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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Smelly Stools In Babies?

Hello,My baby is 1 week shy of 4 months old. My son has a BM once a day and 3 days ago he had one that was watery, Gray, and smelled fishy. We just moved into a new house in a different town and I boil the water to make his bottles. Also I'm on WIC and they just switched from Gerber Good start to Infamil Premium. Could it be the new water or the new formula? I started him on both about 24/36 hours before this happened. The BM's since then werent quite as gray or fishy smelling but still not normal. He also has had reflux since he was born and is on prilosec. Is this something to be concerned about?
Fri, 22 Sep 2017
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General Surgeon 's  Response
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history about your 4 month old baby and understood your concerns.
As per the history you have provided the change in stool of your baby to gray, fishy smelling is most probably due to the water that was not completely made sterile; it take more than 20 minutes of boiling for the water to be sterile. Henceforth remember this so that the care is taken to completely make the bottles, feeders sterile.
Another possibility can be the changed formula as there may be a problem with the powder itself.
Obviously, you should consult the pediatrician to discuss further, have clinical evaluation of the baby and stool test to know the cause and get treated properly as needed.
As for the reflux, the babies do not have acidity issue. This may be due to lax lower esophageal sphincter or tight pylorus or even pyloric stenosis which needs further tests of water soluble contrast medium study of esophagus, stomach and duodenum. If anything positive is found out, get treated accordingly.
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What Causes Smelly Stools In Babies?

Hi. Thanks for your query. Noted the history about your 4 month old baby and understood your concerns. As per the history you have provided the change in stool of your baby to gray, fishy smelling is most probably due to the water that was not completely made sterile; it take more than 20 minutes of boiling for the water to be sterile. Henceforth remember this so that the care is taken to completely make the bottles, feeders sterile. Another possibility can be the changed formula as there may be a problem with the powder itself. Obviously, you should consult the pediatrician to discuss further, have clinical evaluation of the baby and stool test to know the cause and get treated properly as needed. As for the reflux, the babies do not have acidity issue. This may be due to lax lower esophageal sphincter or tight pylorus or even pyloric stenosis which needs further tests of water soluble contrast medium study of esophagus, stomach and duodenum. If anything positive is found out, get treated accordingly.