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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Green poo when breastfeeding.

18 replies

PlumFairy2014 · 04/12/2014 10:10

Having a bit of a stress!

LO is nearly 5 weeks, did have mustard poo but now it has gone green.

One hv said don't worry she's fine and saw the poo at the drop in and was in no way concerned.
This week with a different hv she said it was a lack of hind milk and to keep her on one side longer and monitor.

I've had my latch checked by several people, she is gaining weight and spends a good 40 mins (sometimes longer) on one breast but some feeds asks for the other too. She has been eating a lot the last few days. I eat broccoli sometimes but not enough to colour her poo I don't think!

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:

Original poster

PlumFairy2014 · 04/12/2014 10:11

Or similar experiences.

OP posts:

NickyEds · 04/12/2014 11:59

Try not to worry too much. My DS would routinely have spells of green poo, it could be a bit of a bug, it could be nothing. I was told it was in the range of normal. Don't worry about the hind/fore milk either, if she's spending 40 mins on a boob and then going for seconds and gaining weight then she'll be fine. Broccoli won't make the poo green any more than blueberries will make it blue!

Allisgood1 · 04/12/2014 12:02

The first HV was right, the second was misinformed. Green poo is absolutely fine in a bf baby who is growing well.

Don't change anything.

Original poster

PlumFairy2014 · 04/12/2014 12:20

Thanks for the replies! The reassurance is greatly appreciated. Been a tough couple of days stressing about poo! X

OP posts:

mrsmilkymoo · 04/12/2014 15:25

Hi plum, dd is 17 weeks and we saw quite a bit of green poo in her earlier days. The hv told us not to worry, and now it's been a while since she's produced a green one. So it was just one of those things and nothing sinister.

squizita · 04/12/2014 15:35

Mine has the odd day or so of green poo. Harmless if it's not very frequently and/or full of mucus I was told.

I associate it with wind (not problem wind, just burp feeds) but not a problem.

Scotmum83 · 04/12/2014 16:40

I've had the same problem with my lg but it calmed down after 4 weeks, I worked out that her poo is green when I eat chocolate, my skin has been bad too so I've cut it out and trying my best to avoid dairy seems to have worked. I was told not to worry about it by the GP and a few Hvs.

JollyCrumbs · 04/12/2014 22:29

DS had green poo often. Do not worry, it is normal.

Noodledoodledoo · 05/12/2014 08:54

We have had green poo for about three weeks in our 9 week old. Its heading back towards yellow again. HV was fine with it. I have over supply so expressed a bit of foremilk off first before a feed. Also make sure they are feeding for 40mins, mine had got a bit lazy so wasn't actually feeding. Only ever offer one side each feed.

firsttimemumma2014 · 05/12/2014 09:07

Mine has also had periods of green poo. I put it down to spicy food as I'd eaten a chilli or curry before hand.

Might be worth keeping a food diary to see if there is any correlation with your diet? Then you can eliminate anything you think might be having an effect.

squizita · 05/12/2014 09:43

Noodle your Hv told you they should feed for 40 min every time? I don't think that is the current advice. Mine only feeds 15-20 min and with my plentiful supply it's enough (hv and bf lady both seen a feed).

Also only feed from one side if you have over supply and want to reduce it ... because that's what block feeding does.
I have a lot of milk but not "too much" so was told to offer both sides but not worry if she didn't take a lot from the 2nd. Had I block fed I might have ended up short!

But in all seriousness if the green poo does not hurt it is not a problem so you don't have to change anything. For example, if spicy food or chocolate makes green poo, but there's no pain, it isn't an issue. My GP and a midwife was very clear aabout this with me (I have anxiety and check everything! ) so was my local nct breastfeeding lady who likened it to asparagus tainting adult wee ... weird but not a problem! Cut out food if it makes them I'll. .. If the only effect is green poo, it's a non issue!

Noodledoodledoo · 05/12/2014 13:40

No sorry - I meant to say they are actually feeding for the full 40 mins, not feed for 40 mins. The OP said Baby fed for a good 40 mins each time, but I was tricked into thinking my baby was feeding well as she was suckling for a long period of time but wasn't actually feeding a lot of it. A lot of comfort sucking at the same time.

At the NCT breastfeeding session I attended we were advised to only offer one side each feed, not block feeding so nothing to do with my oversupply.

squizita · 05/12/2014 14:03

Ah right sorry that makes sense!

Hmm my nct said the opposite! That it lowered supply. They all say different things. How odd. Mine takes 7-10 min each side most feeds so I just go with that!

Original poster

PlumFairy2014 · 07/12/2014 16:54

Thanks so much for all the responses!

An oversupply seems to be the culprit.... It's amazing what you learn about boobs, I'm getting a bit boob obsessed.

There is a lot of conflicting opinions from Bf groups, the mw, the hv, but I think we're on the right track now!

OP posts:

tiktok · 07/12/2014 18:23

Noodle, I am pretty sure the Nct would not have said to feed one side only. This works for some and some babies are fine with it. But as the mother's deliberate 'policy', definitely no. Could be you have misheard or misunderstood.

Noodledoodledoo · 09/12/2014 11:43

Well if I did mis hear then so did the other 6 couples in my group as it is what we are all doing and its not really been discussed since the course.We have discussed feeding but not this aspect. HV and midwives (at hospital and community) have also all independently said the same to me. I did question at one point when baby lost too much birth weight but was told to only use one side still unless she seemed hungry.

Noodledoodledoo · 09/12/2014 11:47

Oh and Squizita if offering only oneside reduces supply I am pleased we are doing that as my supply is ridiculous just about to start donating as there is so much!

FoodPorn · 09/12/2014 18:25

DS had green poop for his entire 6 months before the introduction of solids! I spent a lot of time worrying about it - and really struggled to find a definitive answer to whether there was a problem and what it might be - but ultimately he seemed completely fine, tracked the 75th centile on weight throughout.

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