Baby Started Solids and Has Green Mucousy Poop

Why my breastfed baby have green poop?

Updated on March 19, 2008

J.B. asks from Due north Attleboro, MA on March 16, 2008

36 answers

I have a 3 i/2 week old son who is breastfeeding exclusively. Once the meconium passed from his arrangement, his poo turned seedy and mustard colored as is described in the literature. Well-nigh a week agone, his poo turned more than greenish and more runny. Based on what I have read, this could exist do to: ingesting too much foremilk in relation to hindmilk, a nutrient allergy to something like dairy, or a viral/bacterial infection. He doesn't accept a fever and doesn't have whatever other signs of infection. I am currently in the process of feeding longer on one chest and limiting my dairy intake (for the final ii days), but take yet to see a meaning modify in the color of his poo. Does anyone know how long I should await to see an event? I have read that I may need to look 2 to 3 weeks if the effect is an allergy to dairy. Also, does anyone know if in that location could be other reasons why his poo has changed? How concerned should I be? He has a doctor's appointment this Thursday, so I volition definitely address it with her then.

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Summary

"Green stools and gassiness in an otherwise healthy breastfed babe are often acquired by a foremilk/hind milk imbalance. To assist remedy this situation, allow your baby to control the feed. When nursing, allow your niggling 1 come off the start breast on his own, relaxed and satisfied. If problem persists, contact your health professional person.

Featured Answers

A.H.

answers from Washington DC on March 19, 2008

My daughter is at present over 8 months erstwhile and is on a mix of solids and breastmilk. When she was exclusively breastfed we would take green poop every once in awhile. For u.s.a. it always happened when she decided to eat for a short catamenia of time. I withal feed her completely on one side earlier I switch her to the other. She volition pop off when there isn't enough milk left and I know it is time to switch. She was fine regardless, but it is odd to see green poop:)

D.S.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

We too went dark-green for a bit, then bright yellow. If you are really worried, call his dr, but I think it sounds normal.

C.W.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

I breastfed my first for twelvemonth and my second for 9 months and I would not worry. In my experience the color of the poo and the consistency changes all the time and I read somewhere that it can change dependent on what you are eating besides!I know that if I ate lots of veggies the poo was more green and runny. My advice is unless he seems unwell don't worry.

More Answers

Fifty.P.

answers from Boston on March 17, 2008

Having had 3 kids with food allergies, I'd ask a few questions, peculiarly since I've discovered how little many pediatricians seem to know near breastfeeding. How light-green is the poo? Grass greenish? Avocado green? Is there any mucous? Past that, I mean does it stretch at all? Are there whatsoever othe crimson or black flecks? Does he have any other skin issues like eczema?

Green stools bespeak that in that location is bile in the stool and that typically happens when the stool passes quickly through the intestine. This occasionally happens in normal breastfeeding then an occasionaly green poop is OK. If they are consistantly green and so information technology indicates that they are passing through quickly all the fourth dimension, and this tin can be caused by a few dissimilar things.

Foremilk is watery to quench thirst and sweetness while hindmilk is more fatty and sustaining. Likewise much lactose (milk carbohydrate) can have a laxitive effect and cause gas, light-green frothy stools, more than frequent demands for feeding and discomfort. If you accept crowd/overactive letdown baby may choke or gag while nursing, pull off the breast and you lot may notice that your milk squirts forcefully in several jets during letdown. (I could hitting another kid sitting a distance away when baby pulled off ;)) Yous may also get engorged a lot, endure plugged ducts, and detect you have a hard time getting a breast truly "empty" or soft.

If there is mucous or blood in the stool it is a sign that the intestinal lining is irritated, probably due to a protein intollerance or allergy. Dairy is mostly the first place to get-go, which means removing all traces of dairy protein from your diet--this ways not but butter, milk, cheese, yoghurt, water ice cream, etc but as well anything containing casein, whey, lactose, and caseinates of all sorts. It can take a couple of weeks for the dairy to completely clear your system and then be patient.

