Green feces in a child: normal or serious danger. Green feces in a child: what does it mean and why is it dangerous? Why is my 6 month old baby having green poop?

Green stool is not the norm, but you shouldn’t panic about this until you find out the reasons for this phenomenon in the child’s life.

Why does my baby have green stool?

The main reasons affecting stool color

The color of a child’s stool is affected by several reasons listed below, some of them are harmless and do not harm health, while others indicate the need for treatment in a short amount of time.

Excessive sugar content in the diet of a child, including a newborn (evidence of excessive sugar consumption by the mother and, as a result, transmission through breast milk to the baby). In feces, as a rule, lump-shaped inclusions of green color are clearly visible.
Early childhood from 0 to 3 months (as a result of the absence in the intestinal tract of the required amount of bacteria that play a role in the digestion of food)
In the case of breastfeeding, the baby's green stool is a reaction to the food consumed by the mother, including food products that color the stool in this color, such products include:

sour green apples
any greens (dill, parsley, basil, etc.)

If the mother experiences food poisoning while breastfeeding (if the symptoms of a nursing woman are not clearly identified, harmful substances still penetrate into breast milk and provoke problems in the baby)
Consumption by a nursing woman of excessively small amounts of dairy and fermented milk products such as:

Milk
Kefir
Cottage cheese
Ryazhenka and others

In the case of artificial feeding (using specialized baby formulas), green stools are a consequence of consuming a formula with a high iron content. Iron can stain stool. If this happens to your baby, you should think about changing the formula, having previously consulted with your pediatrician for complementary feeding in order to avoid making mistakes.
In children aged 4 months to 1.5 years, green stool is observed as a reaction to new foods when they are introduced into the diet according to the nutrition plan.
During the teething process, children may also experience changes in the consistency and color of their stool.

Changes in stool due to a viral disease: symptoms and treatment

If a baby catches a cold or catches the flu, the whole body reacts to the presence of a virus. The gastrointestinal tract, in turn, experiences discomfort due to which the color and consistency change to green. It is noted that in this case, significant dilution of the feces is characteristic, along with a change in color to green.

Pediatricians, as a rule, due to the presence of symptoms such as a child’s elevated body temperature and general malaise, can make an erroneous diagnosis and state the presence of a severe infection, for which hospitalization in an infectious diseases hospital is indicated. An objective answer to the question that has arisen will help to give an urgent stool test, which will reveal the cause of the disorder and make a competent decision on the treatment of the little patient.

Treatment of green stool due to a cold or flu is carried out with medication, strictly following the pediatrician’s instructions.

As a rule, if such problems arise and in order to maintain water balance, after consultation with a pediatrician, the child can be offered tea with fennel to strengthen the stool and change its color.

Before we talk about why a child may develop green stool at one age or another, let’s remember that a child has only recently entered this world and his body is just beginning to become acquainted with such conditions when he needs to eat and defecate on his own. The child’s digestive tract and other organs are just beginning to adapt: the liver is not yet fully operational, the bacteria in the intestines have not yet populated in the quantity in which they will process food properly.

Green stool in a child does not necessarily indicate serious disorders, such as dysbiosis. The color of a child’s stool after the 5th day of birth can change due to many factors: from the food taken by the nursing mother, from the introduced complementary foods, from the mother’s hormones that fluctuate, and so on.

If a child has green stool after 5 days of life to 3 months

First, let's explain why after five days of life. The fact is that in the first days after birth, the baby passes meconium, and after that the transitional stool is olive-colored. It usually occurs on the fifth day of the baby’s life.

And if a month-old baby has green stool, but the child is absolutely calm, in good mood, nothing bothers him, does not cry for no reason and sleeps peacefully, then this may be due to the food that the mother took. If she ate something green, then the baby's stool will be green. In general, a nursing mother must strictly monitor her diet, because the baby’s intestines are not yet accustomed to fully processing any substances that come with milk. Therefore, the color may change due to the fact that you ate something unusual for the baby. In addition to food, the color is also affected by the secreted bilirubin, which contributes to the green color of stool.
Another reason for green stool may be the quality of the milk: full-fat milk gives a mustard-brown color to the baby’s stool, and liquid low-fat milk gives the child liquid green stool without a strong odor. By the way, a smell is a sign of unfavorability only if it is strong.
It is necessary to say separately about bottle-fed babies, because often the feces turn green even in cases when they just start introducing an artificial formula or when they change it. If your child has had green stools for more than a day, then change his formula, perhaps the problem will disappear.
You must be prepared for the fact that you will have to change the mixture more than once. Green stool may also appear at the time of transition from breastfeeding to artificial feeding. The tummy may even ache, and colic will be tormented. It is worth stocking up on dill water or syrup against gases and colic.
Among other things, the iron contained in the mixture may not be fully absorbed by the baby’s intestines and therefore is excreted in the stool, turning it green. This specifically applies to those who are concerned that their child has dark green stools.

When green stool indicates health problems

Let's say a child is 2 months old, green stool is accompanied by general anxiety, noticeably poor health, perhaps a fever. There is no need to panic too much, as this may be associated with diseases other than the digestive system, but, for example, simply be signs of a cold. Of course, this doesn’t mean anything good, but it’s still better than dysbiosis.

To fully verify the child’s health, it is necessary to undergo tests, which are fundamental when a diagnosis is made. Only green stool does not indicate any disease. The general condition of the child is very important: how he eats, what mood he is in, how he sleeps, is he restless, is there anxiety, etc. If your baby eats normally, sleeps, is awake without unusual crying, smiles and is calm, then everything is fine.

I note that the same applies to children who have been introduced to complementary foods. Green stool in such children can be observed during the introduction of complementary foods, as well as depending on the food taken.

It is definitely worth worrying if, along with green stools, the child develops anxiety, loss of appetite, poor sleep, perhaps a rash appears, etc. In this case, call or visit the pediatrician yourself and follow all recommendations. Get tested.

Healthy children, don’t get sick!

Liquid green stool in an 8 month old baby

The child is 8 months old, weight 9kg, height 68cm. The child is breastfed. The child has frequent green stools.

At 6 months, vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, zucchini) were introduced, and later porridge on water (buckwheat, oatmeal), and at 7.5 months, turkey and beef were introduced. Canned complementary foods.

At 7.5 months they changed the manufacturer, gave the child to try chicken with beef from the Tema company (stupidly, food in a tin can), and the next day the child’s stool became more frequent, at first of a normal color, frequent up to 6 times a day, the child was active, later , greenish color, no temperature.

They called a pediatrician, who prescribed enterofuril, smecta + linex, took it for 7 days, the result was the same, the stool after each feeding was green, with a little mucus, mushy in the morning. During the day it is liquid and absorbed into the diaper. The child is also cheerful, active, playful, and whines frequently.

After a week's course of treatment. There were no visible improvements.

I note that the child has increased salivation. The first two teeth erupted at 7 months, the upper gums are swollen, but as the pediatrician said, one should not expect rapid teething.

We made an appointment with a gastroenterologist, who, without ordering tests, prescribed lactose, citing the child’s indigestibility (intolerance) of breast milk. I was given this drug for TWO days, there was no effect.

Considering the holidays, clinics are closed, we went to the city infectious diseases hospital, they said there were no signs of dehydration, no temperature, the child was active. They told us to get tested for dysbacteriosis and caprogram. They told us to cancel Linex, start taking Acipol and Creon, 1/4 capsule 4 r/ day + mom's diet.

The stool became a variable color, then brown, then green again.

We received the results of stool tests for dysbacteriosis and caprogram this evening, but the next appointment with an infectious disease specialist is only on Saturday. My head is spinning, we are very worried about our daughter.

If you don’t mind, could you decipher the results of the tests received, and maybe we can now undertake some kind of treatment.

I am attaching scans of the results (enlarge by click).

The notes on the analysis results include the following.

Where did these staphylococci come from? It’s already scary.

I would be grateful for your help in deciphering the tests and making a diagnosis, where did all this bullshit come from?

Green stool in a child

We are not talking about the piece of furniture on which the baby is sitting, but about the result of the baby’s defecation process. Many parents who had their first baby did not even suspect until now how many wonderful discoveries changing diapers had in store for them. Not only does baby’s stool have a consistency that is not very familiar to adults, but it also comes in different colors! It is not surprising that green stool in a child can terrify young mothers. What is this - a disease or normal, should I call a doctor, and why does such a mysterious change in color occur in the stool?

The green color of feces can be either normal or pathological. It all depends on the age of the baby and his feeding. Let's figure it out.

Why does my baby have green stool?

Feces are the remains of undigested food that leave the intestines. Breast milk or formula is also, of course, food. Infants have relatively loose stools, which is due to immature intestinal microflora.

Original feces - or meconium - are always very dark in color. But on the third day from birth, the mother will be surprised to see that the baby has green stool. Don't be alarmed, this is just the norm. This transition period will last from 5 to 10 days, and during this time the feces will have a greenish color.

