Breastfed, mucus in poo - cut out dairy?

[FortunateHamster]

Me again.

So I've had green poo issues for weeks but as each day starts with mostly yellowy-brown poos I haven't been too concerned. In the mornings I usually offer one side at each feed as I am full enough to satisfy him that way, but in the afternoons usually offer two (he was not putting on as much weight as I would've liked when I was solely doing one side).

Anyway, am getting frustrated as he is still getting fussy due to tummy pains and having green poo and today there was a fair amount of mucus, too. I doubt it's a virus as he seems otherwise okay and the green poo has been going on for ages. I have, once or twice, seen a teeny tiny speck of blood too.

I don't think I have a particularly strong let-down. I've already tried only doing one side.

What else can I do? Breastfeeding is going really well except for this and it's getting me down.

The only other thing I can think of is maybe it's a diet problem. There are allergies in my family and my dad is allergic to dairy. Has anyone else found giving it up improved things? Apparently you need to do at least two weeks to see an improvement. Of course I'll do whatever it takes but as a massive chocoholic/cheese-lover, it will be difficult. Did you cut out just milk/cheese/yoghurt and everything with obvious dairy ingredients, or also scrupulously check everything for milk powders etc?

Thanks in advance.

Forgot to add my son is almost four months old and just under the ninth centile (if that matters?).

Hi - I posted something similar a few days ago (although my DD is only 4 weeks not 4 months) - I have been to docs today who took a stool sample to rule out any infections.

She said she wasn't too concerned about the colour/mucus/spots of blood in the poo but to keep an eye on it. She didn't really entertain the idea that is might be to do with my diet but I am reducing/cutting out dairy as my own experiment. (Its going to be hard!!)

so - sorry - no real advice but I probably would go to the GP - I took some nappies for her to get the general idea.

It's just so irritating because some days are fine, or today it's a 'bad' day but then his next poo (constant TMI here) was green but totally normal consistency. I just always feel like I'm doing something wrong but don't know what.

if it was milk you would expect the poo to be like it all the time tho, not start off normally surely?

Well it makes me think it could be a lactose issue, ie too much of it makes him digest the milk too quickly (hence the green poo), but then over night he sleeps for so long/doesn't get fed as much that his system sort of resets, and then with the more milk he gets in the day, the worse it gets again. But I don't know what I'm talking about and even if that was the case, I wouldn't know how to fix it.

The only other thing I can think of is dribbling/teething - he is constantly dribbling at the moment.

I'm not going to start any new threads though - I think I'll just keep any poo issues to this one from now on :)

if it was lactose he'd be failing to thrive because breastmilk is full of it :)
the most common dairy problem is a cow's milk protein intolerance, but IME that shows up constantly, and you would also have other symptoms

have you tried block feeding in the mornings? so doing 2 feeds consecutively from the same breast, then switching to the other breast for the next 2 feeds?

No advice, but my DS is the same, and I am kind of coming to the conclusion that it's his system maturing

He is now 5.5 months and at around 10 weeks or so he had 2 weeks of completely and utterly green poo. Every time. Like spinach some days

Took him to the doctor, who said wait another week, by which time his poos were yellow again, so I didn't go back, but since then he has a complete variety of shades and textures (with mucus, without, mustardy, yellow, greenish, brown bits sometimes. Some just come out without me noticing, others involve half an hour of wriggling, writhing and working up a sweat).

I have half heartedly attempted to correlate what I eat with the contents of his nappy, but it is such hard work, and he is mainly happy. The thought of living without most tasty things and spending weeks keeping food diaries etc. gives me stomach aches of my own

Are you sure he's unhappy because of tummy pains? Both my DS and my DD (now nearly 3) get/got grisly towards the end of the day. I've certainly often thought there was trapped wind or a big poo to come out, only for them to calm down by other means. By 4 months they're generally quite alert but can't really do much yet. DS is much improved in that respect since being able to sit by himself, but he still does a rainbow of green/brown/yellow poos...

Actually he's not always fussy, some days he's great, it's just today he was noticeably in discomfort until he shifted this mucousy poo - but they don't happen every day. We do get green poo most days - but very occasionally get one without any.

I must admit I am a bit reluctant to change my diet so much without evidence pointing towards dairy specifically, but I just don't know what else could be causing it. I guess you're right and it could just be his system still developing. I don't feel like I will get any definitive info from the doctor or health visitors either. When I brought it up at the Health Clinic before they just said to try feeding from one side.

Thisisyesterday - haven't tried block feeding but he hasn't had brilliant weight gain so not sure I should try it - I don't feel as if I have a massive supply anyway (I know you can't always tell, but I don't have a strong letdown and it just seems to me that it's just enough rather than too much, iykwim).

I'm fed up of talking about poo and nappy checking - I'm boring myself! But I just wish the problem would go away already so I could have more confidence in how I'm feeding him. Sigh.

I'm a nappy bore too, don't worry! After agonising and wondering and thinking of trying things, I have now just accepted the poo variance, and I wonder if I over-thought it before

Some poos are clearly a strain for DS, but often these look less offensive than the ones that seem to pop out nice and easily. For that reason, I decided that without massive discipline and food elimination and so on, I would never be able to get to the bottom of it

I did find block feeding helped a bit when his poos were really green, but I'm not sure that was what made the difference

If he's not visibly ill or mainly unhappy, it might just be one of those mystery things that will pass, and the best thing you can do (certainly helped me) is not stress about it

But I totally understand how frustrating it is. I spent a long time questioning whether bf was even right for us, based purely on the colour of DS's poos! With ff, there are less variables in some ways. Also HVs and GPs are pretty useless for this, I found. Have you seen a BF counsellor? We went to one just for reassurance and she essentially said it's all completely normal baby behaviour. If there was a real problem, DS would be constantly miserable

Anyway, I'm glad I persevered. I'm pretty sure that there's not much I can or could do about the poos, and riding it out seems to be paying off - he still has bouts of gassy wriggling and straining, but I would say it is starting to get less. We'll see what weaning brings next

My ds is allergic to dairy, his symptoms were:

poor weight gain from the word go
excessive (!) wind
diarrhea (20+ nappies a day, plus rash)
screaming and screaming
diagnosed reflux (but not)
poo 'foamed', came out with bubbles a little like mousse and stank like rotten eggs. Liquid yellow, but odd bits of green and mucus.

Does that help?

Had this with my DS, even stayed overnight in hospital and TBH nothing came of it, he just grew out of it. I think it's very unlikely that it has anything to do with intolerences etc it's much more likely to do with him not getting enough of the fattier hind milk as too much foremilk can leave them gassy with green stools. Just make sure that he gets plenty of time feeding from one breast before you offer him the 2nd. It should pass.

fortunate, the block feeding may help. because he will get more "hind" or fattier milk.

as it is he may be getting a lot of the watery "fore"milk when he has his first feed. then you change side and he gets lots of it from ther etoo. that can cause green poo. it would fill him up but not give him as much fat (as i understand it)

block feeding would ensure he gets plenty of the fattier milk, which presumably would help his weight gain

thisisyesterday I understand the principle, but what I meant is that I've already tried only feeding on one side per feed, and his gain wasn't great and decided it was better to always offer both sides. So I think only offering one side for even longer would only worsen things (despite the theory sounding good). I don't know. Thanks though :)

strawberrycake that list is really useful, thanks. His gain is ok but not stellar. Was 25th, then 9th, now hovering below 9th. Is often windy but haven't seen diarrhoea - he is still doing one nappy per feed in the daytime, pretty much. Have only seen foamy poo once or twice and not for ages and he's not usually a screamer unless tired or hungry.

TheMulled Thanks, that's what I'm trying to do - I just offer him the first until he's either stopped or just keeps popping on and off constantly, then do the second. In the mornings I often only offer one side as it seems to be enough and I think that's helped a bit.

Pinata Thank you for sharing your experiences. I sometimes go to a local breastfeeding support group and have spoken to one of the more experienced peer supporters - she seemed to think that it was probably just one of those things and as long as he seemed happy in himself and was still gaining weight, not to worry too much.

Anyway today's poo update is better. Didn't have the yellowy-brown normal one that usually begins the day, but instead all of them were that fluro yellow/tinged green, fairly solid poop. No mucous or dark green. So I feel pretty happy with that. And that's why I haven't changed my diet yet because it's not every day that's bad, it's just most days and a lot of poo. On the bad days I worry myself silly and post threads like this, whereas on the good days I think I just have to wait and it shall pass.

yes but you said you only offer one side in the morning as ytou seem to have a lot of milk then, which is why i suggested block feeding then.

anyway, it is probably worth ringing one of the BF helplines, or seeing a local counsellor if you have one just to make sure everything is as it should be

Not loads, just enough that I can get away with a single side then when I can't normally.

I don't want to argue as I am here for advice. But I've already said that single side feeding didn't work for me and I don't want to extend it. I would rather deal with green poo than losing weight. I hope you can understand this as I'm beginning to feel a bit frustrated and upset.

I have already spoken to people who've been trained in supporting BF and the HV has also seen me feed.

not arguing, just explaining why i suggested it

people are onlky trying to offer advice based on their own experience and knowledge of breastfeeding

if you're happy doing things your way that's fine

I'm having a similar problem with my baby, I have decided to stop dairy a few days ago, but came accross this and thought I would share it you need to read down to find one mums account of what helped her
www.steadyhealth.com/Mucous_in_breatfed_infant_s_stools_t118139.html
No idea if this is good advice but it worked for her, I am looking at trying some of the suggestions

TIY, what I meant is I don't want it to turn into an argument. I'd already said I didn't want to do block feeding, with a reason for that, and you suggested it again. I am simply saying while I am looking for advice, I am not looking to hear that particular suggestion over and over. It is not that I'm happy 'doing things my way' because there might be something causing this problem. But I refuse to do something that will make him lose weight. Is that clear?

As far as I can tell you came here to help and I do get that, but can't you see that you are making me upset? I am already feeling very frustrated and down and you are making me feel worse by suggesting the same thing (that will not work for me) over and over and then implying that I am being stubborn. I am more than willing to take on different advice - but not on block or continual one-sided feeding. Seriously, I hate drama online but I feel very low because of this whole issue and was nearly in tears when I saw your post this morning (which is ridiculous because logically I know you were trying to help) as it made me doubt myself all over again.

Thank you sedgiebaby, I will look at that link. It seems that offering both sides helped some. Not sure I could do the lying down on my back suggestion regularly but maybe I will try it later!

Only one 'normal' yellow/brown nappy today.

I hate sounding defensive/combative. Honestly, everyone, I am willing to hear suggestions, just not that particular one. Thank you, I do appreciate everyone trying to help.

I tell a lie on the nappy front - my husband changed one that he said only had a bit in. I suspect from what he said that it was tiny bit of yellow w/mucus but it is hard to get the details from him sometimes.

look i don't want an argument either, particularly.
but you said you hadn't tried block feeding and weren't sure it would work given his not brilliant weight gain
that's why i said well it might work, and explained why

i'm sorry if i've upset you, all i have done is answer your posts.

and if you haven't tried it, you can't "know" that it won't work

this is why i suggested you see a counsellor face to face. because that way they can check latch and listen to ALL of your concerns and give probably better advice than most of us on here can.

i'm not trying to force you to do anything, and i'm not jnust suggesting the same thing over and over again.
just replied to your concerns about it.

Both my babies had green poo, both were very colicky. I tried everything including cutting out dairy for 6 weeks, nothing worked except the introduction of solids at 6 months. (Did make me wonder if I should have introduced solids earlier but I was concerned about allergies and couldn't go against the health advice).

Every health professional I spoke to said green poo was normal, so if possible don't worry too much about it. Baby seems to be generally contented.

Re. centile, 9th is quite low, but what the health professionals look for is a settled centile rather than the level.

You might want to try an osteopath for babies - I did find that helpful.

Argh! I have tried single-side feeding though and he wasn't gaining on that so I don't want to do block feeding, which would be pretty much the same thing, but for longer periods! Fwiw, I probably did do a few block feeds during those weeks but I don't remember specifically.

You are still suggesting block feeding. I don't want to do it, can't we just leave it at that, please? In my mind, even if you think I'm completely off my rocker, I have tried it.

The link given a few posts up suggests block feeding doesn't work and that a lactation consultant actually suggested always feeding from both sides.

I have seen someone face to face, face to my boob in fact. I have! I have already said this! Why are you ignoring me saying this? I have seen trained bf supporters and HVs and I don't want to call any more people in for what is a relatively minor problem.

Look. He has more green poo than I like. Being a bit pfb, I am probably more concerned than I need to be. I know this. I need encouragement and perhaps advice. I don't need the same advice over and over (and given that you've just said it again, do you really think you're not being repetitive). It's not green all the goddamned time. It's just a little issue. But saying the same thing as if I'm ignoring it for fun is making me obsess more than I was already and I don't need it.

Tbh, I'm pissed off now. I suspect you still think you are helping but are also concerned with proving yourself right. I'd rather you didn't keep posting but as it's an open forum I can hardly stop you.

Wannabeglam - I think he has settled around there and he was only 25th at birth so unless it drops further I am relatively okay with his weight. Again I have spoken to the health visitors about this and about my breastfeeding and they were happy too.

note: re, my first sentence - he was gaining, but not as much as I wanted, which is why I stopped. His gain has been better since I went back to both sides relatively recently. Generally bf is alllll good apart from me being obsessive over poo colour and weight gain. Have to pop out for a bit before I start crying over silly internet posts /emo