Information technology'south worth noting that baby can be senitive to any i of a number of proteins in your milk. For instance, many babies who are sensitive to dairy are besides sensitive to soy. Soy is highly allergenic, and in some cases soy sensitivity tin extend to the whole legume family. Other mutual allergins include wheat, egg, fish, shellfish, citrus (including tomato), and nuts.

For many moms, removing dairy is enough, but you won't know unless you avoid all dairy-containing foods. It can be tricky: for example, non-dairy creamer is not dairy-complimentary! But in one case you acquire to read labels it gets easier.

If you have whatever questions, please feel from to email me. I have 3 kids, I've had oversupply-overactive letdown with all of them, and they each take different food sensitivities--I've seen a LOT of green poo!! In fact, I'm currently avoiding all dairy, soy, legumes, and gluten for my 7 mo old!

Good luck!

3 moms constitute this helpful

B.Westward.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

Hi J., you probably got tons of responses just I wanted to put my experience in too. My baby daughter (also exclusively breastfed) had the same thing at most the same historic period. My ped. said it was simply from what I was eating, and unless she seemed uncomfortable or there was fungus or blood in her diaper, whatsoever color/consistency alter was ok. Once for a few days it even looked similar embankment sand!! Good Luck dearest!

M.Southward.

answers from Boston on March eighteen, 2008

My daughter has a milk and soy allergy and we offset notice light-green mucousy stools, only so there was also blood. We have been to a pediatric gastroenterologist and they say the colour does not thing. Green just means it's moving through the system faster (which isn't necessarily a problem). You can enquire your pediatrician to check the stool for blood (bring in a couple poopy diapers to your appointment). If there is no blood, it's unlikely to be a milk allergy. The diet is VERY strict, so be glad if it'southward not a milk/soy allergy. From what I understand from other moms, the stool often changes color, if your kid seems content otherwise I wouldn't worry. Expert luck.

K.C.

answers from Bangor on March 18, 2008

J.,
My newborn's poop turned dark-green and runny at one point, too, and somewhen straightened itself out. I didn't change anything I ate (he is exclusively breastfed as well). From what I understand, infant poop can exist change all of the time. Hopefully your doctor tin relieve your fears!

E.P.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

Hello,

Does he have a common cold? I've found when my son (7 mo) has had a cold, his poo turns dark-green and is mucusy, from swallowing his phlegm.

E. P.

K.T.

answers from Springfield on March 18, 2008

J.
Congratulations on your piddling one! I have a 1 yo and an almost 3 yo. I recollect when my offset went through the multicolored poop phase. That is what happens when they are first using their intestines. Poop volition be greenish (brilliant and dark), orange, yellow and all sorts of colors in between- fifty-fifty if all that is going in is breast milk. The reason mainly is that their intestines are maturing- in that location is nothing wrong with your baby! The poop does non become hard and brown until they first eating food (around a year)- then don't worry most the colors or consistency.
adept luck.
Chiliad.

R.F.

answers from New London on March 18, 2008

J.,

I would definitely bring it up at his engagement. 1 of my twins, nosotros discovered, was allergic to milk. His stools became a chip more than creamy, and had fungus with some blood in them. He was also spitting up more than. They put him on soy formula and his stools were normal within ii days. Luckily, he grew out of it and he drinks regular dairy mmilk now. :)

~R.

Due south.F.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

I wouldn't worry too much unless he is having other issues like non wanting to feed or is very fussy. Address it to your doctor on thurs but effort not to worry. I have breastfed 3 kids and sometimes it just changes...information technology will prob go back back to the seedy yellow color presently.

E.L.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

Hullo J.,
My son is 4 months old and had the same problem at nigh 3 months. His poo was green and runny...I thought information technology was due to him getting also much foremilk equally well...it lasted nigh a week or and then and brought him to the md. He was fine other than the greenish poo...the doc felt his tummy and tested the poo in a dirty diaper for whatsoever blood in his stool and it came back negative. The medico said he could take have a virus that just needs to run its form and was not concerned. He did as well mention that green poo is nil to exist concerned nigh and that it is sort of a normal color...the colors to worry about are red, black or white. The other matter that happened is the poo really irritated his bum and he got pretty bad diaper rash too. Information technology did disapear after about another calendar week and his poo was back to the normal yellow. I would not be likewise concerned as it sounds similar your son is feeling fine other than the poo...it volition pass...only you will feel much better afterward his doctor has checked him out...i know i did! Expert luck!