Why does my baby have green stools if there is no infection? Bilirubin, the pigment of bile, is also responsible for the color of stool. It gives the chair this strange shade. Therefore, the formation of intestinal microflora and liver enzyme systems has a direct impact on the color of stool. If there are no other symptoms of illness, the doctor will most likely consider this option to be the norm, a feature of a particular baby. Over time, the color will normalize.

Another common reason why a baby's stool is green is the mother's diet. Of course, we are talking about breastfeeding. Some green vegetables (broccoli, herbs) or foods high in iron can give a similar reaction.

What to do if your one-month-old baby has green stool? By this time, lactation is usually established. All babies eat differently: some greedily empty their breasts and are then able to endure until the next feeding, while others prefer to eat little and often. With the second type of feeding, the baby does not have time to reach the so-called “hind” milk, which is more nutritious and fatty. It is saturated with “fore milk”, which only prepares the baby for eating.

Therefore, if a month-old baby has green stools and eats little and often, too many enzymes appear in the stool, giving it a green color and a liquid consistency. If there is also an unpleasant odor, then it is necessary to tell the doctor about it - the baby may develop dysbacteriosis. Establishing proper breastfeeding usually helps get rid of this problem on your own.

If you see green stool in a formula-fed baby, then most likely the formula is not suitable for him - it may contain too much iron. Try changing the formula after consulting your pediatrician.

If the baby is already receiving complementary foods, then green vegetables can also affect the color of his stool - in this case, you should not be alarmed.

Other causes of green stool

If a child has loose green stools and the reason is not in the method of feeding or complementary feeding, then other reasons for its manifestation are quite possible:

Viral diseases can cause changes in the color of stool;
Dysbacteriosis is one of the most common causes of loose green stool in a child;
Teeth cutting can also cause diarrhea and discoloration of stool;
Green color may indicate a high sugar content in the child's diet.

Such a feature as dark green stool in a child is also mainly caused by all of the above reasons. In addition, pediatricians have such a concept as “hungry stool” - black or dark green stool in a child who lacks nutrients. But with inflammatory processes, the feces will be lighter, foamy and foul-smelling.

Should I sound the alarm if my baby's stool color changes? Carefully analyze what has changed in his diet, what you yourself have eaten if your baby is breastfeeding. But in any case, pay attention to the condition of the baby - if he is smiling and sociable, then the reason is unlikely to be serious.

If, in addition to green stools, the child has a stomach ache, vomiting, or a fever, then, of course, you should consult a doctor immediately. If there is a long-term change in the color and consistency of stool, the doctor will refer you and your baby for an examination to find out the cause of dysbiosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Why does my child have green stool and what can I do about it?

Parents may be concerned about changes in their child's bowel habits. In particular, a lot of anxiety arises due to the stool becoming green in color. When is this color change normal, and when should your child be taken to the doctor?

Possible reasons

In infants and newborns

The color of a child’s stool is influenced by various factors - the type of feeding, the mother’s diet (if the child receives breast milk), the replacement of formula, and the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract of small children. The body of a small child is not yet completely ready to digest food - it does not have the required amount of bacteria, and also does not secrete the required amount of enzymes.

A newborn's first stool is green (dark green in color) and is called meconium. This type of stool is very thick and is normal for the first days of a baby’s life. A green tint to the stool of a breastfed baby is also normal.

During the period when the baby is teething, the feces may also turn green, as the baby pulls toys into his mouth and chews on them. Bacteria that enter the intestines can cause microflora disruption.

The reasons for the green color of feces of newborns and infants can also be:

Excess sugar in the diet.
Indigestion (both in the baby and in the nursing mother).
Changes in the mother's diet (if the baby receives breast milk) For example, insufficient amounts of dairy products in the diet, consumption of green foods, as well as foods with artificial additives.
Large dosage of iron in the mixture (if the baby is bottle-fed).
The baby sucks out only foremilk.
Start of introduction of complementary foods.

In older children

The color of an older child's stool may change due to the consumption of certain foods, indigestion, or excess sugar in food.

Other reasons for the appearance of green stool in older children are:

Infectious diseases with intestinal damage.
Helminthic infestations.
Lactase deficiency.
Allergic reactions.
Enterocolitis.
Congenital gastrointestinal diseases.
Taking vitamins, iodine, iron, chlorophyll and other dietary supplements.

Foods that can cause dark green stool are green vegetables (onions, dill, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, broccoli), licorice, red beans, candy with dyes, fruit juices, red meat, muesli, cereals, seafood fish. After eating these foods, your stool may turn green within five days.

Due to the consumption of dyes, the stool may turn bright green.

Additional symptoms to worry about

You should be wary of the following changes that accompany the acquisition of green stool:

Child's lethargy, capriciousness.
Poor appetite.
Increased body temperature.
The child complains of abdominal pain.
The appearance of foul-smelling stool.
The appearance of blood impurities in the stool.
Presence of mucus.
Very frequent loose greenish stools.
Drowsiness, weakness.
Nausea, as well as bouts of vomiting.
Appearance of a rash.
Bad breath.
Bloating.
Decrease in body weight in infants.

Such signs should prompt a visit to the clinic with your child. The presence of blood and mucus in the stool may indicate an inflammatory process in the intestines. Elevated temperature in combination with copious and frequent greenish stools is characteristic of infectious lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. If you do not pay attention to such symptoms in time, there is a risk of dehydration of the child’s body and the spread of infection.

What to do?

First, you need to figure out what are the possible reasons for changes in the color of a child’s stool. In this case, it is more important to pay attention not to the color of the stool, but to the well-being of the child. If his appetite, sleep and general condition are normal, and you are only concerned about the green color of his stool, you should not worry.

If the reason for the green color of the stool is a new formula, it is recommended to replace it with another food that the baby will digest better. In cases where the cause of the change in stool color is food, dietary supplements and food coloring, nothing needs to be done. Provided that, apart from the unusual color of the stool, there are no other alarming symptoms.

Prevention

Preventive measures against green stool in young children are:

Compliance with the diet of a nursing mother.
Careful selection of artificial mixture.
Timely introduction of complementary foods.
Maintaining a healthy diet and preventing overeating.
Careful introduction of allergenic foods into the diet.
Regular visits to the pediatrician.

Green, loose stool in a breastfed and bottle-fed baby: studying baby’s stool

The green color of an infant's stool does not always indicate that something is wrong with him - such stool in most cases is a variant of the norm. The fact is that 3-4 days after the baby is born, its digestive system undergoes changes as it adapts to a new type of diet. The newborn period is considered transitional; green feces at this time are quite common. If other symptoms are added to it, then there may be cause for concern.

Effect of food type on stool

The type of feeding a child directly determines the color of his stool:

Breastfeeding - a green tint to the stool can be observed if the baby sucks only foremilk, since it, unlike hindmilk, is less fatty and is absorbed faster. Dark green stool may be evidence of an increased level of bilirubin in the newborn’s body, which is normal for him. Excess bilirubin is excreted with feces, and then it acquires a swamp color.

In addition to the above reasons, poop can become green due to interaction with oxygen. The feces left on the diaper quickly oxidize and acquire this color. In addition, parents should remember that green stool in a child who is 1-3 months old is a physiological norm.

Enzyme deficiency

The reason for the appearance of loose green stool in a baby may well be a deficiency of enzymes, which significantly affect the functioning of the digestive system (we recommend reading: loose stool in a breastfed baby). First of all, this concerns a lack of lactase, a special enzyme that promotes the breakdown of carbohydrates that make up breast milk (lactose). When a newborn receives only foremilk while breastfeeding, the lactose content in his body increases. As a result, the child experiences intestinal colic and bloating, the stool becomes greenish in color and becomes liquid.

Artificial babies can also suffer from lactase deficiency. In this situation, pediatricians usually advise switching them to another type of formula that has a lower lactose content.

If lactase deficiency is suspected, the attending physician should order a stool test for lactose content. After confirming the diagnosis, the baby is prescribed enzymes. Typically, this treatment does not last long, since its goal is to help the digestive system a little, and not to do all the work for it. In addition, the child may develop an addiction to artificial enzymes. It must be borne in mind that when taking such drugs, allergies often occur, as well as diarrhea or constipation.

Parents should be concerned if the baby has green, loose stools for 2 or more days in a row and has become more frequent. Another alarming symptom is the child’s restless behavior. All these signs are deviations from the norm and may indicate the presence of diarrhea. It can be called:

intestinal infection - its causative agents are bacteria, microbes, fungi, viruses; in acute forms of the disease, vomiting, colic, lethargy and lack of appetite are observed, the temperature may rise;
dysbacteriosis is a very common diagnosis nowadays (observed in almost half of infants), its main symptoms, in addition to green stools, are bloating, colic (we recommend reading: symptoms of colic in a newborn), redness of the area near the anus, skin rashes, prescribed for treatment probiotics (preparations containing beneficial lactic bacteria and yeast);
viral infection - even a common cold can cause diarrhea in an infant, since its immunity is still weak and is only developing (it largely depends on the state of the intestinal microflora): children who receive breast milk for up to 6 months are protected in this regard by the antibodies it contains, and artificial babies do not have such protection, no matter how good and high-quality formulas they receive;
allergies - it can become a reaction of the body to the mother’s diet, switching to another formula, taking certain medications, especially antibiotics. In most cases, it is impossible to exclude this influence, since doctors often prescribe such drugs to infants.

