How many times a day is normal for a breastfed baby to defecate? Introduction to the defecation of breastfed babies

How many times a day is normal for breastfed babies? Parents who want to know the defecation rules of breastfed babies can read the following introduction to breastfed babies. Breastfed babies usually have more bowel movements than formula-fed babies. So, how many times a day is normal?

How many times a day is normal for breastfed babies to poop

Within ten hours after birth, the child begins to excrete meconium, which is dark green or dark green, sticky, odorless, and a bit like asphalt used for paving roads. It is usually excreted within two to three days, about 3-5 times a day. If no meconium is seen within 24 hours after birth, it should be suspected whether the congenital malformation of the digestive tract has caused fecal obstruction, and timely diagnosis and treatment are required. Three to four days after birth, the meconium gradually transitions to ordinary baby feces. For infants under four months old who mainly feed on milk, their normal stools are mostly paste-like, with a uniform consistency, quite like the paste after fine sand and water, and may have a few granular objects as big as pepper seeds. The stools of breast-fed children are mostly golden yellow, occasionally thin like thick soup after water, slightly green, sour, and odorless, and they defecate two to four times a day. The number of bowel movements may be more frequent when they are newborns, four to five times a day, or even after each feeding. This is because breast milk is easy to digest and conducive to excretion, as well as the reflex peristalsis after the intestinal input of food. If the child has 4-5 bowel movements or more per day, or conversely only once every two to three days, but the bowel movement is normal, the child is gaining weight and is in good spirits, then there is no need to worry.

First, check whether the baby has enough milk. If the milk is insufficient, the bowel movement will be less. If the milk is sufficient, as long as the bowel movement frequency is regular, the bowel movement is mushy and golden yellow, it is normal. As long as the mother pays more attention to a light and nutritious diet, it will be fine.

An introduction to the bowel movements of breastfed babies

First, let's talk about the frequency of bowel movements of breastfed babies. This is also staged. For breastfed babies, the frequency of bowel movements is very flexible. Usually, the frequency is higher in the neonatal period, 2-5 times a day, or even after each feeding. This is because breast milk is easy to digest and easy to excrete, as well as the reflex peristalsis of the intestines after food is input. Therefore, if a breastfed baby has loose stools and more frequent stools, as long as he is in good spirits and breastfeeding, his weight gain is normal, and he does not have difficulty defecating, abdominal pain, or flatulence, it is normal and parents do not need to worry.

Breastfed newborns may even defecate 7-8 times a day. Parents do not need to worry. This is called physiological diarrhea, which is a normal phenomenon. When the baby grows up to a certain age, this diarrhea will disappear automatically. In addition, if the baby's stool is dark green and mucous, it means that the breast milk is insufficient and the baby is in a semi-starved state. More breast milk is needed. If the mother's breast milk is indeed insufficient, fresh milk or milk powder can be added to the baby.

The feces of babies are usually mushy or thicker than ice cream and have no smell. Breastfed babies rarely suffer from constipation. They absorb almost everything and have very little waste, which explains why babies sometimes have feces only once every three days. Please remember that the food the mother eats greatly affects the baby. Spicy foods can cause indigestion in children.

Is it a problem if a breastfed baby has loose stools?

Breastfeeding babies always have loose stools. Try this feeding trick!

Breastfed babies usually have looser stools than those fed with formula, and some mothers may mistakenly think that their children have diarrhea and stop breastfeeding. If you suspect your child has diarrhea, you can bring a diaper stained with your child's stool or take a photo to show it to your pediatrician.

In addition, children who often eat only a little milk are prone to loose stools. This is caused by the imbalance of foremilk and hindmilk. During a feeding, the first milk and the milk that flows out later have different breast milk components. The later the milk, the higher the fat content. Therefore, children who often eat only a little milk will consume less fat-rich hindmilk and more lactose-rich foremilk. At this time, the intestines are stimulated and they will often have loose stools. This symptom is called imbalance of foremilk and hindmilk, which is different from diarrhea.

It is very simple to improve this situation. Try to let your child drink milk from one side. Do not rush to change breasts. Feed one side for 10 to 15 minutes. After fully feeding, switch to the other side and the symptoms will improve.