Chiliad.D.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

Hi J.
My son had the same event. Turns out he has a severe milk allergy. He was colic though and so if your niggling one has an allergy maybey it isnt that bad. But yous really have to read the lables because milk is in everything!!!! Good Luck:)
Chiliad.

Yard.H.

answers from Boston on March xviii, 2008

Happened to my three boys when they were infants on a regular basis. I ever thought it was related to iron or something I ate. Nothing to worry nearly. I always tell my expecting girlfriends about it alee of time so it doesn't freak them out.

D.B.

answers from Burlington on March xviii, 2008

In my humble opinion, I wouldn't be besides concerned, especially since you lot are already dealing with the possible hindmilk/foremilk outcome. This happened occasionally with my son with no existent pattern, as do and so many things with babies. It would exist deplorable to cut out dairy unnecessarily when it is such an like shooting fish in a barrel source of many of the nutrients yous need right now! Delight permit us know what your pediatrician says.

S.K.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

Baby poo is mysterious and comes in many varieties. My kids have given me rainbows of colors (although all earthy) at various times and nothing has always been incorrect. If your babe is acting normal and growing I would not worry about your own eating or babe poo. I accept fifty-fifty found that frequency has varied a lot over the months equally my babies have grown (ranges for my kids from 5-6 a day to 1 every other solar day - all for the same kid!).

D.C.

answers from Providence on March xix, 2008

Hi, I had a similar state of affairs with my daughter nearly two years ago now. She started out with xanthous seedy poops at the very beginning- that didn't final long though. She became very inconsistent and once she contracted C-DIF it was all downwards hill from there. (C-DIF, by the way, is a bacterial infection in the intestines. The poops plow neon dark-green and mucusy. Information technology is very dangerous for babies to get this and very unusual since she was not on any antibiotics.) We went through a battery of tests and found she had a Whey allergy forth with some other foods. I had to put her on a special formula which broke my heart because I really wanted to nurse her. She finally started gaining weight and did bully. She at present drinks soy and rice milk. It is a little tough when they start eating tabular array food because most kid friendly foods are covered in cheese but you just demand to be creative. Information technology tin can be done. Feel free to enquire any questions. My merely potent advice would be to pursue it. My daughters medico didn't listen when I told her I, and my whole family unit, had a sensitivity to milk and could information technology exist that- nosotros waited a while and went through many unnecessary tests before finally testing for allergies. I should have been more persistant! As a new mom I didn't realize I had to be my childs phonation. God Bless

H.O.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

My judge would be the foremilk theory. It may take a calendar week to come across the change, simply just allow him nurse longer on each side before stopping to switch sides. ASk your pedi what they think about it.

W.D.

answers from Boston on March eighteen, 2008

if there'southward 1 thing I learned from having kids, is that babe poo changes a LOT! ane day it'southward yellow, the next light-green, the next who knows.. try not to worry well-nigh it. as long equally they are pooping without besides much trouble..

K.R.

answers from Portland on March 18, 2008

The aforementioned thing happened to me. I freaked when I saw that greenish poop! And it is bright green, too!

I was super engorged for 3 months. Every feeding my daughter would choke and sputter and I'd spray several feet (or directly into her heart poor darlin'). It took a good 3 weeks of nursing on one side for 3 feedings to regulate my milk but a very curt amount of time earlier I saw a departure in her diaper.

So endeavor nursing on one side for 3 feedings. You may have to pump a little on the other side to save discomfort.

Every at present and over again information technology would come up back and I'd have to revert back to the "nursing on ane side for three feedings" routine. She's 7 months at present and I'm happy to report my body finally knows what it's doing, LOL

M.Westward.

answers from Providence on March 17, 2008

Hello-
it could besides be a reflection of what you have eaten or drank...such as grape juice or berry juice or something like that. remember, the baby eats any yous eat!

