Can Breastfeeding Cause Diarrhea In An Infant?

Posted on Tue, 4 Sep 2018

Question: My baby is 11days old. Today since afternoon looks like she is having trouble in her tummy. She is having feed for very long durations and doing potty in between of feed itslf. she had feed from 3pm for almost 2hrs with 10-15min breaks in between. She cried a lot. Then i made her sleep on my bare chest for sometime. Evening again she had such long feed. Now night she is having my feed since 2.5hrs with 10-20min breaks. But everything she consumes, she does potty in sometime and her tummy looks empty. We also tried giving her formula milk. But she had it very lil, rest all she just didn't swallow. I had palak paneer and moong dal khichdi in lunch today. In breakfast i had methi paratha and milk XXXXXXX I also had lil amount daal soup with lots of ginger and garlic in it. Pls suggest what can i do now and what could b wrong with her small stomach! Even i am also passing too too much of gas since afternoon.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Don't worry, observe for any significant abnormal symptoms

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I have gone through the query and do understand your concern.
Change in pattern of stool is very common in this age. This is due to gastrocolic reflex which is a normal phenomenon. Here baby passes the stool just after having a feed.

I suggest you not to eat too much garlic as it can produce gas. You should be very careful about your diet as it may cause abdominal discomfort and indigestion in baby also. Avoid spices, garlic, cabbage, fried items, peas and other gas forming items. Take food rich in protein with plenty of fluids.

I won't get worried if the baby is passing urine well and there is no vomiting or abdominal distension. You may give anticolic medicine like Coaid or Colicaid drop for one or two days fir symptomatic relief. Continue giving breast feed and burp properly after each feed.

Regards,
Dr. Pradeep Kumar,
Pediatrician, Cardiology

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar