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What Causes Black Stool In A Baby?
Hi, my baby is 3 months old and spit up bright red blood this morning. Later it turned to dark brown and then to black streaks before disappearing. Now his stool is very dark brown almost black. Any idea what this might be? His pediatrician didn't know.
Thu, 30 Jun 2016
Hi.... it could be cows milk protein allergy. If you are giving any milk other than breastfeeding please stop.
I was expecting that there should have been a history of cow's milk and formula feed (this too contains cow's milk protein) given to the baby. I feel that your baby is having cow's milk protein allergy. Unusually babies grow out of this sort of allergy by 1 year of age.
My suggestions for you -
1. Mother should go off cow's milk protein completely. This means that you should avoid consumption of anything and everything related to cow's milk - like - milk/ curds/ ghee/ butter milk/ chocolates/ biscuits/ ice creams etc. Even while buying commercial food products, you need to see the ingredients and if they contain milk - do not consume them.
2. Feed you baby only exclusive breast feeds till 6 months of age and then start rice based feeds.
3. If this is followed scrupulously - the baby will stop having diarrhoea in another 3-4 days and then start gaining weight too.
4. If you feel your feeds alone are inadequate for the baby, then Zerolac is the only option till 6 months age.
I request you to keep me posted about the recovery of the baby and follow of the case.
Regards – Dr. Sumanth
I was expecting that there should have been a history of cow's milk and formula feed (this too contains cow's milk protein) given to the baby. I feel that your baby is having cow's milk protein allergy. Unusually babies grow out of this sort of allergy by 1 year of age.
My suggestions for you -
1. Mother should go off cow's milk protein completely. This means that you should avoid consumption of anything and everything related to cow's milk - like - milk/ curds/ ghee/ butter milk/ chocolates/ biscuits/ ice creams etc. Even while buying commercial food products, you need to see the ingredients and if they contain milk - do not consume them.
2. Feed you baby only exclusive breast feeds till 6 months of age and then start rice based feeds.
3. If this is followed scrupulously - the baby will stop having diarrhoea in another 3-4 days and then start gaining weight too.
4. If you feel your feeds alone are inadequate for the baby, then Zerolac is the only option till 6 months age.
I request you to keep me posted about the recovery of the baby and follow of the case.
Regards – Dr. Sumanth
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