What’s in your baby’s nappy?

Having a baby is a wonderful experience. Before you know it, your little bundle of joy will turn your world upside down. You’ll soon notice that your conversations with your partner (which were once deep and meaningful), will now revolve around vomit and poo. Especially poo.

Decoding your baby’s nappy can sometimes be a mystery as stools change so often. Below is a guideline that will help you decide what’s normal and what’s not.

Remember if you notice something completely out of the ordinary for your baby, rather play it safe and contact your paediatrician or clinic sister.

Black and sticky

Meconium is what your baby will pass the first few days after birth and is what lined your baby’s bowels while he was still growing in your womb. It is usually dark black and has a sticky consistency to it.

Yellow like the colour of mustard

If you are breastfeeding your baby, his stool will change from the meconium to a yellowy-mustard colour. It may even look like your baby has eaten some seeds, as the texture may appear seedy.

Your baby does not need to poo every day and can go a few days without passing a stool. As long as the texture remains soft and paste-like, your baby is unlikely to be suffering from constipation.

Hard and pellet like

This type of poo could be a sign of constipation in your baby. Before using over-the-counter laxatives (which you should never do without medical supervision), place baby on her back and move her legs in a bicycle motion to help relieve constipation. You can also massage your baby’s tummy around the navel in a clock-wise circular motion to assist in peristaltic movement.

Dark green

Instead of a yellowy-mustard colour, formula fed babies often pass a stool that is dark green in colour. This is due to the heavy iron contents found in some formulas. Your breastfed baby can also pass this type of stool if you are taking an iron supplement.

Streaks of red

Red bloody streaks can be a result of constipation. They are caused by cuts that occur when your baby is straining to push a hard poo out. If there are more than just a few streaks, or if it continues over a few nappies then contact your paediatrician or clinic sister.

Bright green

Bright green poo is usually a result of an imbalance between foremilk and hindmilk in breastfed babies. This imbalance occurs when baby feeds for short periods on each breast, which results in him receiving more foremilk than hindmilk. Feeding baby for longer on each breast will restore the balance.

Loose, watery and brown

Diarrhoea stools are watery and chunky. Diarrhoea can quickly lead to dehydration in babies, so if your newborn passes a stool that is loose and watery then it is best to contact your paediatrician or clinic sister. In bigger babies, seek medical attention if the diarrhoea lasts for longer than 24 hours. It’s important to note, that the occasional loose stool is probably nothing to worry about.

There are probably more colours and textures that are also considered normal. However, there are certain things that shouldn’t be ignored and should be observed closely;

• A bloody nappy
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Urine that has a strong smell and is darker than usual
• Excessive crying and fussiness
• A lethargic baby

Remember, your baby’s stool will automatically change once you introduce solids.