel movements take a little longer. If you are still unsure, your pediatrician will certainly be happy to assist you. If you notice a hard stool consistency or even discover blood in the stool, you should definitely visit a doctor.
Babies who have significantly fewer full diapers, that Baby formula get, since it is more difficult to digest. Ideally, your little explorer should once daily have a potty chair.
Even after the Introduction of complementary feeding is once or twice daily Ideal bowel movements. The changeover can promote constipation, as the intestine first has to get used to the new food. If your baby very rarely passes stool and it is also dry and hard, then Apple or pear purée as well as a Abdominal massage get your digestion moving again.
As you can see, not all changes in the diaper content are cause for concern. The longer and better you get to know your little explorer and his habits around bowel movements, the better you will be able to assess what is normal for your baby. If you ever feel unsure, your pediatrician is always the right contact person.
To ensure that as few "accidents" as possible happen during all these changes, it is especially important that your little explorer's diaper fits snugly around you. Thanks to its ideal fit and high absorbency, not only protect your baby but also you from unpleasant surprises. ;) We wish you !