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OT-Baby stool
Ok, this doesn't pertain to pregnancy or anything at all but this forum has the highest traffic amount. We recently switched Kylie over to formula from being EBF, and today when I changed her diaper I noticed her stool was weird. It was super thick, and blackish. I've never seen it before from her, and have no idea what could have caused it. She's not acting funny or anything, so I don't know if it warrants calling a doctor or what. Does anyone else have any opinions?
Lexi's stools were gray on the good start and then when we switched to GS Soy it was also, and it constipated her so bad. Shortly after that her stools turned black. I had to switch her formula again until I found something that agreed with her. She's on Alimentum now and is having horrid constipation due to her reflux and the addition of rice cereal to every bottle. You may just have to play around until you find a formula that agrees with her tummy.
I'm just worried something more could be wrong (dratted google!!!) I read something how gray bowel movements can mean poor absorption or gallbladder problems..... But she's never had problems before we put her on this so it can't be that. We'll finish the rest of this can and see what happens. She's gone through around 1 and a half so far.
It could be, but I would wait a bit before changing to a different one. I really really love GoodStart, but I would personally highly recommend the Natural Cultures (I think they renamed it Protect Plus..it's the one int he green can)- it's reputed to be the closest formula to breastmilk according to research, and I've used it religiously with both of my babies. They've both had very very few digestive issues and very good health, and I really do attribute that to the fact that they've been on GS.
Ok, so she had another diaper similar today. Super thick like peanut butter again, but slate gray in colour. I'm starting to think it's the formula change. It started when we switched her over. Is it possible it's just not agreeing with her?
We have something they call "Hard Water" I don't know what makes it hard, but I think it's good.
We are usinggggg....-runs to grab can- Gerber Good start Gentle. She's been on Similac and a few others in the past and they upset her belly horribly---screaming all night, gas, spitting up lots, etc. I do see the positives, and I must admit it's really nice to not have to be the only one to feed her. Plus when I feel sick I don't have to, and when we go out we don't have to worry. It just drives me crazy as well. I think it made me lazy. ;P
eh...I always used tap water or filtered water with my kids, but we have really good water here. Well water makes me a little twitchy, and some city water I definitely would not use - but now that Grey is almost 10 months he uses whatever water we have at hand...it really does bolster their immune system without breaking it, IMO.
Switching to formula is tough...and there are a lot of complications involved...but try to focus on the good things....you know exactly how much she is getting, so when you start solids it will be easier to measure...hmm...imagine the first night that she holds her own bottle and you can simply lie there and relax while she nom-noms....aaaand....now family members can take her for a few hours without worrying about pumping or breastmilk - you don't have to stress if you end up in the hospital again.
I know it's tough and there really aren't that many pluses to quitting breastfeeding, but try to focus on the good things that ARE there. what formula did you choose, if you don't mind me asking? and the reason I mentioned the iron earlier - iron can cause dark stools, blackish in color, and it can DEFINITELY cause constipation.
Switching to formula is tough...and there are a lot of complications involved...but try to focus on the good things....you know exactly how much she is getting, so when you start solids it will be easier to measure...hmm...imagine the first night that she holds her own bottle and you can simply lie there and relax while she nom-noms....aaaand....now family members can take her for a few hours without worrying about pumping or breastmilk - you don't have to stress if you end up in the hospital again.
I know it's tough and there really aren't that many pluses to quitting breastfeeding, but try to focus on the good things that ARE there. what formula did you choose, if you don't mind me asking? and the reason I mentioned the iron earlier - iron can cause dark stools, blackish in color, and it can DEFINITELY cause constipation.
So far she's taking it really well. I think she understood that she had no choice in the hospital when I wouldn't nurse her no matter how hard she tried, that she HAD to take the formula. Formula is so much more stressful though. I hate this measuring and counting, and you have to use a certain amount of water, a certain type of water (apparently you can't use well water or certain city waters??)....then there's recalls, added things, ugh. It's a headache. I knew she was getting what she needed from my body, and it was the right amount and type. Now we have to keep trying things to suit her body and everything else.
my doctor told me there is nothing to do with color. means its okay whatever the color is.
and r u giving iron one that makes odor and constipation. breast milk is way thinner that formula. how did she respond for formula because my daughter never took a sip
and r u giving iron one that makes odor and constipation. breast milk is way thinner that formula. how did she respond for formula because my daughter never took a sip
I've always been under the impression that constipation is hard and pellet like. She doesn't strain, she goes once a day or every other day which is her normal, and it does resemble peanut butter--just dark and nasty looking. I'll ask her doctor. We just switched, so they've not had a chance to see her yet.
