Newborn

Recognize and understand the discharges of newborns, the images to understand

The discharge of newborns varies greatly in appearance depending on the type of breastfeeding, the presence of colic, age and, during weaning, the type of food they eat.

As a mother I can tell you that more than once I have been dumbfounded in front of my children’s discharges. And I resorted to books to understand if they had a “normal” appearance. In the books, however, there is usually a more or less detailed description, which is however difficult to translate into reality.

The feces vary according to the age of the child and the type of feeding.

In the first 2-3 days of life, evacuations cannot be considered faeces in the true sense of the term. They are in fact made up of meconium , a brown-green-black material that contains amniotic fluid, bile, cells and intestinal secretions.

As the baby begins to breastfeed, the meconium is replaced by transitional stools. They are greenish-yellow in color as they are composed of residual meconium and food residues.

After the first week of life the ” milk stools ” begin to appear in which lumps of milk due to casein clots can be seen. These feces unlike meconium contain bacteria in quantity. The texture and appearance depend on whether the baby is breastfed or bottle fed.

In the first 2 weeks the discharges are very frequent and occur with every meal .

The feces of the breastfed baby

They are golden yellow in colour, creamy with clear lumps and a sour smell. The child discharges 2-4 times a day and is never constipated.

The feces of the bottle-fed baby

They are pale yellow to tan in color. They have a firmer texture and a more intense smell. The discharges are less frequent and sometimes the child produces feces so hard that it is difficult to expel them.

Pictures

If you want to see images of the various discharges of newborns, both normal and those that indicate more or less pathological situations (diarrhea, constipation, colic, etc.), read the visual guide of the newborn’s stools or consult the diagram with the color  of the stools of the newborn .

Of course you can also choose to read only the descriptions without viewing the photos!

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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