All these phenomena can occur both in infants and in older children - from 1 year to 2-3 years.

Why is diarrhea dangerous? In this case, a small child may become dehydrated quite quickly. If a baby suffers from loose stools for a long time, it is necessary to take measures to replenish the supply of fluid in his body. The easiest way is for a newborn to feed on mother's milk, since it contains bacteria that suppress pathogenic microflora.

Should you see a doctor?

There are very restless mothers who always worry about changes in the color and consistency of their baby’s stool, and sometimes completely in vain. In order to exclude the presence of the disease in the baby, you can undergo tests - culture of intestinal microflora and bacteriological examination of feces. They are prescribed only by a doctor and are carried out in any children's clinic. If the results are within normal limits, there is no reason to worry about the appearance of green poop; otherwise, the doctor will definitely prescribe treatment. An alarming symptom is the presence of blood, mucus, or foam in the stool. When these phenomena occur in conjunction with the baby’s poor health and anxiety, he should be immediately shown to doctors.

Parents need to learn that when green stool appears, there is no need to immediately panic and think that something has happened to the baby. To determine the baby’s health status, first of all, you should focus on his general well-being, mood and behavior, and the color of the feces is a secondary sign. The well-known doctor in our country, Evgeniy Komarovsky, and other specialists speak about this.

Causes of green stool in a child

The first stool of a newborn is called meconium, it is passed immediately after birth and appears in the first 3 days of the child’s life. On the third day after birth, feces are called transitional, the stool becomes green in color, already close to coffee. A child's green stool may contain white lumps - curdled masses of milk or formula that feeds the child. And only on the fifth day after birth, a newborn baby creates a permanent stool.

Why does a one-month-old baby have green stools?

As previously mentioned above, the color of infant feces is influenced not only by food. There are other reasons that can cause green stool in a child:

Around the fifth day after birth, the baby begins to have green stool. Medicine explains this reaction as the adaptation of a small organism to the surrounding environment.
Green stool in a one-month-old baby is due to the fact that his body has not yet formed the required amount of bacteria necessary for the proper functioning of the digestive system.
Viral diseases have a good chance of affecting the color of stool. In this case, it is necessary to quickly pass all the required tests and begin treatment.
Dysbacteriosis is the cause of weak stool in a newborn baby. It has a greenish tint with a sour putrid odor. This kind of indicator can be combined with a rash on the body, colic, and frequent regurgitation.
Teeth cutting. At this age, the child puts everything he sees into his mouth, so incoming bacteria can affect the color of the contents of the diaper: the intestinal microflora is disrupted.
Liver diseases. Such diseases include fibrosis, cirrhosis, and chronic hepatitis.

The mother must follow a certain diet while breastfeeding her baby. Her diet should not contain the following foods:

If the stool has an uneven greenish color and includes lumps, this means that the child’s diet contains a huge amount of glucose. If the mother’s body does not have enough dairy food, she uses food products that contain additives of artificial origin and carcinogens - all this causes green stool in the baby during breastfeeding. The introduction of new complementary foods (apples, pears, broccoli) into a child’s diet can cause green stools.

Green stool while breastfeeding

The color of stool depends entirely on what the mother feeds the baby. If the baby is breastfed and is fed exclusively with breast milk, then green stool is normal. The greenish tone of stool is given by hormones that are secreted by the mother and enter the baby’s body through breast milk. Bilirubin is excreted from the baby's body simultaneously with feces, which causes the stool to turn dark green.

Parents should remember that after some time, feces oxidize, acquiring a different color. Don't be alarmed if after 2-3 hours you unwrap the used diaper, in which absolutely normal infant bowel movements will turn greenish.

Foamy green stool with small patches of mucus should not cause concern if it does not have a foul odor and does not disturb the baby’s well-being. The occurrence of such stool is explained by the fact that during breastfeeding the child drinks liquid milk without sucking out the fatty part, which gives the feces a brownish color.

Artificially fed

With artificial feeding, the reasons for the appearance of a green tint in feces are almost the same, with the exception of the last one. If you recently changed your formula, this may be the reason. The greenish color of feces can be given by the iron component, if there is an excess amount of it in the mixture. Try replacing the formula and see what color your baby's stool is.

What to do if your child has green stools

There is no reason to worry if green stools that are liquid in consistency do not cause you to feel unwell. If your baby (2 month old, 3 month old or older) is playful and calm and has a normal appetite and sleep pattern, there is no need to worry about green stool. If secretions of mucus from the blood appear in a child’s stool, then this is a reason for concern, so it is necessary:

Contact your doctor. He will examine the child, prescribe the necessary tests and identify the causes of loose green stool.
The most dangerous consequence of diarrhea is fluid loss. After all, microbes are infectious agents and can damage the intestinal mucosa, preventing the absorption of minerals and moisture. For this purpose, the pharmacy sells specially balanced mixtures that contain the necessary amount of water and substances to restore the intestinal mucosa.
As for the temperature, it is allowed to bring it down only with those drugs that are certified and the child has no contraindications to them. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to normalize intestinal function.
A baby's loose stools are not a reason to deprive him of his mother's milk, which helps maintain rehydration. The beneficial properties of mother's milk will help the baby cope with the possible development of dysbiosis, replenishing the missing fluid in the body.

Green stool in older children

All of the above also applies to older children. Digestive disorders can affect the color of stool. But if they eat "adult" food, you shouldn't ignore this fact. Some mothers claim that green feces are the baby’s body’s reaction to the introduction of new foods to the diet. Unevenly colored stool may be a sign of too much sugar in children's diets. The following foods contribute to the formation of green stool:

Video: baby chair

There is no need to treat dysbiosis if its main symptom is liquid stool. Treatment should be started when green stool is accompanied by signs such as bloating, allergic reactions, and weight loss in a child after six months. You can learn more about this disease from the following video by Dr. Komarovsky. From this video, the causes of dysbiosis and the measures that need to be taken if this problem occurs will become clear.

The texture, smell, and color of stool can indicate a person's health. Therefore, when the stool suddenly turns black, this is a reason to think about the reasons for this phenomenon. Perhaps this is due to ordinary and harmless things. For example, by eating certain foods.

But it happens that black stool in a child indicates serious illnesses that require emergency medical intervention. There are also a number of chronic diseases and conditions where blackened stool is a dangerous and very suspicious symptom.

The normal color of stool ranges from yellow-brown to dark brown, and varies slightly. It depends on eating habits and personal characteristics of the body. The final color is formed due to the presence in the stool structure of products processed by intestinal bile and undigested food particles that made up the diet of a particular person in the last few days.

Normal baby stool

A breastfed baby's stool is yellow or slightly green and has a soft texture. It can be quite liquid, with a consistency similar to porridge. There are many normal shades of baby stool. One of them is a greener tint, which means that mom ate something not entirely typical of her diet. When your baby has no other symptoms, there is no reason to worry.

As a rule, every parent knows what stool color is normal for their child. Therefore, when the stool becomes unusual, it is impossible not to notice.

Black stool in a newborn

The very first thick, black, sticky deposits in a baby's diaper are far from the feces that will come later. Your baby's first stool is called meconium.

Meconium fills the intestines of all newborns. It gets its distinct color from bile, a fluid produced in the liver that aids digestion. In addition to bile, meconium contains amniotic fluid, lanugo (the fine hair that covers your baby's body while inside the uterus), dead skin cells, mucus and bilirubin. Most of these ingredients are harmless, but too much bilirubin in the blood can lead to jaundice.

Meconium stool is quickly replaced by transitional stool 3 to 5 days after birth. This stool is a little weaker and more greenish-brown in color. It is a “transition” to regular milk stool, which can be seen around the sixth day.

If your baby's stool is still black even after three days, or after transitional stool after five days, it may be a sign that the baby is not getting enough food and you should talk to your pediatrician right away.

A one-year-old's stool that looks black, tarry, or bloody can be quite scary for parents, but does not always indicate a serious illness.

You don't have to worry about the occasional black stool. Black stool does not always mean there is blood in it. The color change can only be associated with the diet of a small child. Red beets, prunes, pomegranates, red grapes, black currants, blueberries and other fruits, berries, and vegetables can change the color of the stool. It is enough to stop eating these foods, and after a couple of days the feces will acquire a normal, familiar color.

Don't worry if you have normal-colored black inclusions in your stool—these are simply undigested food particles that have changed color in the digestive tract.

Black stool may suddenly appear in an infant after taking certain medications. For example, medications used to prevent and treat anemia include iron, which gives stool that color. Vitamin complexes, medications with bismuth, and activated carbon have the same effect.

If you find that your child has black stools after using any medications, you need to carefully read the instructions for them.

