First time mum, poo advice

[yeknomyeknom]

Hi all, sorry the subject is a little graphic. My 10 week old (exclusively breast fed) baby has had dark green nappies with mucous for over 2 weeks. I know baby poo can be runny but I would still say this is diarreah. He has poo in nearly every nappy change. He seems happy and normal in the day (no temperature), but always wakes in the night with extreme grunting until I give in at 5.30 and help him out by taking his nappy off, and raising his legs, to get all the bad stuff out. I have been to the doctor 3 times to ask about this. First was brushed off, second was told to submit baby stool sample, third was referred to a paediatrician. Problem is, the lab technician is on holiday so sample will take 5 wks!!! And apparently a pediatrician appointment will take even longer. This seems a long time to let baby suffer. I gave up dairy 2 days ago to see if that helps. Anyone else experienced this? Anyone know any local paediatricians that work privately?

[Fuschia]

How is his feeding, your supply, is he generally settled?

This mIght be useful

http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/lactose-intolerance/

[yeknomyeknom]

Thanks. I believe I may have an oversupply so feed for about 3 feeds on one side at a time but this doesn't seem to help. I think it's oversupply as baby sometimes gulps and chokes or bobs around. Block feeding seems to help this a bit, but no change in the poo.

[Saffron]

We had lots of "poo issues" from early days with Little Saff, to the point where the midwife sent us to the A&E b/c that's the fastest way to be seen by a paediatric specialist. After extensive examination, including checking bloods and electrolytes, everything came back fine. The Paeds consultant said that there is huge variability in breastfed babies' poos. Basically, he said that all things being equal (ie, no fever, bloods ok, etc) that it's normal for the poo to vary a great deal, even within the same baby over time, and that grunting and straining were good signs that Baby's intestines are doing their job.

Later (around 2 months old), when the HV thought we had supply issues (we didn't), and she was unhappy with Little Saff's weight gain (it was fine!), we saw a private paeds consultant: http://www.harleystreetpaediatricgroup.com/dr-jack-singer.html . It was very reassuring, but not cheap.

Have you tried taking a probiotic supplement yourself? The refrigerated probiotic capsules will have the most concentrated formulation. The health shop on LL probably has these or something similar.

Some people think reducing tannins in the diet helps. Foods like red wine, choc, and tea are high in tannins. (Personally I never found and difference, though my friend swears by it.)

Have you spoken to a lactation consultant? (They are often as knowledgable about what comes out as what goes in!) You might be able to get a phone consultation with someone at Kings. You can also call NHS direct: 0845 46 47. Tell them you're concerned about the waiting time and ask for specific interim advice. xx

[WorkingMummy]

Feel for you as like Saffron we had this with our first and it is a real concern I know. We too were ultimately told by the paediatrician not to worry. I remember him telling us that "all poo is good poo" unless it is white or black or has any sign of red (ie blood) in it. Green, yellow, brown, thick, thin, smooth, bitty, all good. Just as long as it comes out!

Paying money for peace of mind is often well worth it. But I'd say wait, if you can bear it, for the feedback you get from NHS lab first and in the meantime take the cheaper alternatives Saffron suggests (which is often exactly the kind of thing a consultant physician is not best placed to help you with).

[Bouncy]

Hmmm, mine's was often like that too...all the way through until he went on to solids. I remember reading that it could be an indication that he could be getting too much fore- rather than hind milk? - but who knows really! He also had reflux and was very grunty at night, just seeming very uncomfortable...not sure how helpful that is as a comment though? - but maybe worth reading up on reflux to see if that offers any clues??

[WorkingMummy]

I'd say, if feeding one side three feeds in a row, unlikely to be getting too much fore. But agree, who knows?

[yeknomyeknom]

Thanks everyone, I feel a bit better. Perhaps I should just ride it out. To try and help bubs I have tried everything going, fennel tea, mint tea, infacol, gripe, giving up dairy, drinking unfiltered apple juice, taking magnesium citrate. Not all at once :)

I'm going to add probiotics into the mix, thanks Saffron.

[squash]

We (and nearly all my mummy friends in the area) went through something similar in October last year when my daughter was 4.5 months old. She was absolutely fine in herself - eating and sleeping well, no temperature and generally very happy. But she suddenly started pooing 10 or so times during the day and all her poos were greenish with mucus and extremely liquidy (we went through A LOT of nappies and did A LOT of washing!). The doctors told us all that there was something going round in the area and that, since our babies were well otherwise, not to worry. With my daughter, it passed after 3 weeks. But for a while, all we could talk about was whether our little ones had caught "the green poo" thing!

[shaunag]

Don't want to confuse things but our lo is dairy and soy allergic. She is 2 now, but it took until she was 3 months old for the dairy allergy to be diagnosed. While they are testing the stool ask them to check for calprotectin which is a protein they might find an abundance of if your baby has a gut allergy to something you are eating and baby is getting through the milk. Have heard green poo indicative of too much fore milk, but the mucous raises alarm bells with me as this is what happens when my lo has accidentally had some soy. There is a bug going around but that should clear up in 10 days or so.gps are not that hot on gut allergies, so if it persists this is something I would raise with gp and ask to see a paeds gastroenterologist at kings. I was told straining for several hours on end (mine would strain for up to four) is a symptom of gut allergy. Hope it's just a bug but wouldnt want u to struggle for as long as I did.

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