T.H.

answers from Boston on March 16, 2008

don't exist too concerend. I breastfeed all three of my children and saw my share of unlike poops! ;-) You could definitely bring information technology upwards on Thursday. Besides, I'd take a dingy diaper in a ziploc just so they can exam it for claret. Sometimes it's SO minimal that information technology's not even visable to the human being heart but at least y'all'd know if information technology really was an allergy so yous don't have to go through the pain of avoiding dairy for nothing! Also, if information technology'southward non affecting his mood or temperament, then it'south probably fine. skilful luck!

S.Chiliad.

answers from Barnstable on March eighteen, 2008

This really isn't that unusual. If as you said there is no sign of infection, information technology may be simply what you are eating. When I would eat larger quantities of asparagus, spinach and the like, the babe would have green bm. If I ate beets, it would exist red to majestic. It is astonishing how not only the nutrients process through our milk, simply the colour as well! If you pump at all, yous may find that some of that milk can as well have a very stake tint or tone of blue, green, pinkish or xanthous (carrots, saffron or curry) based on what was in our diet several hours ago, even a day ago. They besides can sense of taste the seasonings we have used, such as garlic and curry.

1000.R.

answers from Boston on March xviii, 2008

Hullo J.,

I had this with i of my sons, years agone, and our pediatrician said it may take simply been his digestive organisation working at a charge per unit that produced more than bile which concluded up in his feces.He considered it inocuous. I don't know how valid that is but it was a like situation to what you're describing.

K.

Northward.A.

answers from Boston on March xviii, 2008

This happened with my kickoff kid (at present 7 yrs old) and I ended upwardly having to put her onto Goat'southward Milk formula, which I'thou not sure that you can go hither (in the USA). I don't think it's ever too soon to talk to your pediatrician about things like this and, since information technology is (understandably) causing you concern, it is proficient to run into that you're seeing her presently.

Let u.s.a. know how information technology works out. :)

B.Thou.

answers from Barnstable on March 17, 2008

I had that issue likewise before. I was told by the doctors and a certified lactation consultant that "Who cares what colour the poop is as long every bit there is poop and its not black"

I also decreased the corporeality of iron I took in. I watched the vitamins I was taking, etc. Instead of nonetheless taking my prenatal vitamins daily - I took them every other day or when I felt like it. That all seemed to assistance.

Information technology takes a little while earlier the poo changes back to normal. It took 3 weeks for my daughters to go back to the seedy mustard yellow.

If at that place is an allergy - he should have an irritation around his anus.

As far every bit feeding longer on i side than the other, that doesnt have any impact on him, merely information technology will on you. Let him drain both breasts equally. Finish one side then move on to the other (you dont want to end up "uneven" - it tin happen, trust me).

C.D.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

My son has green poo for months likewise and he is fine. I was too told it's harmless and if the babe has an allergy or another discomfort, you will know through their beliefs, fever etc. And so for me, the green poo turned out fine. It too happened to ii friends of mine and their babies are fine too...

1000.Northward.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

It sounds equally though you might have an crowd problem, especially if it is green and seems to exist explosive. Some times mothers will also see other signs if it is an oversupply problem. Does he become fussy at the breast? Do you take him off the breast and see a strong period of milk subsequently you allow down (mine used to squirt correct in my baby'due south face!) If it is an oversupply issue then breastfeeding on ane side per feeding might aid. Some women actually find that they demand to nurse on one side for a couple of feedings and so their supply will decrease enough and so their infant does not get too much at one time and only eat the foremilk. Information technology will have a couple of days to see a difference. It volition have a few days for your breasts to conform to the change in schedule then just limited (by mitt or pump if yous have one) a small-scale corporeality from the breast you are non having him nurse from so y'all are not engorged. If it is an allergy issue then you might have to wait 2 weeks to run across if there is a difference. Practiced luck! If yous have not gone to a La Leche League coming together in your area y'all might give it a try.

