Baby poo is a good indicator of how a baby is tolerating feeding.
What can a normal baby poop look like?
A newborn baby's first bowel movement will be greenish-black, thick and sticky. A good one for the dads to learn how to change!
These first poos consists of epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water which are intestinal substances that an unborn foetus ingests while in the womb.
As a newborn begins to ingest colostrum (mother's first breast liquid), breast milk and or infant formula this poo will begin to change into a dark brown colour and be less sticky.
When a baby is breastfeeding the poo will progress to a more mustard colour with tiny, white, grainy seed like pieces in it. It will be a very loose consistency and can occur at every nappy change or every few days or even up to 14 days. Unlike formula fed babies, breast fed babies do not get constipated.
All is normal if a breast fed baby's poo is mainly mustard yellow and occasionally has green specks and streaks but then goes back to being like seeded mustard.
When a baby is regularly ingesting an infant formula their poo will be a pasty consistency and often green in colour. Each brand of infant formula creates a slightly different variation of the colour green.
Bowel movements may be less frequent than a breast fed baby but to avoid constipation a baby will need to be passing a poo every day or every second day.
A baby that is breastfeeding but has top ups of infant formula will have a variation in between these two poos depending on the ratio of breast milk to formula.
BABY POOP THAT IS NOT NORMAL AND INDICATES THE NEED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT BY A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
1. Green frothy poo and possibly associated with irritability, bloating, wind and nappy rash
2. Very liquid consistency with no white seedy bits
3. A formula fed baby who cries when they poo and the stool is a pebble like consistency
4. A formula fed baby who has not passed a poo for 3 or more days
5. A poo that has streaks of blood in it
6. A poo that is green with a stringy egg white consistency
7. Projectile vomiting after 3 consecutive feeds associated with no bowel movement