It should be noted that drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid, as well as some anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Diclofenac) and anti-clotting agents, cannot stain the stool itself. However, their use sometimes causes internal bleeding.

Therefore, if you find black feces in a child, especially in the form, during treatment with these drugs, you should immediately seek medical help.

Bile

Sometimes the color of the stool is not black, but it appears so in poor lighting. This usually occurs when the baby has dark green stools due to bile and may look very dark. If this is the case, you can confirm your doubts by rubbing a piece of stool on something white or looking at it more closely under a bright light.

When a child experiences other symptoms along with blackened stools - pain, prolonged anguished crying, vomiting - this indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Various reasons that can cause bleeding:

Every parent, when they notice black stool in their baby, begins to worry about what is causing these changes. Don't panic in advance.

Carefully study your child's diet over the past few days. If the food products mentioned above (beets, currants, pomegranates, etc.) were present, then more than likely they were the ones that colored the stool an unusual black color. Perhaps the reason is the use of certain medications (they were also mentioned earlier). In the case where the child has recently eaten regular foods and has not taken any medications, suddenly blackened stools are likely to indicate the occurrence of a life-threatening condition. And a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed.

Monitor the texture and color of your stool for several days. If the causes are harmless and not dangerous (for example, the use of certain foods and medications), then the stool returns to normal no more than 2 days after eliminating them. In cases where the feces have turned black due to serious illnesses, this will not happen.

Pay special attention to a child whose stool suddenly turns black. Does your baby look sick? How had he been feeling in the weeks and months prior to the blackening of his stools?

When the causes of blackening of the stool are harmless, the child’s well-being does not change, he feels healthy and full of energy. When the occurrence of black feces is accompanied by bloating, vomiting, nausea, anemia, heartburn, abdominal pain and other suspicious painful signals, the intensity of which increases over time, it is most likely that this is a serious disease or its complications.

Black stool in babies is not necessarily a sign of illness, but you should talk to your doctor if the problem persists. The color usually returns to normal after a few days, but if it doesn't, it's time to see a doctor.

The doctor will confirm whether there is indeed blood in the stool. The specialist will also examine the outside of the anus to determine the true cause of the bleeding. Sometimes a rectal examination is performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Black stool in babies is a concern for parents, but from time to time you may notice other changes in the consistency and color of the stool.

Red chair

This is usually blood, so it makes sense to talk to your doctor, especially when this change persists. The baby may have a small crack on the inside of the anus when hard stool passes through, sometimes causing bleeding. If this is the case, your doctor will recommend drinking more fluids, prunes, and fiber to soften your stool.

Red stools may be the result of taking antibiotics that combine with iron.

Certain foods and drinks, such as red juice, can cause stool to appear colored.

Green chair

Green stool is usually the result of stool moving too quickly through a baby's intestines. This is not a cause for concern, especially in infants. But the child must gain weight well.

Green stool can also be the result of eating a lot of fiber foods (broccoli or other green vegetables). In some cases, the green color is due to the use of dyes in the food or drinks that the child consumes.

Yellow chair

In addition to black stools, the child sometimes has yellow stools. Don't worry about yellow stool if you are breastfeeding. Sometimes it looks like mustard in the diaper after feeding.

But consult a specialist if yellow stools are accompanied by abdominal pain. This may be due to inflammation or irritation in the intestines.

White chair

While gray or chalky stools are usually not a sign of abnormality, they are often the result of the child eating something unusual. You should tell your pediatrician if this occurs repeatedly. Rarely, it is associated with liver problems or another medical condition.

Thus, black stool in itself is not dangerous. But this is a possible signal of serious diseases in the body that threaten life if timely help is not provided. On the other hand, this is often explained by the banal consumption of certain foods that turn the stool an unusual color. In any case, do not be squeamish when studying the condition of your child’s stool. Nature is intelligent - it has provided a whole system of signs and signals that make a person wonder whether his body is in order.

Green feces in a child can be either a sign of gastrointestinal diseases or infections, or a consequence of feeding certain foods. There are some symptoms that should alert parents. If they appear, you must immediately consult a doctor to avoid serious consequences, which may include dehydration, poisoning, multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest and even death.

Show all
Causes
Green stool can be either a symptom of gastrointestinal dysfunction or a consequence of changes in the child’s diet.
Main reasons:
1. 1. Intestinal infection - salmonellosis, yersiniosis, hepatitis, norovirus, rotavirus, giardiasis, helminthic infestation.
2. 2. Disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, dysbacteriosis, decreased acidity of gastric juice.
3. 3. Enzyme deficiency - lactase, maltase, etc.
4. 4. Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) in a nursing mother, infection from the maternity hospital, respiratory tract at home.
5. 5. Allergy to milk formula, intolerance to gluten, casein, and other substances in food.
6. 6. The child’s consumption of greens and colored foods.
The first five reasons can be manifested by the baby's restlessness, crying, in addition to changes in the color of the stool.
Intestinal infection
A small intestinal infection is one of the most likely causes of dark green stool. Salmonella, E. coli of various types (enterotoxigenic, adhesive, hemorrhagic, pathogenic), Yersinia are bacteria that cause digestive disorders. These microorganisms are factors that provoke inflammation of the intestinal wall.
Due to damage to the small intestine, the absorption of bile acids, which cause the green color of stool, is affected. This leads to their discharge into the large intestine, irritation of the mucous membrane, burning and liquid, foamy stool. The processes of digestion and absorption are disrupted. The child experiences pain in the abdomen. There may be blood in the excrement.
Rotavirus, norovirus, and infectious hepatitis can cause digestive upset. Botkin's disease (hepatitis A) sometimes manifests itself in the form of gastrointestinal disorders. The development of infectious processes in the gastrointestinal tract is facilitated by problems with the production of digestive juices and protective factors - antibodies (secretory immunoglobulin A). Immunodeficiency is one of the causes of chronic giardiasis.

Disorders of the liver, pancreas, stomach
Liver problems - insufficient bile secretion, hepatitis - phenomena typical for children under 5-8 years of age. In this case, digestion is disrupted, namely the emulsification of fats, which leads to osmotic diarrhea - water diarrhea with accelerated intestinal function. Fatty stools of various colors, including green, are characteristic if dysbiosis with the participation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms is associated.
Enzymatic insufficiency of the pancreas or spasm of the sphincter of Oddi negatively affects digestion - a deficiency of enzymes (proteases, amylase, lipase) that break down food leads to stool disorders. The feces have a putrid odor due to the breakdown of protein substances and are green in color due to secondary malabsorption. This is often accompanied by a disturbance in the microbial composition of the intestine.
The stomach is important in digesting food, especially those containing proteins. With a lack of hydrochloric acid, the child suffers from diarrhea, hypovitaminosis, and allergic rash.
Enzyme deficiency
Not only the pancreas, but also the intestinal mucosa is involved in digestion and the secretion of enzymes. It secretes various enzymes - lactase, maltase, isomaltase for digesting carbohydrates.
With infections, inflammation and congenital fermentopathy, the small intestine stops secreting enzymes that digest lactose and other sugars. At the same time, a baby on breastfeeding at the age of 6-9-10 months to one, two, three years appears green feces, regurgitation, and diarrhea. Intolerance to breast milk and formulas containing lactose may also occur.
Maternal mastitis, nosocomial infection
Inflammation of the mammary gland and the presence of pus in it leads to infection of the milk by pathogenic microorganisms, leading to dysbacteriosis. The main dangerous bacteria are Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus.
The infection penetrates from the mucous membranes of the mother and people in the same room with the baby (in the maternity hospital).

It is no secret that stool reflects the functioning of the child’s digestive system and is one of the indicators of his health. Often, the green color of a baby's stool causes concern in the mother. Let's figure it out: is it always worth worrying in such cases?

Firstly, we note that in the first 5 days of a baby’s life, stool has its own characteristics. After birth, your baby's stool will be dark olive or even black in color, and this is normal. The thick, viscous, odorless mass of first-born stool is associated with the release of blood swallowed by the baby during childbirth.

From the 3rd day, light lumps may already appear in the stool, but it remains green - this is a transitional stool. From the 6th to the 10th day, the stool is still greenish-brown in color. Undoubtedly, the color of the stool depends on the baby’s nutrition.

Normal stool color in children

A greenish tint to light brown stool is normal for a breastfed baby. This color is provided by the pigment bilirubin, which, after some changes in the liver cells, is released in the form of stercobilin in feces and urobilin in urine.

When oxidized, a newborn's stool turns green, and this is also normal. The baby’s digestive system, including the liver, does not produce all the enzymes necessary to digest food. The intestines do not yet contain the required amount of beneficial microorganisms involved in the digestive process.

Even the liquid consistency of green stool is not a manifestation of the disease, but is due to the fact that the baby sucks only the so-called “front” breast milk, which is less fatty. But it is the fatty mother’s milk that gives the light brown color to baby’s stool.

Sometimes the baby is malnourished due to the mother’s flat or inverted nipples or insufficient active sucking on the tight breast. In these cases, the chair is established over a longer period of time.

