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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Green poop - when to call the Dr?

17 replies

Gentleness · 29/01/2013 07:18

This is dc3 and I've seen green poop with the others but this has been 4 days of it now.

7wk old Dd is ebf and on Wednesday last wk she did projectile vomiting/posseting after 3 feeds ( alternate ones, so always after feeding from the same breast). Since then her poop has been green.

It took about a day to register the pattern, then I assumed it was caused by lack of fatty hind milk. I'm over producing a bit so I know the foremilk might be filling her up and my boobs never feel drained. So I tried to change the feeding pattern and get her to finish on one breast and not move to the other even after a fairly long burping break. But it isn't working.

She's no other symptoms of trouble that I can see - no more posseting than before and only the usual fussiness in the night. But I'm wondering if I should call the Dr. She has her 6-8 wk check on Friday anyway but is this serious enough to warrant going earlier?

OP posts:
tiktok · 29/01/2013 08:53

If she is well in every other way, then the usual guidance is that all is fine....she may be fighting an infection, no big deal :)

Maybe call your HV before you call the doctor, and check it out with her first.

ellangirl · 29/01/2013 11:22

What tiktok said... Also, if you are taking iron it can make poo green.

Ionasky · 29/01/2013 11:33

i took my dd to the Dr for green poop - he was unconcerned (quite amused in fact) and very kind, was nice to have peace of mind. Mine was related to fennel tea - I figured out that the fennel was making her poop green (via the breastmilk!). Similarly, they won't get very interested in the projectile vomiting if not happening pretty regularly and the baby stops gaining. No harm in checking it out though, even if you end up feeling like it was nothing to worry about, always better safe than sorry.

Original poster
Gentleness · 29/01/2013 12:22

Thanks! Very happy to avoid an avoidable trip to the drs with all the kids in tow! Sometimes I just worry I'm being a lax mother and that anyone else would have acted quicker. Is there ever a point when you stop questioning your parenting skills?

OP posts:
Original poster
Gentleness · 29/01/2013 12:25

Mostly I was panicking that I was going to have to give up Pepsi Max, which is the only thing keeping me going many days. How's that for appallingly selfish parenting? (and yes I do know it is evil stuff, but it is better than vodka or chocolate!)

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MakesCakesWhenStressed · 29/01/2013 12:38

Just so you know, excessive sugar or sugar-replacements (as in sugar-free drinks) can cause upset tummies in small babies. If you're stonking so much Pepsi that you're worried it might be the problem well, might it be the problem?

If she's otherwise fine, though, I don't think I'd bother dragging everyone to the gp. No

Original poster
Gentleness · 29/01/2013 14:46

Darn and double darn. I'm going to have to develop a backbone and cut back aren't I? How will I survive?

OP posts:
Ionasky · 29/01/2013 14:48

if it's the caffeine, i probably shouldn't say but i did drink coffee whilst bf - cut back, found the baby's behaviour was no different either way, started drinking coffee again...

tiktok · 29/01/2013 17:07

MakesCakes - never heard of this (lots of sugar/sugar replacement causing upset tums in babies....are you sure about this?

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 30/01/2013 12:44

it's entirely empirical evidence culled from mums at baby groups and post natal groups, but the Health Visitor did agree when I asked her. Said it was up there with the cluster feeding for causing green poos.

Have to admit I only experienced it after a cadbury's cream egg binge, but I don't drink sugary drinks, so maybe the sugar intake is higher.

Ignore me if you want, I just thought I'd share :)

tiktok · 30/01/2013 15:17

Not 'empirical', MakesCakes - absolutely the opposite :)

There's no physiological reason why it could cause green poos; a high sugar intake does not affect the constituents of breastmilk, anyway.

I think the HV was very ill-informed. Cluster feeding does not cause green poos, either :)

PinkPepper · 30/01/2013 15:23

I drink a fair bit of diet coke (2 cans a day sometimes) and don't find it has any impact on my baby, I gave up to a few weeks (for my benefit not babies) no difference at all. I do drink caffeine free just because I have coffee too and don't want to overdo caffeine for me or him!

DrMcDreamysWife · 30/01/2013 15:27

We've had green poo on and off for a week and dd seems otherwise fine. Did speak to HV about it and she spouted on about foremilk overload and lactose intolerance. I'm allergic to dairy products so I'm not eating dairy anyway. And I always offer first boob after a burp just in case. She said to make her go longer between feeds with a walk but surely that would mean more foremilk, I thought fattier milk came from an emptier breast?

Honestly HV are the most confusing people. She also intimated that eating/ drinking green things could make it green ie broccoli and apple juice..? Anyone heard of that, seemed very random surely if the colour of food affected breastmilk we would see a rainbow of colours?!
I think I should stop listening to her!?

tiktok · 30/01/2013 15:39

DRMc - your HV may appreciate some education on bf.

Going longer between feeds will not benefit the baby, and will have no impact on the colour of the poo. Fattier milk comes, as you say, from an emptier breast.

Some vitamin preparations have been known to give a green tinge to the breastmilk, but not the poo.

I think you are being very polite when you say she is 'confusing', 'Confused' might be more accurate.

There is, in any case, nothing to worry about if a baby poos green and is otherwise well :)

Original poster
Gentleness · 31/01/2013 17:14

Glad to get some reassurance. I've had duff guidance from some in our hv team too. Never take anything they say as true now unless it's backed up by other sources!

I just KNOW I'm going to have another battle over dc3's weight because she won't follow the line on the graph. My other 2 didn't either and are fine, but I'm going to have to have dc3 weighed more frequently because of a hole in the heart. I just don't want to feel undermined again, every wretched visit to the clinic. Hence even green poo worrying me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gentleness · 03/02/2013 13:20

Just thought I'd update in case anyone happens across this thread via Dr Google!

All the various health professionals I've asked (some friends, the hv and the dr) all said pretty much the same thing. The green poo is not a concern in the absence of other symptoms, even when bottle green or pretty lurid. And even when it persists for a week or more. It happens because the food is moving more rapidly through the digestive system. So I'm alert to other symptoms but otherwise reassured.

OP posts:
ellangirl · 04/02/2013 13:11

Glad everything ok Smile

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