Having a child means you’ll need to pay close attention and take many precautions. And no matter how much you plan and care for every aspect of your life, it’s inevitable that some issues will arise from time to time.
Cases like colds, minor accidents, and allergies are quite common, although they cause a lot of worry for mothers and fathers. But something that can trigger real panic in those who have never seen it before is blood in the baby’s stool.
This phenomenon tends to really scare parents, leaving them anxious and fearful about what it could mean. But before you panic, it’s always important to know what it might be, what the possible causes are, and the actual level of severity of this issue. That’s why today’s article is about exactly that: What should you do when you find blood in your baby’s stool?
Is it Normal for Blood to Appear in Baby’s Stool?
It can’t be said that this is something normal and healthy, because it isn’t. However, at the same time, it isn’t the most uncommon thing to happen either, since blood in a baby’s stool can have several causes. But for your own peace of mind and to make sure your baby’s health is not at risk, the best thing to do in this situation is to see a doctor.
The problem can differ depending on factors such as whether the blood appeared only once or several times, how much blood is present, whether the baby seems to be in pain, among various other variables that can point to many causes.
Possible Causes of Blood in Baby’s Stool
As we just mentioned, blood in your baby’s stool can have many causes, the main ones being:
Anal Fissure
This usually happens when your baby starts to be introduced to more solid foods. This causes their stool to become harder and, as a result, also harder to pass, which can occasionally lead to bleeding.
In these cases, you can help your baby stay well hydrated to aid with bowel movements. Within a few days, the bleeding should stop, but if it doesn’t, you should consult a doctor to check if there’s another problem.
Food Allergy
Sometimes a baby may be allergic to certain foods, most commonly cow’s milk, more specifically to the cow’s milk protein casein. Many babies are diagnosed with this allergy before 6 months of age.
When this occurs, the baby’s body can react in a way that causes blood in their stool. In this case, any food containing cow’s milk should be completely eliminated from their diet and, if the baby is breastfeeding, should also be eliminated from the mother’s diet, as this protein can be passed through breast milk. Within a few days, the baby’s stool should return to normal.
Rotavirus Vaccine
It’s important to pay attention to the side effects that this type of vaccine may cause. Blood in the stool can last up to 90 days after the vaccine, and it’s necessary to see a doctor if you notice that the bleeding is severe.
Diaper Rash
Surprisingly, the appearance of blood in the baby’s stool can also be due to something as simple as diaper rash that worsens and leads to minor bleeding.
In this case, you can check and apply an ointment for a few days so that the rash heals. These tend to be the simplest and most easily resolved cases.
ATTENTION: It’s important to remember that only a doctor can identify the exact cause of this occurrence in your baby specifically, so it’s always vital to visit a pediatrician before giving any medication to your child.
Should I Be Concerned?
Although many mothers and fathers become extremely worried when they find blood in their baby’s stool, most cases are not emergencies and can be treated simply or may resolve on their own.
Even so, it’s understandable that a mother would be truly concerned for her child in a situation like this, especially when bleeding is involved. That’s why it is also important to be aware of the potential dangers that blood in the baby’s stool may indicate.
In more serious cases, there may be an internal hemorrhage somewhere in the child’s digestive tract, usually in the intestine, which can cause a certain amount of suffering. You might suspect this if bloody stools are accompanied by vomiting, swelling in the abdominal area, and fever.
To make a definite diagnosis, some tests, such as an abdominal X-ray, are necessary. A doctor will determine whether the case is serious or not and may even recommend surgery for the baby.
Concern and even panic are common when something out of the ordinary happens to our children, especially when it’s a baby. But it’s important to remain calm, both to convey reassurance to the child and to better understand the situation and decide on the best course of action.
Although there can be extreme cases, as mentioned here, most of the time when a mother finds blood in her baby’s stool it is due to a mild issue that can be resolved within a few days. So stay calm and always keep seeking more information about babies’ health. That will benefit you and, consequently, your child as well.
