Different Types of Stools

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Different Types of Stools

I find myself discussing my baby�s stools!

It is amazing how the bowel movements of a newborn baby can be the topic of endless speculation and discussion. Is it too little, too much, too often, not often enough? You speculate about the colour and the texture. It does not help to compare babies. No two babies will be alike in this respect. Your baby�s stool will differ from day to day and may even from movement to movement as her diet gets more varied. Here are some answers to those oft-asked questions.

My baby�s stool is greenish-black

The first time you change your baby�s nappy you may be quite startled to see that her stool is greenish black. This is no cause for alarm and is actually quite normal. What you are seeing is meconium, a tarry greenish-black substance that gradually fills the baby�s intestines during her stay in the mother�s womb. The fact that the meconium is in your baby�s nappy is a good sign indicating that her bowels are unobstructed.

My baby�s stool is dark greenish-yellow

All the meconium (a tarry greenish-black substance) should be passed sometime after the first 24 hours. Now what you will see will be transitional stools, which are dark greenish yellow and loose, sometimes �seedy� in texture (particularly among breastfed infants) and may occasionally contain traces of mucus. There may even be traces of blood, which is probably the result of the baby swallowing some of the mother�s blood during the delivery. To be on the safe side, save any nappy containing blood to show to the doctor. Transitional stools usually continue for a period of three or four days.

My baby�s stool is black

If the formula is iron-fortified, or if the baby is taking vitamin drops with iron, the stool may be green, greenish, dark brown or black. In some children, the reaction between the normal bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract and the iron sulfate in a supplement causes the stool to turn dark brown, greenish or black. Studies have shown that iron does not increase digestive discomfort. If your baby has black stools and is not taking a supplement or a formula with iron, check with the doctor.

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