Green poos in newborn...I KNOW it's been done before but I really need some advice

[katierocket]

DS2 (5 weeks - BF) is very very unsettled, frequently seems in pain. Am sure it's not trapped wind as he burps fine but I'm most concerned about his consistently green and slimey nappies. I think he's had one yellow seedy type one in 5 weeks. Lovely NCT BF lady i spoke to agreed that it's not normal for them to be always green.

Most of the info I can find suggests it means he's getting to much foremilk and to only feed from one side but I've only ever done that anyway. Is it possible that I could just naturally produce too much foremilk?

Am thinking of trying formula which I don't realyl want to do but desperate to make him more comfortable and it's obviously feeding related (is not 'colic' as DS1 had that and it was very different).

What's your baby's weight and weight gain, katie?

he was 8lb 15oz when born and the last time I had him weighed (about 10 days ago) he was 10lb 14oz

HV thinks I should go to GP and ask to be referred to paed.

Google "breast compression". This can help baby get to the so-called hind milk, with its higher fat content. Try feeding only from one side for 3 hours, before swapping to the other one.
BTW, what is your son's weight gain like?

Sorry Toktok - didn't realise you wre on the thread.

no lucy - all comments very welcome! See below re: weight gain, it's very good.

.

Try bf on one side for several feeds on the trot, Katie....this will prevent over-supply which can a) make poos green b)make babies unsettled and miserable. The reason it does this is because the baby fills his tummy with foremilk which is abundant when mum's milk is a bit too generous. The other thing to check is position and attachment - could be linked as with over-supply the baby can learn not to be on 'right' to prevent the firehose effect of the supply.

Hope this helps. You need to do it for a couple of days before you know it is working or not.

THANKS TT - will give it a go

TT - I've been feeding DS2 on same breast for 2 feeds, it's difficult to tell if it's making any difference - he's been slightly better but had a bad evening yesterday. how long shoudl I carry on for?

Hi Katie

I'm sure TT's got it all covered, but I just wanted to say that my DS had this too - and he was exclusively EBM fed with a bottle. It lasted for about 4 weeks. It was caused by him having to have antibiotics. Has your DS had them?

Nine
[smeil]

no he hasn't.

but thanks for the suggestion

2 feeds is not enough time to try it, katie. It needs to be at least 2 days - if this is what you meant, though, and he seems slightly better then stick with it.

a friend had this - and after a long time and frequent bafflement by the consultants she finally cut out all milk and dairy from her own diet and within a day green poo had gone.

Green poo is not the issue. It can be sky blue pink or purple as long as everything else is ok - it's the fact the baby is unsettled and seems in pain that's the real problem.

sorry TT, not explaining myself, I meant I'd been feeding him on one breast for 2 feeds, for 2 days now, poo has turned yellow which is a good sign I think, not sure he's that much more settled but will see what he's like tomorrow.

Try it for 3 feeds, then, katie, and see if it makes more difference.

PS you may need to gently hand express a v. little on the unused side to keep yourself comfortable.

yes I found myself dreadfully uncomfortable this morning. Right breast was so full.