Breast fed baby poo - can iron tablets discolour it?

[Elephantslovetofly]

Sorry if this is the wrong place for my question, but I don't know where else to ask!

I am breastfeeding my 7 day old daughter, and her poo is still quite green although has become gritty. We've had too much weight loss by day 5 so were put on a feeding plan, which so far has resulted in static weight change over the past 48 hours - better than a loss, I guess

It's been explained that she's not getting enough fatty milk at the end of the feed, which explains the static weight and green poo

My question is whether the iron tablets I'm taking could make her poo discoloured? I've read in one place only this could be the case, but wondered if anyone out there has been on iron and had it effect their baby's poo. Mine is black (as expected)

Thanks x

I see a lot of people worrying about green poo and a lot of nonsenseworried about fore milk carton hind milk etc. Sometimes babies have green poo, 6 days is very, very early and things will sort themselves out.

Sounds like things are improving from a loss to static over the last two days. Sounds like you're doing really well. Hopefully it'll continue over the next few days and your little one will start gaining weight.

Congratulations on your newborn, try not to worry so much I know it's a terrifying time and that's easier said than done

DD2 is 12 weeks now and had the odd green bit of poop in her nappy. Still does. It's changed over the past few weeks.

I've been on one iron tablet a day for a couple of years but never thought about it affecting the colour DDs poops!

I think advice has changed about the fore milk/hind milk. When I asked the helpline people with my dd (a year ago) they emphasised longer feeds but said green poo had lots of causes and wasn't a reason to fret. Try not to obsess over poo colour. If he's stopped losing you're doing fine. It's such early days.

I was put on iron tablets after DD was born and did notice a nappy that was green, when before they had been consistently mustard. She didn't seem bothered with it tho, and it's OK in the early days.

I stopped taking the iron tablets after a couple of days as they were causing me constipation, which did not go well with my stitches! I am not sure if it was the most sensible thing to do. But I upped my spinach and steak intake and figured my body would make more iron in time.

It's hard OP when they loose weight. I hope she really takes to breastfeeding for you. My LO struggled the first week and then didn't seem to stop feeding the next two weeks. It was exhausting but it did settle and now at 16 weeks we are still romping on.

Be kind to yourself. These first weeks are tough.

Elephants, hope things are better today.

I do wonder about the advice you have been given about not getting enough fatty milk at the end of the feed....this sounds like it comes from someone who has misunderstood the way effective breastfeeding works. Babies do need to feed frequently and effectively in order to get sufficient milk both to grow and to establish good production. Milk does increase in fat content as the breast empties, but this is not something that needs to be engineered, usually....frequent, effective feeding from both breasts when possible, with the baby being at least offered both breasts when possible, is the best way to ensure the baby gets what they need, including the fattier milk. I hope no one has told you to feed on one side only or to keep putting her back on one side? This would be unlikely to help.

It's good your baby has stopped losing weight, but to be sure she is getting what she needs, she needs to gain.

Colour of poo is usually nothing to worry about in a baby who is gaining weight normally, but in your case, I would be concerned that she needs to feed more often and more effectively.....I have no idea if the iron you are taking it would effect colour.

Thanks for all the messages and advice, I have been trying to top up with expressed milk either via syringe or cup (this is what I was advised to do), but she's having none of it! Just spits the milk out. I'm trying to feed her more each time, which is hard as she gets so sleepy, but hopefully it is helping. There's not much more I can do to get more milk into her

Tiktok - someone has told me to keep her on one side, I will try swapping over to the other breast during the same feed and see if it helps

Fingers crossed for a bit of weight gain tomorrow 👍

Getting more milk in is the key. It's volume that helps weight gain. Expressing and topping up with that is a major hassle. It is sometimes helpful to do so if the baby is having problems feeding but it does not sound as if that applies to you. Just offering feeds more often, keeping her close and skin to skin as often as possible, and possibly switch nursing (google it) should help and be a better use of time than expressing.

Who was it who told you to keep her on one side? An hcp?

Yep - can't remember if it was midwife or breast feeding advisor!

Her poo is really watery and has green/dark bits in it. More and more I'm wondering if its the iron.... Will ask the paediatrician when we go back in for weighing tomorrow

Best of luck tomorrow, hope you get some good news!

'Seedy' bits in breastfed newborns is normal iirc. And as other posters have said don't worry about the colour as long as it's somewhere on the yellow/green spectrum.
Congrats, and hope all is well at next check up.

Thanks everyone 😊

Just an update - we have been to the hospital and she has put on weight

I asked the consultant about the iron and he said it shouldn't cause issue with baby's poo. She's subsequently had a couple of yellow poos so it looks like we're getting there now!

The answer seems to be just feed her as much as she wants when she wants, without letting her go more than 3 hours. Offering both breasts has helped get more in, and I haven't had to faff with cup or syringe (both of which she refused)

Thanks for all the help and advice ladies

Great news! That must be such a relief. Well done!

Sounds like you are both settling into a good feeding rhythm - well done.
My 2 babies both lost weight in the first week - I thought it was expected/normal?

I fed as TikTok suggests from both breasts. Always on demand.

The fantastic bf counsellor I saw described bf as the baby having breakfast lunch and dinner, cups of tea, light snacks, drink of water, sometimes a 3 course meal. It helped me to remember the small feeds are ok, and to be ready to settle down for the big ones.

Also my 2nd child slept for 6 or 7 hours at night from about day 9. I was initially a bit worried (though grateful for the sleep) but she had a big feed on waking and was perfectly OK with it. Very different from first who fed at least every 2-3 hours through the night.

It was a big relief!

I think the night times will take some getting used to. My husband wants me to leave her to sleep and only feed if she wakes, but I'm nervous letting her go more than 4 hours!

Fab advice on here and glad things are getting better.

I saw this article and thought it worth sharing (I got confused about fore milk and hind milk)

www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/2010/6/27/worries-about-foremilk-and-hindmilk.html