When I was a first-time mom, I often doubted how to care for a baby. How many times did I find myself sniffing a dirty diaper to check if everything was okay!
The odor can help, but even better than this “tactic” is the color of the baby’s poop and the consistency it has. So let’s put aside the squeamishness and get down to business! Baby poop can make a mother worried, whether because of its color or even the lack of it. But how should you care for a baby who has some change in their stool?
Baby’s First Poop
Well, first of all, we should know that the baby’s first poop is called meconium, and this meconium can be very dark in color, almost black. Meconium is formed by the accumulation of fluid the baby swallows while still in the womb, so this poop tends to be darker than the ones that will come with the introduction of breast milk or infant formula1.
The color and texture of the meconium will change and make way for newborn poop, which may also vary depending on whether the baby is exclusively breastfed, receives breast milk with formula supplement, or only formula.
And When It’s Not Meconium Anymore?
A baby who is exclusively breastfed may have poop that is more yellowish in color. This means the fat received from the mother’s breast is being properly processed by the baby’s body.
But breastfed babies can also have greenish stools. That’s because, right after birth, there can still be some residual meconium and this may affect stool color. Breastfed babies can also have more liquid stools, but that does not mean there is a problem. On the contrary, it means the baby’s intestinal transit is working as it should, and over time things will normalize.
The stools of a baby who consumes formula can be more greenish in color and appearance (not so green, more like an avocado color), and may also have white lumps mixed in, as well as a more brownish color2.
Additionally, babies on formula also tend to have drier stools, which is why it’s important to talk to the pediatrician about formulas that facilitate intestinal transit, such as those like Nan Comfort or Aptamil on the market.
Babies fed exclusively with formula can often experience more colic. It can also happen that the poop gets stuck and the baby becomes constipated because formula is heavier than breast milk.
Help for Constipation
For babies with constipation, it is also worth talking to the pediatrician about techniques and measures to help them have a bowel movement3. One technique I learned when I was in the maternity ward, recommended by a specialized nurse, is the cotton swab technique. For this you will need two things:
- Cotton swab
- Baby oil
Only use this technique if you are confident you won’t hurt the baby. Moisten the cotton swab with baby oil and also apply a bit of oil to the baby’s anus. Then gently massage in circular motions around the baby’s anus and, very delicately, insert the tip of the swab into the opening, making circular movements.
This stimulates the anal muscle to push the stool out of the intestine. It always works and is much better than the suppositories sold in pharmacies.
Stool Color
It is very important to know that baby poop color is not a rule, not even meconium. However, it serves as a guideline to know if everything is okay. Other aspects, like the smell, should also be considered. Usually, the odor of a breastfed baby’s stool is sweeter and less intense than that of a baby who gets formula supplement.
The only exception is the presence of blood in the stool. This may indicate an injury in the baby’s anus or intestines, but it can also mean an infection by bacteria. Therefore, it’s very important to report this to the pediatrician.
Very loose or very foamy stools should also be reported to the pediatrician, as they may indicate an allergy to milk protein or lactose intolerance, or even excess protein in the mother’s milk. Babies with more colic also tend to have greener stools, when the normal would be a more ochre color.
Usually, newborn babies tend to poop with each diaper change, whether it is meconium or not, and this always happens – trust me! This is even better because babies who are lazy to nurse may stay awake longer with a diaper change. But caring for a baby means lots of diaper changes. So since we’re talking about poop, shall we take a look?
For changing diapers, just gather everything you need: diapers, cotton or wet wipes, and also diaper rash cream or cornstarch. For girls, it’s important to always clean from front to back and for boys, don’t forget to clean under the scrotum.
You should also decide whether you prefer wet wipes or if you’ll use cotton with warm water. Ideally, always keep both on hand because you never know which will be better when it’s time to clean up poop. Having everything ready helps a lot when you’re learning how to care for a baby, and that first diaper change with poop can be quite an adventure! Try capturing that moment.
Over time, learning how to care for a baby can become easier. The fear goes away with experience. If you have any home remedy or trick to help constipated babies poop, just leave it in the comments as it can really help other moms.