Therefore, there is no need to worry if the child is calm, does not cry in pain, maintains appetite and normal sleep, does not have frequent stools, does not have mucus or a strong odor. While breastfeeding, the baby's stool color may change depending on...

Of course, a nursing mother must follow a diet. If a mother eats a lot of green vegetables or abuses carbohydrates, this can also cause the baby to have green stool. Spinach, parsley, dill will cause greens in the stool.

In children on artificial nutrition, the green color of stool may be associated with the use of iron-rich foods. Mixtures such as NAN, Nutrilon and some others can give a green color. After consulting with your doctor, you can choose the appropriate formula for your child.

Many parents are mistaken in believing that eggs from domestic chickens bought on the market are not dangerous, and they calmly give them to their child, which causes illness.

With this infection, the intoxication syndrome is pronounced: high fever, repeated vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy. With salmonellosis, the small intestine is affected, so the stool is profuse, dark green, reminiscent of swamp mud. A child can become dehydrated quite quickly, so you should not hesitate to see a doctor and get treatment.

The program “Dr. Komarovsky’s School” talks about intestinal infections that change the color of a child’s stool:

Parents' tactics

If the green color of the stool does not affect the baby’s behavior and well-being, he is cheerful, eats and sleeps well, without showing concern, then nothing needs to be done. For a child older than one year, you should analyze the food he eats.

But if you suspect dysbacteriosis or an intestinal infection, you should consult a doctor. If you have a high temperature, repeated vomiting and profuse stool, you should not hesitate; you must call an ambulance. Dehydration and cramps can develop very quickly, and the outcome can be dire.

Before the doctor arrives, it is necessary to: give the child small portions of special solutions (Oralit, Regidron, Enterodez) to drink (so as not to provoke vomiting). These saline solutions can be purchased at any pharmacy. If the child drinks them reluctantly, then you need to feed him with a spoon (1 spoon every 5 minutes) and even with a pipette.

Plain water is not suitable for drinking, because a child with bowel movements and vomiting loses, in addition to liquid, salts, which also need to be replenished. Packets for preparing any of the saline solutions should be kept in your home medicine cabinet.

In addition to replenishing fluid and salt losses, you can give your child sorbents (Smecta, Enterosgel, Polyphepan), which will absorb toxins in the intestines and promote their elimination.

Of course, neither saline solutions nor sorbents will have any effect on infectious agents. For this purpose, antibacterial drugs are used, which should only be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the age of the child and the severity of the disease.

Some antibiotics are contraindicated for infants; you should not experiment or self-medicate.

Pre- and probiotics and enzymatic preparations can be used in treatment as prescribed by a doctor. Breastfeeding should continue, but reduce the daily dose of milk by half or a third (as agreed with the doctor). For older children, prolonged fasting is also not used (the hunger break lasts no more than 6 hours). Nutrition for children (type of food and dose) is also determined by the doctor.

Summary for parents

Green stool does not always indicate illness in an infant. The child's appetite and behavior matter. If the baby’s condition does not suffer, then parents have nothing to worry about.

If the green color of the stool is observed when the temperature rises, the baby is restless due to abdominal pain, stool is frequent and very profuse, accompanied by vomiting or frequent regurgitation, then you need to seek help from a doctor. In some cases, if a child loses a lot of fluid, it is necessary to call an ambulance.

Video version of the article:

Digestive problems in a baby in the first year of life are the most pressing topic. After all, the baby is worried about colic, which means the whole family is trying as best they can to alleviate the child’s condition. The color of stool is also a cause for concern for many mothers. It’s rare that anyone manages to raise a child who doesn’t have digestive problems until they are one year old.

Why does my baby have green stool?

As soon as the baby is born, the first few days the stool (meconium) is almost black in color, and in the end it turns greenish. This is normal for the early neonatal period.

Breastfed babies are more likely to have greens in their stool than bottle-fed babies. There are several reasons for this - for example, after childbirth, mother’s hormones are present in the baby’s blood, which enter the baby’s body through milk, and therefore greenish feces may occur from time to time during the first three months.

An infant has an immature digestive system, which is sensitive to any errors in the nutrition of a nursing mother. If any product from her diet is not accepted by the child’s body, then it immediately reacts by pooping green stool - that’s why, when breastfeeding a child, the mother should have a clear idea of which foods can be consumed and which cannot .

For several weeks after birth, the baby's stool may turn green due to increased levels of bilirubin, which the body gets rid of. The local pediatrician must be informed about this.

Green and loose stools can occur before or during a cold, and also occur during teething.

Why does a child have green diarrhea?

The most dangerous thing for a baby in the first year of life is diarrhea, which quickly dehydrates the body, washing out vital microelements. If the stool is green, foamy and smelly, then it is most likely poisoning.

It could happen due to the mother’s fault, when bacteria get to the baby through milk or dirty hands. If the child is older than six months, then the poisoning is due to his new diet - the product could be stale or kept in conditions unsuitable for storage.

A child's green stool is of normal consistency; it may be due to the introduction of complementary foods. New products turn stool greenish. The digestive system has not yet fully coped with the innovation and reacts in a similar way.

Why is my baby's stool green?

One of the first indicators of human health is the condition of stool - its color, consistency and smell. It is by the child’s stool that one can judge the functioning of his intestines and general well-being. Normally, children's stool should be yellow to brown. But sometimes parents notice a change in its color, for example, green feces appear in the child. And then the question arises, why is the child’s stool green, what caused such changes? Let's look at the most likely causes of green stool in children.

Newborn baby's first stool

On the first day of his life, a newborn baby excretes meconium, the so-called original feces. On days 3-5 he begins to have transitional stool. And only after the fifth day do children form permanent stools.

Meconium is thick, viscous, dark green stool in a child's first days of life. Sometimes its color is close to black and has no odor. This stool consistency is a physiological norm and should not frighten the mother.

Usually on the third day of a newborn’s life, he has transitional stool, which also has a greenish tint. You can often see small lumps of curdled milk in it.

And only on the fifth day of the baby’s life does he form a permanent stool. Moreover, in the first 5-10 days it most often has a greenish-brown tint, which is within normal limits.

Green color of stool in a child of the first year of life

As you know, children in the first year of life can be breastfed or bottle-fed. The question of why a baby's stool is green worries many mothers who are breastfeeding. Experts point to the following reasons for the appearance of this stool color:

Natural functioning of the intestines. In the first months of a child’s life, the intestinal microflora is just beginning to form. This completely natural process is often accompanied by various changes in the color and consistency of stool.
Nutrition for a nursing mother. Many mother's foods that contain iron or green pigment can give a green tint to the baby's stool.
Medications. If a nursing mother takes medications containing iron or antibacterial drugs, the baby's stool may turn green.
An allergic reaction of the child’s body to certain foods that the mother ate the day before.

Green stool in an infant, which has a foamy character and mucous inclusions, but without a strong odor, may indicate an imbalance between the consumption of “front” liquid and “back” thick milk. Hind milk is more nutritious and contains large amounts of fat and lactose. But since it is much harder for a child to reach him, he often drinks the first breast and then demands the second. As a result, the baby’s body does not receive all the necessary nutrients, and his intestines, which are designed to absorb thick “hind” milk, do not function as they should. Liquid milk moves through the intestines faster, and the stool becomes green in color and has a foamy consistency.

Green color of feces in a child can be observed if he has lactase deficiency. Milk contains a beneficial substance - milk sugar, or lactose. For its good absorption by the body, the enzyme lactase is needed, which can break down lactose. Often, a child’s body lacks it, which disrupts the absorption of milk sugar and causes poor tolerance to foods that contain it. Thus, lactase deficiency appears. It can manifest itself as intolerance not only to breast milk, but also to cow's milk and infant formula. One of its symptoms is green stool with a foamy structure, often containing mucus and undigested lumps of food. At the same time, there are signs of anxiety in the baby, a bloated tummy, he is gaining weight poorly or even losing it.

A newborn baby's stool often takes on a greenish tint after oxidation as a result of being exposed to air for a long time.

The stool of bottle-fed babies is thicker, yellowish in color and has the characteristic smell of adult stool. A formula-fed baby may have dark green stool when feeding it formula containing iron. To check this, you need to change his baby food and check the color of his stool. If the color of the stool returns to normal, then there is no reason to worry. If the stool remains green, you need to pay attention to the baby’s condition. Such changes in stool are often one of the symptoms of certain infectious or inflammatory diseases. They may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, a general deterioration in the child’s condition, weakness, nausea and vomiting. Therefore, if all these manifestations occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Some mothers observe dark green stool in their baby after introducing complementary foods such as green apples, pears or broccoli into their diet. Also, green spots in unevenly colored stool may indicate too much sugar in the baby’s menu.

Green stool in an older child

The green color of stool in a child after a year may be associated with some of the reasons already listed, such as lactase deficiency, infectious or inflammatory diseases, allergic reactions of the body to the food eaten. However, most often green stool appears after eating certain foods. These foods primarily include green vegetables (broccoli, lettuce, spinach), green apples and foods rich in iron.

