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Pooping
In the newborn, normal bowel movements are usually soft, yellow, seedy looking, and frequent. As they get older, the frequencies of bowel movement can be very different in babies. Normal frequencies can range from a bowel movement after every meal to one every other day. All babies strain, fuss, and make faces with a bowel movement--it's normal. Do not be concerned by this. Below you'll find some information on the different types and appearances of a stool. You probably didn't realize there was such a wide variety. As a connoisseur of poop you'll....nevermind.
| What You Might See |
When You Might See It |
Pediatricians Call This Poop |
green or black, tar-like, and sticky |
first couple stools |
Meconium |
greenish-yellow or brown grainy and/or seedy |
around the 3rd or 4th day after birth |
Transitional stools |
range from light yellow to bright green, very loose and runny, curdy, mustard-like, lumps, seeds, creamy, and gelatin-like |
in breast fed babies around the 5th day after birth |
Breastfed stools |
light brownish, slightly formed |
around the 5th day after birth |
Bottlefed stools |
loose, watery stools (frequently occurring) |
in any bowel infection, some colds, food or formula intolerance, and/or anxiety |
Diarrhea |
hard, pellet-like stool (passed with difficulty), may be blood or mucous streaked |
if no bowel movement has occurred in two days or longer |
Constipation |
black stools |
after giving iron-fortified formula or iron supplements |
Iron stools |
light or dark red blood-streaked stools |
possibly if your baby is constipated see below for more details |
Bloody stools |
clear or yellowish mucousy stools |
intestinal infections or irritations |
Mucus stools |
anywhere from bright yellow to dark green |
most of the time |
Normal stools |
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