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Suggest Remedies For Green Stools In An Infant
Question: I have a 3 week old daughter.She has started passing green colour loose stools since yesterday night.The frequency was less till today evening. She is drinking milk regularly with breast feeding and lactose bottle feed.We showed her to our family paediatrician. He has prescribed Enterogermina and colicaid drops.We have given Enterogermina two sachets today of 5ml each.Today there have been three times loose green stools.We are extremely worried as to when this will turn normal.She wants milk regularly and can't control hunger.
Brief Answer:
Please continue to breastfeed. Nothing else needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
Let me assure you that for an exclusively breast-fed child of this age it is absolutely normal to pass stool several times a day, even after each feed.
The consistency and color does not matter (so long as it is not hard and pellet like). It is also normal if the child passes stool once in 10 days. The color can vary too. Greenish discoloration is due to rapid transit through the large intestine where the the color of the bile pigments do not get enough time to get converted to the yellow color of stool.
All these are normal variations in a child of this age and all you need to do is to continue to give breast feeding and nothing else. You need to monitor the frequency of passage of urine. If she passes urine more than 6 times within 24 hours, her hydration is normal and things are fine.
If the frequency comes down, it is a warning sign but all you need to do is to give increased amount of breast feeding. It is a good sign that she wants to feed more. That is a symbol of health.
You can continue to give Enterogermina. It contains beneficial bacteria.
However it is not essential to be given. Give Colicaid only if she has an unexplained cry.
Do not worry. Feel free to revert back in case of further queries.
Regards
Please continue to breastfeed. Nothing else needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
Let me assure you that for an exclusively breast-fed child of this age it is absolutely normal to pass stool several times a day, even after each feed.
The consistency and color does not matter (so long as it is not hard and pellet like). It is also normal if the child passes stool once in 10 days. The color can vary too. Greenish discoloration is due to rapid transit through the large intestine where the the color of the bile pigments do not get enough time to get converted to the yellow color of stool.
All these are normal variations in a child of this age and all you need to do is to continue to give breast feeding and nothing else. You need to monitor the frequency of passage of urine. If she passes urine more than 6 times within 24 hours, her hydration is normal and things are fine.
If the frequency comes down, it is a warning sign but all you need to do is to give increased amount of breast feeding. It is a good sign that she wants to feed more. That is a symbol of health.
You can continue to give Enterogermina. It contains beneficial bacteria.
However it is not essential to be given. Give Colicaid only if she has an unexplained cry.
Do not worry. Feel free to revert back in case of further queries.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
But if she passes green loose motions then wont she be dehydrated? Secondly she is demanding milk and urinating,milk and urinating. This cycle is not breaking up only.She hardly sleeps for an hour.Why is she suddenly urinating so much.We have now put her a diaper.
Kindly advise.
XXXX
Kindly advise.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Please be patient
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
The primary sign of dehydration is reduction in frequency and amount of urine. Since that is not the case you need not worry. Breast milk is the source of her hydration and would take care of things. The increased amount of feeding and urinating is in order to make up for the lost fluids and salts. You need not worry. I understand that it creates additional exertion on the mother when she does not sleep and keeps feeding but the situation should be back to normal soon.
You can always get back to me with further query.
Regards
Please be patient
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
The primary sign of dehydration is reduction in frequency and amount of urine. Since that is not the case you need not worry. Breast milk is the source of her hydration and would take care of things. The increased amount of feeding and urinating is in order to make up for the lost fluids and salts. You need not worry. I understand that it creates additional exertion on the mother when she does not sleep and keeps feeding but the situation should be back to normal soon.
You can always get back to me with further query.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
Thanks for the reply.
Actually we were giving her breast milk but sometimes that is not satisfying her hunger so in addition to that we are giving lactose formula one. But yesterday doctor has advised not to use bottle while feeding.What is the reason for this?If milk is not coming sufficiently in breasts then we have to give lactose formula.We are wondering as to how she is demanding so much milk when her tummy is so small.
Actually we were giving her breast milk but sometimes that is not satisfying her hunger so in addition to that we are giving lactose formula one. But yesterday doctor has advised not to use bottle while feeding.What is the reason for this?If milk is not coming sufficiently in breasts then we have to give lactose formula.We are wondering as to how she is demanding so much milk when her tummy is so small.
Brief Answer:
Refrain from external feeds even if they are lactose free
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back again. I would insist you to keep her exclusively on breast milk. The production of breast milk varies according to the demand of the baby. So if the baby is hungry, atuomatically breast milk will come as required. Unless the urine frequency comes down, you need not bother. When the doctor asked not to give bottle feed, he probably had any top feed in mind. They increase the propensity to get an infection. So, I would insist you to refrain from giving even the lactose (-free) formula that you mention. Do not worry about the demand of the baby. The mother's body will take care of it.
Regards
Refrain from external feeds even if they are lactose free
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back again. I would insist you to keep her exclusively on breast milk. The production of breast milk varies according to the demand of the baby. So if the baby is hungry, atuomatically breast milk will come as required. Unless the urine frequency comes down, you need not bother. When the doctor asked not to give bottle feed, he probably had any top feed in mind. They increase the propensity to get an infection. So, I would insist you to refrain from giving even the lactose (-free) formula that you mention. Do not worry about the demand of the baby. The mother's body will take care of it.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
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