Brief Answer:
Gastrocolic reflex normal in babies & may make them pass stool after feeds

Detailed Answer:

Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through the details provided by you. Let me mention that there is a phenomenon called gastrocolic reflex which may make the child pass stool after each feed. It is normal and not a cause of concern. Let me also mention that in case of a child of this age, passing stool 10 times a day is as normal as passing stool once in 10 days and in either case, there is nothing to worry about. Breast milk is the best possible food for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Normally, breast fed babies rarely develop diarrhoea. But if you feel that diarrhoea has occurred, all you need to do is to increase the amount of breast feeding. The adequacy of the feeds would be indicated through the frequency of passage of urine. If the child is passing urine at least 6 times over a period of 24 hours, rest assured that there is nothing to worry. Had the child been on formula milk, replenishment with oral rehydration solution (ORS) would have been suggested. But breast milk is an even better option compared to ORS and hence breast milk should definitely be continued rather than being discontinued.

If I had a patient like that of your child, I would have probably not opted for antibiotics or Zerolac. Lactose intolerance is a widely abused diagnosis that makes many mothers unnecessarily give up breast feeding and I would strictly advise against that. Exclusive breast feeding should be continued upto 6 months of age.

As I mentioned, the phenomenon of gastrocolic reflex is normal and hence I am not commenting upon when it would stop. It may go on for sometime but it gradually comes down with increase in age. If you feel that the stool is loose, you would have to simply increase the amount of breast feeding.

Periodic monitoring of weight of the baby needs to be done and plotted on a growth chart in order to determine whether your child is growing fine. The rate of gaining weight is more important than the weight itself. It is only if the growth is not upto the mark, the diagnoses like malnutrition and lactose intolerance need to be kept in consideration.

Hope that helps

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Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das

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Brief Answer:
Things seem normal to me

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

I have gone carefully through the details provided. It does not seem bothersome to me. There are a number of types of stool that are considered normal for a child of this age. What you have described is quite acceptable.

During lactose intolerance, reducing substances are found in stool. But presence of reducing substance, that too in trace amounts, just indicates some amount of undigested food material in stool. It does not indicate lactose intolerance. The picture goes well with the consistency of stool that you have described. I would not worry about it.

Had the number of pus cells been 8-10 or higher, I would have considered an infection. If your baby had an infection, the pus cell count would have been higher than that in the report. So, I would not worry about that either.

Not passing stool if sleeping, is acceptable too.

In short, I would simply encourage you to continue breast feeding. You can increase the frequency if you feel that the stool is loose. But nothing else needs to be done.

Hope that helps.

If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das

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