We often talk about our baby’s firsts with our friends and fellow moms. We even document them by taking pictures and videos of them having their first word, first crawl, the first step, first walk and many other firsts.
Just like any other milestones of our baby, the baby’s first poop is also important. It usually looks darkish green-black in colour and sticky in texture. The baby’s firsts poop is called meconium. It is made up of all the things that the baby ingested in the uterus, which includes skin cells, water, and amniotic fluids.
In the first few days of the baby, their poop should progressively get lighter in colour and watery. If the baby’s poop doesn’t look like this, consult your doctor or pediatrician immediately, as this may be a sign of the baby not getting proper nutrition.
Newborn Poop
A newborn’s bowel movement varies, but most babies should have at least one to two bowel movements a day in their first month. If your baby is breastfed, they may have a bowel movement with almost every feeding. On the other hand, if your baby is formula-fed, they will have fewer bowel movements a day. Whether your baby is formula-fed or breastfed, the difference in their bowel movements is just normal.
Kinds of Poop
- Baby’s First Poop
Also known as meconium. It can be black, or dark green, looking like tar. It is thick and sticky and is difficult to clean off your baby’s bottom. This type of stool usually lasts for about 24 to 48 hours.
If your baby does not have a bowel movement in the first 24 hours after birth, consult your healthcare provider immediately.
- Transitional Poop
Transitional poop happens between the third and sixth day of life. The thick black meconium will begin to transition into a thinner, greenish-brown or greenish-yellow in colour. This type of stool is a combination of meconium and the next phase of poop called the milk stool.
- Milk Stools
Milk stools happen when the child no longer has meconium in their body. This usually begins after the sixth day, as the child will begin to have milk stools. For those who are excessive breastfeeding, their poop will often be golden, mustard yellow colour and can vary from orange to green. These bowel movements are mild in odour. They may also contain curds of milk called seeds.
For the infants who are using formula milk, their poop will be firmer and have a stronger odour. The colour of their poop appears in the shade of tan to brown. And for those who are combining breastfeeding and formula feeding, their child’s stool will be a combination of a breast milk stool and formula stools.
Baby Poop After One Month
After the first month, the consistency of the poop is more important than its frequency. Others may have poop in every diaper change, while some have a bowel movement once every few days or even longer. If your baby’s poop looks stiffer or thicker than peanut butter, or in some cases looks like pebbles, consult your pediatrician as this may be a sign of constipation.
If you are breastfeeding your infant, they may not have a bowel movement for several days. This is because newborns can digest breast milk easily, causing very little waste. Lesser waste leads to fewer bowel movements. This is normal. One of the benefits of breastfeeding also involves preventing diarrhea.
Baby Poop Colors
- Black or dark green
Baby poop after birth (meconium)
- Green
A mix of meconium and breast milk or formula milk. Happens in the first few days of life.
- Green-brown, yellow-brown, tan
Baby poop for those who are formula-fed, as well as those who consume both breast milk and formula milk
- Mustard yellow, yellow-orange, or yellow-green
Baby poop colour for those who consume breast milk
- Brown, yellow-brown
Baby poop colour after the introduction of solid foods
Unusual baby poop colours can be a sign of a medical problem. Contact your baby’s doctor if you happen to see any of these in your baby’s diaper:
- Blackish-green
Tar-like, blackish meconium poop is not normal after the fifth day of life. Consult your pediatrician immediately once seen in your baby’s diaper.
- Black
Black poop can be an indication of bleeding in the digestive tract.
- White, gray, or colourless
These shades of poop can be a sign of a problem in the gallbladder or liver.
When to consult a doctor
If your baby is showing any signs of abnormality in the texture or colour of their poop that is not normal as stated above, consult your baby’s doctor immediately. You can also book an online consultation via an online doctor Canada for a more convenient checkup and any inquiries that you may have regarding your baby’s poop.