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What Causes Loose Stools In A Breast Feeding Baby?

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Posted on Fri, 13 Jun 2014
Question: My 3 month old son is having watery stools from past 11days.stool test showed normal. He keeps passing little quantity for around 10 to 13 times.he is very active and there's no sign of any uncomfortable feeling in him. Also he is trying to turn on his stomach. Do these changes in their body lead to loose stools. My doc prescribed pro biotic (bifilac) gave it for 8 days bt no help.then he gave him taxim o n today is the 3rd day bt dnt see any change. Pls help. I have stopped formula which i used to give him once a day n now m completely breastfeeding him.he is passing his urine normally around 10 times or more a day
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Physiological or fore milk diarrhea

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
I think whatever you are describing is normal physiological finding in a 3month old kid. What all you and your kid need is a good scientific explanation for whatever is happening. Sometimes in a breast fed baby what happens, the baby feeds only at the milk which comes out during initial part of feeding and doesn't try to feed till the particular breast is empty. This is called fore milk and it contains more amount of sugar and less amount of fat. This might cause diarrhea called osmotic diarrhea in the baby.

Will further alley your fears by explaining you about when you need to worry. Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhea.

I am very happy as you have already mentioned in your query that he is very active and doesn't have any uncomfortable feeling. This means the stool [patten he is having is not bothering him and its physiological.

I suggest you do the following -
1. Stop antibiotic - Taxim-O or Cefixime.
2. Stop using probiotic - Bifilac
3. Feed him with only your exclusive breast feed.
4. Watch of danger signs of dehydration and diarrhea as mentioned above in the 2nd paragraph.
5. If the kid is active, playful and his usual self and gaining weight well, you should not be concerned about the stool consistency or the frequency.

Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your baby good health and a bright future.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (17 minutes later)
Lot of people are telling me that since he us trying to turn its coz of that also people are saying that babies who do not pass stool properly in the first months do it after few months. My son did not pass stool so much until now.also I forgot to mention that my son's delivery happened in XXXXXXX n now i have come to XXXXXXX XXXXXXX is the change in place n weather be the cause.do i need to restrict my diet. He was 5kgs during his 2n a half month vaccine n recently wen i checked on 15th may he was 5.125 kgs
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Its a proof that its physiological

Detailed Answer:
hi...thank you for the trust in me. I have these suggestions for your queries -
1. What you say as others telling you doesn't have a scientific basis. But he positive point in it which you should perceive is that, even that advice (though not scientific) is assuring you that its physiological and nothing need to be worried about it.
2. Regarding his weight, I would like to know his birth and his exact date of birth, so that I can reassure you more professionally regarding his weight gain. Even now I can reassure you that a 3 month old with 5.125kg is normal.
3. Change of place and weather doesn't bring about the changes in his bowel pattern.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. Wish your baby good health and a bright future.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (21 minutes later)
His birth weight was 3.25 kgs n he was born on 22nd Feb. The doc i showed said its a viral. Am very confused and dnt know what to do.should i just wait for it to go down because b4 i came to XXXXXXX he was passing motion every alternate day.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You can just wait

Detailed Answer:
Hi... I have just calculated your kid's weight centile and it is at 5th centile. According to CDC growth standards, anything form 5th to 95th centile is normal. So its reassuring to see him in the normal range. If he is active and feeding well and voiding urine normally and playful, I assure you not to worry. You can just wait and have a monthly weight check with your paediatrician and plot it on the growth charts of the CDC or WHO which are freely available on the web for download.
No need for confusions and I am again reassuring you to wait for a month and get his weight checked and plotted.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. Wish your baby good health and a bright future.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 8339 Questions

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What Causes Loose Stools In A Breast Feeding Baby?

Brief Answer: Physiological or fore milk diarrhea Detailed Answer: Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic. I think whatever you are describing is normal physiological finding in a 3month old kid. What all you and your kid need is a good scientific explanation for whatever is happening. Sometimes in a breast fed baby what happens, the baby feeds only at the milk which comes out during initial part of feeding and doesn't try to feed till the particular breast is empty. This is called fore milk and it contains more amount of sugar and less amount of fat. This might cause diarrhea called osmotic diarrhea in the baby. Will further alley your fears by explaining you about when you need to worry. Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhea. I am very happy as you have already mentioned in your query that he is very active and doesn't have any uncomfortable feeling. This means the stool [patten he is having is not bothering him and its physiological. I suggest you do the following - 1. Stop antibiotic - Taxim-O or Cefixime. 2. Stop using probiotic - Bifilac 3. Feed him with only your exclusive breast feed. 4. Watch of danger signs of dehydration and diarrhea as mentioned above in the 2nd paragraph. 5. If the kid is active, playful and his usual self and gaining weight well, you should not be concerned about the stool consistency or the frequency. Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your baby good health and a bright future. Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,