Children may also have green stools after taking antibacterial agents, medications containing iron, and some other medications. Usually the doctor warns parents about such side effects of the drug therapy.

Green feces of a child at 3 months: what is the reason?

What should a 3 month old baby's calorie be? What disease causes a 3 month old baby to have green stool?

After the birth of a child, every mother is faced with the problem of bowel movements in her newborn. In the first months of a child’s life, he very often has difficulties with excreting feces, this may be constipation or diarrhea. Before you begin to treat constipation or diarrhea, you need to pay attention to the stool itself. If the child is breastfed, problems with stool occur very rarely.

After all, breast milk is the best source of vitamins for a baby, and it is also well digested by the baby’s intestines. Sometimes the stool may be lumps, mucus, or greenish in color. But if the child behaves calmly and you do not notice that he is in pain, then there is no need to worry. Such stool can be caused by overeating, poor digestion, or when the baby is born, its microflora is not yet formed and frequent diarrhea or constipation can last up to 2-3 months.

Newborns may have small amounts of stool after each feeding. When active lactation is established in a nursing mother, the baby should have normal yellow stools with a thin consistency and the frequency of stools can be from 4 to 6 times a day.

When the child is already a little accustomed to the environment and his intestines have formed, the frequency of stools is less frequent. There are cases that by the age of three months children can empty their intestines once a day, this indicates that breast milk is well digested in the child’s intestines. A 3 month old baby’s stool may sometimes have a slightly green color, but this is considered normal and such stool is called transitional. With artificial feeding, the baby's stool is almost the same as with breastfeeding, only it has a thicker consistency and darker color.

It also happens that a child's stool may be green. The reasons for such stool may be different, a violation of the intestinal microflora or the digestive system. If such stool bothers the child, he may refuse to eat, the temperature rises or frequent regurgitation is observed, in such cases you should consult a pediatrician. If a 3-month-old child has green stools, the cause may be an intestinal infection - dysbiosis. But before diagnosing a child, you need to see a doctor who will examine the child and prescribe a stool test for dysbacteriosis.

The causes of intestinal infection may be diathesis or allergies, congenital intestinal dysfunctions, infectious diseases. If the child is breastfed, this infection can be transmitted to the baby from the mother. To treat dysbiosis, medications are used to restore the intestinal microflora - these are “Linex”, “Bifi-form”. "Enterol", "Bifidumbacterin". You need to adhere to the diet of a nursing mother; during this period you must carefully monitor your diet.

» Baby 4 months

If a child has green stool after 5 days of life to 3 months

And if a month-old baby has green stool, but the child is absolutely calm, in good mood, nothing bothers him, does not cry for no reason and sleeps peacefully, then this may be due to the food that the mother took. If she ate something green, then the baby's stool will be green. In general, a nursing mother must strictly monitor her diet, because the baby’s intestines are not yet accustomed to fully processing any substances that come with milk. Therefore, the color may change due to the fact that you ate something unusual for the baby. In addition to food, the color is also affected by the secreted bilirubin, which contributes to the green color of stool.
Another reason for green stool may be the quality of the milk: full-fat milk gives a mustard-brown color to the baby’s stool, and liquid low-fat milk gives the child liquid green stool without a strong odor. By the way, a smell is a sign of unfavorability only if it is strong.
It is necessary to say separately about bottle-fed babies, because often the feces turn green even in cases when they just start introducing an artificial formula or when they change it. If your child has had green stools for more than a day, then change his formula, perhaps the problem will disappear.
You must be prepared for the fact that you will have to change the mixture more than once. Green stool may also appear at the time of transition from breastfeeding to artificial feeding. The tummy may even ache, and colic will be tormented. It is worth stocking up on dill water or syrup against gases and colic.
Among other things, the iron contained in the mixture may not be fully absorbed by the baby’s intestines and therefore is excreted in the stool, turning it green. This specifically applies to those who are concerned that their child has dark green stools.

When green stool indicates health problems

Healthy children, don’t get sick!

Green stool in a child

The green color of feces can be either normal or pathological. It all depends on the age of the baby and his feeding. Let's figure it out.

Why does my baby have green stool?

Another common reason why a baby's stool is green is the mother's diet. Of course, we are talking about breastfeeding. Some green vegetables (broccoli, herbs) or foods high in iron can give a similar reaction.

If you see green stool in a formula-fed baby, then most likely the formula is not suitable for him - it may contain too much iron. Try changing the formula after consulting your pediatrician.

If the baby is already receiving complementary foods, then green vegetables can also affect the color of his stool - in this case, you should not be alarmed.

Other causes of green stool

If a child has loose green stools and the reason is not in the method of feeding or complementary feeding, then other reasons for its manifestation are quite possible:

Viral diseases can cause changes in the color of stool;
Dysbacteriosis is one of the most common causes of loose green stool in a child;
Teeth cutting can also cause diarrhea and discoloration of stool;
Green color may indicate a high sugar content in the child's diet.

Text: Olga Pankratieva

Questions about children's health

Green stool in a 3 month old baby

Hello dear Oleg Evgenievich!

We have twin boys. They are 2.5 months old. For a month now, both have had pasty green stools, sometimes some with yellow spots. We are completely on IV, we eat NAN 1, and once a week we give NAN fermented milk.

At the same time, both are active, develop well, weigh 5100 and 4700 g. Born at 34 weeks.

One boy (who is 4700 grams) constantly spits up every feeding (except for night feedings), the second boy began to suffer from colic in the third month (we give espumizan, it seems to help).

We tried changing it to NAN-comfort, but the chair did not change.

Tell me, is it normal for children to have stools like this?

What could be the reason for such a stool?

Maybe change the mixture? How long do you need to give another mixture for the stool to change?

Thank you in advance, Natalya!

Comments on this post

NatkaBir 2015/05/11, #

Thanks for answers!
To be honest, I couldn’t find the answer to this question. Maybe I didn't search well. And I just mixed up my first and middle names. Did not want. Evgeny Olegovich I apologize!

Yana 2015/05/06, #

MomLev and Rody 2015/05/06, #

As long as the kids are doing well, the color of the poop doesn't matter.
And the doctor's name is Evgeniy Olegovich

Rinat 2015/05/06, #

At the same time, both are active, develop well, weigh 5100 and 4700 g
-----
This comprehensive information to stop attempts to analyze the contents of diapers

Good luck!
Study really useful information and don’t worry about nonsense

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» Baby 4 months

Common problem of green stool in babies

The question “why does the child have green stool” worries many parents at one time or another. Most often, the type and consistency of poop depends on the food: artificial or breastfeeding, whether complementary foods are consumed and what kind.

Green stool in children under about one year of age is very common, but not completely normal. The digestive system is not yet ready to function at full capacity, and, as a result, stool has its own characteristic signs and characteristics.

Why does a newborn have “greens” in his diapers?

As mentioned above, it’s not just food that affects the color of baby poop. There are other reasons:

1. As a rule, around the fifth day of life, greens appear in diapers for all babies. Medicine explains this by the adaptation of a small organism to the environment.

2. Greens in a month-old baby are due to the fact that his body has not yet produced the required amount of bacteria important for the proper functioning of digestion.

3. Viral diseases (colds, flu, etc.) can also affect the color of the poop. In this case, you should take all the necessary tests as quickly as possible.

4. Dysbacteriosis: the baby may develop loose stools. It will be of an unpleasant color with a sour, putrid smell. This symptom can be combined with a rash on the body, colic, and frequent regurgitation.

5. Teething. At this time, the child puts everything he sees into his mouth, and, naturally, the incoming bacteria can affect the color of the contents of the diaper: the intestinal microflora is disrupted.

What food causes the contents of a diaper to turn green:

1) Excessive amounts of sugar in the baby’s diet: stool is unevenly green and contains the same lumps.

2) Indigestion: green poop, often with pieces of mucus.

3) Incorrect diet of the mother: a small amount of dairy products, artificial additives and carcinogens, as well as simply green foods (greens, broccoli, etc.).

4) Food poisoning of a nursing woman. Toxins and carcinogens immediately enter the milk. And with it - into the baby’s body. Accordingly, the mother’s poisoning is reflected in the color of the baby’s poop.

5) High iron content in the nutritional mixture (with artificial feeding).

6) Introducing complementary foods into the baby’s diet.

7) The baby cannot get enough of the fatty milk and sucks only foremilk, liquid milk.

Newborn's first stool

In the first days of life, only meconium is excreted in the baby's body. Then the baby has transitional stool, and only after the fifth day can you at least somehow try to evaluate the newborn’s feces.

After birth, the first two days the baby poops original feces - meconium. It is a thick viscous mass of dark green color (close to black), odorless. There is nothing to worry about: this color and consistency are the norm.

On the third day, transitional stool begins, which also has a greenish color. You can often notice small lumps of curdled milk.

And finally, on the fifth day of life, the newborn’s stool becomes permanent. Even before the tenth day, the contents of the diaper remain greenish-brown. But this is within normal limits.

