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What Causes Passing Green Colored Stools?
Question: My four-month old son is passing green-color stools from the time he was born. Because of my medical condition, I was unable to breast-feed him. So he is formula-fed (Lactogen) from birth. He passes stools once in a day and does not have any other problem. I am worried. Please advice
Brief Answer:
This is normal
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on healthcaremagic. Congratulations on having a baby. Let me mention that for a baby passing stool 10 times is equally normal as passing stool once in 10 days and you need not worry unless it is hard in consistency. For the initial few days after birth, the child passes a dark green tarry substance called meconium. It is followed by normal stools after a transition of a few more days. Greenish stools is normal and occurs due to rapid transit through the large bowels where the green pigments are otherwise supposed to be converted into the yellow one that normally colours our stool. It is not a cause of concern. The baby is otherwise doing fine and you need not worry.
This is normal
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on healthcaremagic. Congratulations on having a baby. Let me mention that for a baby passing stool 10 times is equally normal as passing stool once in 10 days and you need not worry unless it is hard in consistency. For the initial few days after birth, the child passes a dark green tarry substance called meconium. It is followed by normal stools after a transition of a few more days. Greenish stools is normal and occurs due to rapid transit through the large bowels where the green pigments are otherwise supposed to be converted into the yellow one that normally colours our stool. It is not a cause of concern. The baby is otherwise doing fine and you need not worry.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thanks Doctor for the review...but what really is worrying me to death is that from last 4 months he is passing the same kind of stools (green-coloured). When we consulted his regular pediatrician, he said this is normal and as long as baby does not have fever, we need not worry....But is it okay if an infant passes this kind of poop continuously for 4 months? Please assure me on this Doctor...A worried mother
Brief Answer:
Nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
Let me assure you that it is absolutely fine if such greenish stools keep continuing for 4 months or more. Consider it as the nature of his stools. You need not worry about it at all. You will also see a change in the nature of stool when the nature of food items is varied as would happen soon after when the baby is weaned to semi solids.
Nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
Let me assure you that it is absolutely fine if such greenish stools keep continuing for 4 months or more. Consider it as the nature of his stools. You need not worry about it at all. You will also see a change in the nature of stool when the nature of food items is varied as would happen soon after when the baby is weaned to semi solids.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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