My babies pooing every 2 hrs - should I be concerned???

[Becks123]

I've been exclusively bfing dd2 for 4 months but over the last week she's lost all interest in bfding during the day. I have introduced a bottle of formula at lunchtime as she was still displaying hunger signs. Problem is, she now poos around 6 times a day. Is this normal or could she be finding the formula difficult to cope with? I had a lot of problems with diet during the first 3 mths as she reacted badly to so many things I was eating ie dairy, wheat, many fruit and veg. She's so much happier past the 3 mth mark and tolerates a lot more - it's just the pooing habits that have changed with the formula. Is this usual???

Have you started her on solids? (I'm not suggesting you should) If not then it's strange that she has gone off milk during the day. There could of course be some medical reason but my first reaction would not be to offer formula simply because she is not interested in a bf. Hard to understand. I wouldn't be too concerned that she is pooing a lot, her system will be finding the change hard to cope with. Constipation would be more of a worry, which I think can be more common in ff babies. Could you go back to excl bfing?

She's not on solids yet, but she is a big night feeder. I find it really odd that she's gone off the breast but is happy to take the bottle. Less distractions I think. I'm still expressing so I hope that eventually she'll go back on the breast. I'm putting brest milk into the bottle as well as a bit of formula so she's still getting the good stuff - I wonder if she's just self weaning even though it seems a bit early

Hi Becks,

What formula is she having ?? as you say in the early days she had a bad reaction to you eating dairy, i think there is a possabilty that she is lactose intolerant if she is having standard cows milk formula this could be the reason for her pooing alot. Has she been weighed recently ??

Personally i would go back to just Bf if possible if not then speak to your HV about trying her on soya formula.

As regards to weaning my DD1 was fine with being weaned at 6 mth, however DD2 was 4mths when we started weaning as she was more than ready.

Another thing to remember is Bfing is hard work for babies, FF is obviously easier work for them, so maybe she is just being abit lazy. lol

Becks - it's normal for older babies to take less time on breastfeeds, especially during the day. They may take only a few minutes. Intro'ing bottles might mess up your suppply.

Might be worth speaking to a breastfeeding counsellor about this. She'd prob explore the dietary issues you mention, as well, in case they have anything to do with it.

The pooing - can't comment on it, sorry. It'd be best to talk about this with your HV.

Soya formula - current UK advice is that this is to be avoided unless there is no alternative.

She's on Cow and Gate. My main concern is that it may be a problem with lactose which is the main reason why I questioned the pooing frequency.

The poos (sorry - so much about pooing!) during the week of breast disinterest were always so green and watery that I knew she wasn't getting to the hindmilk so I thought it best to give her some heavier formula. I'm still expressing to keep up my supply so fingers crossed I'll get her back onto fulltime bf asap.

I'm sad to say that my HV has left me so disillusioned in the past that I'm reluctant to go to her about this.

Hi Becks,

Is she having just 1 feed of formula? the green poo btw is very common in lactose intolerant children my DD1 is now almost 5 and is still slightly intolrant to lactose but is slowly outgrowing it thank god!!

The quicker you switch back to exclusivley breastfeeding the better, if you then cut all dairy from your own diet if should clear up really quickly. Once DDs poos and feeding habits are back to normal you could gradually introduce bits of dairy to your own diet. i found i could have milk in drinks ect and the odd cheese buttie, but any more than that and DD would start to get a runny bum ect.

I would also go and see you GP if HV not much help, so that they can advice you about weaning ect when the time comes.

I've been totally off dairy and wheat for the past 2 months so I'm pretty sure it's just a foremilk issue.
Thanks so much for all the advice though - I think it's time to pay a trip to the GP just to make sure all is well. I'm ashamed to say that dd2 hasn't been weighed for at least a couple of months - 2nd baby syndrome!

Becks - formula is made from cows milk, so although you might be off dairy, your dd isn't any longer! It will be cows milk protein rather than lactose though, as lactose is just milk sugar, which your milk still contains.

I would stop the formula and see if she improves, which would confirm this.

Hypoallergenic (not soya, which is unsuitable) formula is available on prescription.

I know that formula is cows milk and contains more lactose - but the green poo was a result of poor feeding from the breast before any formula was introduced. The only reason I gave a bottle of formula was due to a refusal of the breast. dd2 seems totally fine with the formula introduction, just an increase in stools production which concerned me as I'm aware that formula is cows milk based. I exclusivly bf dd1 so am not aware of which changes occur when formula is introduced so just wondered if the increase in poo is normal. It's a wonder clueless one can feel even with child no2!