Greenish tint to baby's stool

To a greater extent, it depends on the baby’s diet. Newborns can be divided into two groups according to the type of feeding:

Breast-feeding
Artificial feeding

With natural feeding, greens in an infant are normal. There are several reasons for this color:

A) Bilirubin, which is constantly released, is to blame.

B) Hormones found in breast milk may also be responsible for the color change. Their presence and fluctuations do not depend on you and your child.

C) The baby’s intestines do not have enough beneficial bacteria, and the newborn’s liver does not produce enough digestive enzymes.

D) After oxidation, the baby’s feces also acquire a greenish impurity.

D) Only full-fat milk gives baby stool a light brownish tint, otherwise the stool will be greenish.

An infant's feces can have several shades: from yellow to brownish and green.

With artificial feeding, the reasons for greenness are almost the same, with the exception of the last one. If you recently changed your formula, this may be the reason. A green impurity in feces can be caused by iron, if there is an excess amount of it in the mixture. Try replacing it and monitor the reaction.

Problems for older children

All the reasons can be applied to older children. In them, just like in newborns, the color of stool may change due to stomach upsets. In addition, as children begin to receive complementary foods and eat more “adult” foods, some foods can also produce a greenish color: parsley, dill, spinach, broccoli, pear.

In addition, green stool in older children may, just like in newborns, indicate a large amount of sugar in the child's diet.

So, before you start worrying about greenery in the toilet, you should carefully analyze all the possible reasons. Watch his stool just as you would if your child grinds his teeth during the day or talks at night. All this is important.

However, in any case, first of all, pay attention to the baby’s well-being, and not to the color of his discharge. And if your child is calm, his sleep and appetite are not disturbed, and nothing else bothers you except the color of the stool, then do not focus your attention on this too much.

Baby's green poop. Causes and treatment

Green poop in a child appears after black and brown stools. This is normal, doctors in such cases say that the intestines adapt to the new environment. Next, the stool will turn yellow.

Causes of green poop in a child

However, the green color of the poop may linger. This may manifest itself as dysbacteriosis; in the case of artificial feeding, greens appear due to the increased iron content in the mixture; dill or parsley in a mother's diet can cause green stool during breastfeeding.

And when teeth are already cutting. Intestinal dysfunction occurs, which affects, albeit briefly, the appearance of green stools. The same thing happens during the first experiments with complementary feeding. In such cases, pediatricians immediately prescribe Hilak Forte and Bifiform and refer them to their familiar pharmacists.

Green stool with mucus can occur in a newborn when the baby is unable to suckle on full-fat milk and receives only foremilk, liquid milk. There is not enough fat there, it quickly passes through the gastrointestinal tract and as a result, the stool may be green.

Treatment and introduction of complementary foods for a child

Complementary feeding, and this will also be the child’s treatment for green poop, begins at about six months, and it is this new menu that affects the color of the stool. Broccoli or pears definitely cause green stools.

The most undesirable of the above is dysbiosis, a type of imbalance of intestinal microflora that accompanies, for example, an acute intestinal infection. Dysbacteriosis develops quickly after surgery on the gastrointestinal tract, the use of antibiotics and other drugs that suppress the immune system. Healthy children do not have dysbacteriosis.

Any abnormality in a child should be cause for concern, including green poop in a child, which is not a good sign. It is with dysbacteriosis that the stool becomes liquefied with an admixture of mucus and “greens”, which has a putrid odor. Be sure to delve into the doctor’s explanations that followed after presenting him with a diaper with fecal remains.

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Green feces in a child

A new mother plunges headlong into caring for her child, caring for him and guarding him. She worries that the baby is fed, calm, healthy, that he feels comfortable and well. Mom studies his tiny body, admiring her blood, listens to his breathing during sleep, learns to recognize crying. And, of course, she is also concerned about the child’s bowel movements - aren’t you like that?

It should be said that children's stool depends on many factors, the main ones among which are the method of feeding (artificial or breastfeeding), and in older children, the foods they eat. Also, the quality of stool directly depends on the baby’s health and the functioning of his digestive system. Baby poop can change in color, consistency and smell, and every time a loving, attentive mother is alarmed and even frightened: why is baby poop black or mixed with blood and mucus? Today we will talk about why they are green and whether you should worry about it.

Newborn's first stool

First of all, it should be said that it is possible to assess the condition of a child’s stool only after the 5th day of life, since before this time he excretes meconium, and then transitional stool.

Meconium is the name given to the contents of a newborn's intestines, and it is dark olive in color - this is the norm. During the first two days, the baby poops original feces - a thick, viscous, odorless mass of dark green color, close to black. Don’t worry, transitional stool appears on the third day. It also has a green tint, but is closer in color to brown. Lumps of curdled milk are often visible.

And only after the 5th day of a newborn’s life, the stool begins to take shape as permanent. In general, greenish-brown feces in a newborn are observed up to 5-10 days.

Green stool in a breastfed baby

A child's stool largely depends on what he eats. And in the case of breastfeeding, the greenish color of baby feces is the absolute norm. This shade is given to it by bilirubin, which is invariably released along with feces.

Hormones found in mother's milk can also change the color and consistency of a newborn's feces - they fluctuate independently of you, and even more so of the baby.

Moreover, when oxidized, the feces of a breastfed baby also turn green. Please also note that the newborn’s liver does not yet produce all the necessary enzymes, and the intestines are not yet populated with the necessary bacteria.

Even if a child has loose, foamy stools with a tint of green and mucous patches (but without a pungent odor or disturbing pain) - this may be the norm, but to say that the child only sucks out the front milk, which is more liquid, and does not reach the fatty milk. It is full-fat breast milk that gives baby poop its light brown color (like mustard).

Therefore, if you observe a similar picture, and nothing bothers the baby, he sleeps and eats well, poops regularly (but not often), gains weight and is not capricious, there is no reason to worry. Baby feces can be any color - from yellow to dark brown and green. Of course, the mother must control her diet - after all, everything she eats goes directly through the milk to the baby.

Green stool in a bottle-fed baby

The same applies to artificial ones. Remember when your baby had green stools? Do you attribute it to the change in formula? This is often the cause of green poop. The characteristic green tint to stool is given by iron, which is found in large quantities in the mixture. Mothers, sharing their experience, say that they observed similar transformations when feeding their children with NAN, Nutrilon and other mixtures.

Try changing your baby's formula and monitor the reaction. Often at this stage parental worries disappear.

But it happens that green stool in a child is one of the symptoms of some disorder or disease. And then the baby needs to be shown to a doctor.

Green stool is a cause for concern

We once again focus your attention on the fact that the determining role is played by the child’s well-being, and not the color of his stool. If the baby is cheerful and calm, sleep and appetite are not disturbed, and nothing else bothers you except the color in the feces, sleep peacefully. However, keep in mind that small amounts of mucus and undigested milk can absolutely be found in baby's stool.

It’s another matter when the amount of mucus increases and blood fragments are added to this. Foamy, loose stools with a sharp, sour, putrid odor also indicate a disorder, mainly the development of dysbiosis. As an accompanying symptom, a rash may appear on the skin, the child becomes restless, cries for no reason, sleeps poorly, suffers from colic, and often spits up.

Green stool can also be one of the symptoms of lactase deficiency - you should undergo the necessary tests. But if there are no other signs besides color, there is no problem.

Against the background of a cold or viral disease, stool can also change its color, including greenish.

Green stool in older children

All this applies to older children. If they have digestive disorders, their stool may change, including turning green. But since they are already eating “adult” food, this fact cannot be ignored. Keep in mind that eating green foods can also turn your stool green. This effect, for example, is created by leafy vegetables and garden herbs: lettuce, spinach, nettle, parsley, dill.

Some mothers note greening of stool when introducing complementary foods, in particular after introducing the baby to an apple, pear or broccoli.

Unevenly colored stool with green flecks may indicate too much sugar in a child's diet.

In general, before you panic over green poop, carefully analyze the situation: maybe everything is not as scary as you thought at first.

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The development and formation of a baby does not end in the womb. After birth, adaptation to external factors occurs, getting used to a new diet. An alarming moment for young mothers is the unusual green color of the baby's stool. Let’s take a closer look at what factors can influence the appearance of this color of discharge, whether it poses a danger to the life and health of the baby, and we’ll also tell you what parents should do in this situation.

What should a normal stool look like?

At different stages of development, the baby's stool changes from a liquid, unnatural color to a fraction characteristic of each person. Parents must be sure to monitor the frequency, consistency, color and presence of odor in the child’s discharge.

First three days of life

During this period of a little person’s life, the accumulation of remnants of amniotic fluid that entered the body at birth, intestinal epithelial cells, bile, mucus, etc. occurs in his intestines. Such feces are called original feces or meconium.

The discharge has a black, dark red or olive tone, a resinous structure and is odorless. Green stool in a newborn is not due to the bacterial nature of its formation. The appearance of discharge is the first sign of normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

During the first two to three days, a breastfed baby’s body completely absorbs the mother’s colostrum, so feces are not formed.