Fifty.D.

answers from Hartford on March 18, 2008

Hi J.,

9 years ago, my new baby male child had the verbal same thing. He ultimately was diagnosed with celiac affliction...4 yrs later. I didn't know back then that gluten does pass into the breast milk and could take very well been the crusade of his light-green seedy poo. I will never actually know (but wish I did!). So now I can merely use that hindsight to recommend at to the lowest degree trying to eliminate gluten from your diet for about ii weeks and see if that makes whatsoever departure for your baby. Gluten is a protien found in wheat, rye, barley and also a contaminat in oats. Y'all can get plenty of carbs in your diet without eating 'normal' breadstuff and pasta.
Good luck.

10.D.

answers from Boston on March 17, 2008

Exist prepared to see a lot of cool stuff in the diapers. That said, your child is very young and it can't hurt to run this by his pediatrician - I wouldn't await.

W.C.

answers from Lewiston on March 18, 2008

I found back in the 24-hour interval when I breast fed(and I had twins;-)) that their poo would change with whatever I would eat also.What goes in must come up out they told me.Hope that eases your listen some but I would address it also.Now that my girls are 21 ,I tend to mother my dog,lol simply whenever I am concerned about anything I still ask the doc!:-)

K.S.

answers from Barnstable on March xviii, 2008

J.,Light-green poo normally ways you are taking iron, grape juice or you are not feeding long plenty on one side.To get the hind milk( The cream. lack of fatty milk) many issues tin can lead to green poop. you can call your local breastfeeding middle or WIC part they usually accept a CLC you can contact. I know because I piece of work for the one on Cape Cod, MA & I'm a CLC. Then my advice would be to let the baby nurse as long as she wanted to on one side, until she came off by herself. and then burp & change diaper. try to wake her every bit much every bit you tin can by stripping her down & getting peel to pare contact with her( y'all naked from the waist up & her just in a diaper)& try to become her on the other side. But don't get all freaked if she is also sleepy to nurse on the contrary side she will the next time around. that will exist in i 1/2 hrs to two hrs like clock work. the green poops will modify to mustardy color unless y'all are doing the other things I mentioned. But call up all food goes into your babe'south stomach.
I hope this helps. Kathy

C.A.

answers from Boston on March xviii, 2008

What you said about too much foremilk in relation to hindmilk is what I accept ever heard as the major reason for green baby poop. This I take heard is from nursing too frequently. I don't know if you remember that might be the case, only I nursed on a schedule - every 2 1/three to 3 ane/2 hours, and by "also frequently" I mean every hour or then as some people find themselves doing when feeding on need. And then I know you lot said yous're feeding longer on one breast, merely maybe you should likewise look at your frequency. Good luck!

50.H.

answers from Hartford on March 18, 2008

My first question to you is the infant showing any signs of dehydration or discomfort?? If not, I would say it is not a large deal. Poop is a mysterious affair which will come in all kinds of beautiful smells and colors based on your nutrient intake.

I am not a doctor, only I would say don't sweat it!

C.Y.

answers from Boston on March 18, 2008

Hello J.,

I have breastfed 3 kids. What you're describing sounds within the realm of normal poop to me. I institute that my kids' poop varied a lot, often based on my diet, sometimes non (I nursed twins and at times their poops would vary even with the aforementioned diet.) I think you're on the right track to address this with your medico who knows the full range of normal. Congratulations on the breastfeeding.

C.

H.F.

answers from Barnstable on March eighteen, 2008

My girl was breast fed and had dark-green poop (sometimes spring dark-green!) for almost the first six months. It was related to a bad food allergy to milk, which I horribly did not sympathize until nearly viii months. Her allergy also acquired her to scream colic-similar for several hours each night from about 7 - 11 p.thousand. I think her digestion only injure, and I was inexperienced and wearied. Information technology still haunts me! Anyway, information technology is worth cutting out the milk and seeing if this works - especially if your infant is in pain. The light-green is due to her gut being unable to digest the breastmilk. Good luck!

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