Lexi's is dark green and thick. I was told peanut butter consistancy is constipation.
It's not necessarily extra iron. It's just fortified with iron and can cause constipation. I know for me, I eat plenty of meat and get plenty of iron naturally, but give me a vitamin with iron in it and it is sure to constipate me. My prenatals have a stool softener in them to help counteract the iron.
With one of my babies, I used Enfamil and they used to have a low iron version. It was hard to find sometimes, but that's what I used. I don't know how much solids you are giving Kylie, but try giving her fruits/veggies that will help her go...I mean maybe help counteract the iron that her body isn't used to. Peaches are a good one as far as fruits. So is prunes, but that one might be a bit harder to get down her :) Most any veggies will help her go though. They say to only introduce one new solid per week, so that if there happens to be a food allergy, you will be able to pinpoint what it is.
I would really watch her stools as far as frequency and consistency.
With one of my babies, I used Enfamil and they used to have a low iron version. It was hard to find sometimes, but that's what I used. I don't know how much solids you are giving Kylie, but try giving her fruits/veggies that will help her go...I mean maybe help counteract the iron that her body isn't used to. Peaches are a good one as far as fruits. So is prunes, but that one might be a bit harder to get down her :) Most any veggies will help her go though. They say to only introduce one new solid per week, so that if there happens to be a food allergy, you will be able to pinpoint what it is.
I would really watch her stools as far as frequency and consistency.
omg the same happen to my baby girl and from that it went to constipation , and so worry case now she crys alot and dont want to eat as much and her poo was so hard like an adult hard im going crazy and nobody here to help me (my husband is in america for work, and my parents live in romania) im israel and we had last night independes day so nobody work today including her doctor or any doctor for baby just the hospital but my car broke down and i have to wait for to more to get to her doctor case i can walk there , so my advice just call and see what u can do about it case it get worse my baby was full breast feed in till last week and for 4 day s from the day i star only formula her poo got only worse and now she crys so bad when she has to go or just when she trys too , any way i will tell u what the doctor says tomorrow
I put my baby on formula at 5 months and her BM definatly changed, thicker, color change, increased smell, but that was just because it was a change in food, just like it changes when they start solids. I would just monitor her and if she seems OK and is acting normal I wouldnt worry, she will take a bit to get use to the formula
Should be similar to peanut butter consistency! It shouldn't be black, though. I would call if the poo continues to be black. Black stools could mean blood.
I'd have to check. How would I know if it has extra iron? (I feel so ignorant about this, but I've never used formula before) I'll check to see if she has more similar ones or if they change and then if they're the same I'll call and get her taken in.
I would just watch the stool. You will def notice much more of an odor w/ formula than breast milk, as far as the stool goes. I would also watch for constipation. There is a lot of iron in formula and when I had to switch to formula for any of my kids, I ALWAYS had trouble w/ constipation from the iron.
Probably normal then...I'd wait and see how her next stools turn out, they should get lighter over time. Obviously if she acts different or seems in pain that's a different story, but my kids' poos have been every color of the rainbow before and it can be totally normal with formula, which is so WEIRD considering it's pretty much standard with every single bottle. It can depend on the water, as well.
Does the formula have extra iron in it? that can darken/blacken baby stool for sure.
Does the formula have extra iron in it? that can darken/blacken baby stool for sure.
It was like greenish black and similar to a peanut butter consistency. She's not acting weird at all, and seems to be normal.
Well I'd say a call to the doctor couldn't hurt. Her stools will definitely be thicker and goopier now, if that makes sense, but as for the color...."normal" varies from baby to baby on formula, just like with breastmilk, so if it seems odd you can always call to be sure. You could wait and see how her next stool turns out though. Was it black black or just kinda dark greenish black?
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