Fourth – sixth days

The baby's intestinal system is developing due to changes in the composition of the nursing mother's milk and the formation of bacteria in the digestive tract.

The process occurs in two stages:

Transitional feces

The baby's stool has the appearance of a paste, thick sour cream, the color is predominantly yellowish, with rare splashes of green (residual effects of meconium). The presence of a white mass and small amounts of stool with mucus in an infant is not a deviation. Changes in the appearance of feces occur under the influence of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Mature feces

The discharge takes on a dark green color with a transitional gray tint, and has a porridge-like consistency. Initially, the frequency of bowel movements is about ten times a day, and as you get used to breast milk, the frequency of bowel movements decreases to one or two times over three to seven days.

This is due to the complete absorption of the beneficial substances of breast milk in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract. It is necessary to strictly monitor meconium in the stool: if its presence in the stool is observed on the fifth day, you should consult a doctor. Artificial feeding can affect the structure of stool.

Second week of life – 28 days

The baby's stool takes on a light brown, mustard color. The consistency of the mass is mushy. Green, liquid stool in a baby or constipation indicate the occurrence of abnormalities.

First months

At the stage of feeding the baby with breast milk, the stool is normally mature. The waste products of a baby can be light brown, grayish and even green. The feces of a month-old baby on breastfeeding should be of medium density: neither liquid nor solid.

At 3 years of age, the presence of food inclusions in the stool is allowed, and the color directly depends on the food the child eats.

Causes of green stool in infants

Green stool in a baby is not always a cause for concern. Let us highlight the main factors that can cause “herbal” feces to appear in an infant in the first months of his life.

Causes of green stool

Sources of unnatural stool color in a baby:

composition of mother's breast milk;
use of complementary foods;
deviation of the baby’s immunity;
age-related changes.

When breastfeeding

The reasons for the appearance of greenish stool in a child during breastfeeding can be:

mother’s food range: if the diet is rich in green vegetables and herbs;
intoxication of the nurse's body due to poisoning;
exposure to medications: for example, taking antibacterial agents;
lack of nutrition: limited amount of breast milk, early refusal of breastfeeding. The feces become liquid and foamy, and the baby’s weight drops.

With artificial and mixed feeding

A green tint to the stool of a mixed-fed baby occurs depending on the composition of complementary foods:

artificial mixture is enriched with iron;
food causes an imbalance in the child’s body, allergic reactions occur;
incorrectly selected or incorrectly prepared food;
dysbacteriosis, immune system failure: complex components of complementary foods complicate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

General sources

The basic factors for the manifestation of green stool in infants are:

chemical oxidation processes under the influence of oxygen;
inflammatory foci in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract due to difficult childbirth;
natural removal of bilirubin (bile pigment) from the body;
additional nutrition with a mixture with a high concentration of sugars and iron;
lactose intolerance, bacterial imbalance;
the impact of diseases, poor functioning of the endocrine system, malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dysbacteriosis

When the balance of vital bacteria is disturbed, the natural functioning of the intestines is disrupted in the baby’s body. The condition is characterized by an increase in body temperature, disruption of the process of excretion of feces, and psycho-emotional disorders.

If the course of the disease is favorable, the baby’s immunity copes with it on its own. If the disorder lasts, you will need to take foods enriched with bacteria.

Lactase deficiency

The condition is expressed by difficulty in processing milk sugar due to a small amount of lactase and, as a consequence, the development of dysbacteriosis. The stool is liquid, greenish-yellow with a pungent odor and foamy consistency.

The deviation goes away on its own after nine months of the baby’s life, less often up to a year. Sometimes there is a hereditary disorder. To restore the baby’s stool, it is recommended to adjust the diet of the mother producing breastfeeding, as well as the use of therapy to replenish lactase in a child at 2 years old.

By month

The stages of development of the baby’s body directly affect the appearance of green color in the stool:

1 month: green stool in a newborn is the norm, a consequence of the gastrointestinal tract adapting to nutrition, if the process is not accompanied by third-party symptoms;
2 month: dysbacteriosis is possible due to the unstable state of the intestines of a two-month-old baby;
3 month: due to slow development, green stool in a 3 month old baby may be an indicator of normality;
4 months: a common cause of green stool is untimely complementary feeding;
5th month: the color of the stool in a five-month-old baby depends on the administration of additional nutrition;
6-7 months: the baby eliminates discomfort from emerging teeth by biting foreign objects, so green stool in the child will become an indicator of disorder or infection;
8-10 months: bilirubin no longer affects the color of stool, discharge depends on the composition of complementary foods;
11-12 months: Green stool in a 1 year old baby is an indicator of food intake or an allergic reaction.

Green stool as one of the symptoms of the disease

Parents should take immediate action if their child's green stool is accompanied by the following symptoms:

decreased mobility, drowsiness, moodiness;
loss of appetite;
foamy consistency of stool in infants,
a sharp putrid odor of feces in a one-year-old child, green foam bowel movements;
Green, liquid stool is passed out very often in infants;
entry of blood as a cause of gastrointestinal damage;
incessant diarrhea in a one and a half year old child;
vomiting, frequent regurgitation of food;
the child has green, loose stools with large quantities of mucus;
flatulence, colic;
skin rashes.

What does the shade and consistency of green stool tell us?

Based on the degree of color saturation and density of green feces, one can judge the reasons for the changes:

deep green: normal; depends on the food range; dark green, loose stools in infants may be a consequence of lactase deficiency;
light green, yellow-green: normal indicator; impaired lactation or lack of breast milk with hind fat milk;
black-green: typical only for newborns, in other cases it is a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, a nutritional error;
deep green: lack of hindmilk, food pigmentation;
green foam: lactase deficiency, low fat content of milk during breastfeeding;
mushy: normal indicator;
green stool with mucus, watery, liquid, too hard stool: deviation of the gastrointestinal tract, development of the disease.

The reason for panic among parents should be the general deterioration of the baby’s condition.

What to do if you have green stools?

If the stool appears green, the following steps are recommended:

Ensure that the baby is properly attached to the breast, allow him to get enough and complete breastfeeding on his own.
Make breastfeeding regular, depending on the body's needs.
Control your diet during breastfeeding, avoid artificial additives and exotic foods.
Treat the baby's intestinal dysfunction under the supervision of a doctor.
Don't worry if your stools turn green after taking Smecta.
Thoroughly study the composition of artificial complementary foods, ensure optimal selection for the baby’s body (for example, use NAN mixtures).
Green stools without accompanying warning signs are normal and do not require intervention.
Use of additional nutrition in due time.
Dr. Komarovsky can give an online consultation on his website.
The frequency of green stools in combination with alarming symptoms is a necessity for seeking medical help.

Green stool in a newborn during breastfeeding is not always a deviation. If your child is developing normally, cheerful and active, there is no need to worry once again about why the child has green stool and tirelessly torment the child with visits to the doctor.

Control your diet during breastfeeding, provide your children with proper care, monitor their behavior, and then there will be much less cause for alarm.

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THE BELL

Why does my baby have green stool?

The main reasons affecting stool color

Changes in stool due to a viral disease: symptoms and treatment

If a child has green stool after 5 days of life to 3 months

When green stool indicates health problems

Green stool in a child

Why does my baby have green stool?

Other causes of green stool

Why does my child have green stool and what can I do about it?

Possible reasons

In infants and newborns

In older children

Additional symptoms to worry about

What to do?

Prevention

Green, loose stool in a breastfed and bottle-fed baby: studying baby’s stool

Effect of food type on stool

Enzyme deficiency

Should you see a doctor?

Causes of green stool in a child

Why does a one-month-old baby have green stools?

Green stool while breastfeeding

Artificially fed

What to do if your child has green stools

Green stool in older children

Video: baby chair

Normal baby stool

Black stool in a newborn

Bile

Red chair

Green chair

Yellow chair

White chair

Causes

Intestinal infection

Disorders of the liver, pancreas, stomach

Enzyme deficiency

Maternal mastitis, nosocomial infection

Normal stool color in children

Parents' tactics

Summary for parents

Why does my baby have green stool?

Why is my baby's stool green?

Newborn baby's first stool

Green color of stool in a child of the first year of life

Green stool in an older child

Green feces of a child at 3 months: what is the reason?

» Baby 4 months

If a child has green stool after 5 days of life to 3 months

When green stool indicates health problems

Green stool in a child

Why does my baby have green stool?

Other causes of green stool

Questions about children's health

Green stool in a 3 month old baby

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» Baby 4 months

Common problem of green stool in babies

Why does a newborn have “greens” in his diapers?

What food causes the contents of a diaper to turn green:

Newborn's first stool

Baby's green poop. Causes and treatment

Causes of green poop in a child

Treatment and introduction of complementary foods for a child

The most interesting news

Newborn's first stool

Green stool in a breastfed baby

Green stool in a bottle-fed baby

Green stool is a cause for concern

Green stool in older children

What should a normal stool look like?

First three days of life

Fourth – sixth days

Second week of life – 28 days

First months