Black strands in BF 3mth old DD's stools? Normal???

[arabellaandbaby]

Hello all

Hoping for some advice from you kind souls out there please.

My 3mth-old DD is mainly on a BF and EBF diet, except for the very occasional couple of ounces of formula now and then when my milk supply is low.

I changed her nappy this morning and was SHOCKED to see little brown/black strands in her runny yellow, mucusy-type poo. She has had mucus in her poo for the past couple of weeks now, and for the past few days, has had a very rumbly tummy. I've taken her to the docs previously regarding the rumbly tummy and was assured that this was very common in babies and that it was nothing to worry about when not accompanied by a fever.

I looked on the web for an answer regarding the black strands and it appears the general consensus is that they are normal... but for an older baby who has been weaned and had banana. My DD has never had solids and has certainly not had banana! Could my having a couple of bananas a day (my fave fruit) have anything to do with it? Perhaps any effects have passed to DD in my breastmilk?

Fortunately, DD doesn't have a fever, seems happy enough, and is her usual smiley self.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Bella x

Hi there. I don't have any direct experience of this (other than seconding the banana thing). However, I would have thought that it would be unlikely that the banana has passed through your breast milk in a way that could cause the strands in your LOs poo.

It is most likely nothing to worry about, but I would suggest you take her to GP just to be sure. I guess these is an outside chance that the brown/black bits are blood or something that warrants a visit. I don't mean to panic you, as I said its probably nothing but why not take her just to reassure yourself.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who can help a bit more.

let us know how you get on.

oh, thanks so much wheresmypaddle. I have just made a GP appointment just to get the reassurance.

Thanks again.

x

Let us know how you get on. Sure it will all be just fine. Always nice to get that 'official' stamp of reassurance from GP I think!!
X

bump

I took little DD to the GP on Friday, and the doc couldn't give any advice on this. She just said that, if the black strands appear again, then I need to scoop the poop up into a sterile container and take it to the hospital for examination.

Fortunately, the black strands have gone now, it only apeared in two poos. Hope it doesn't come back.

I had this when my daughter had a cold - it seemed to be just some part of the weird mucous poo.

Just wanted to comment on something else you said in your post though - about your LO having formula "when your milk supply is low". What makes you think your supply is occasionally low? Do you know about things like growth spurts etc?

Hello jemjabella

I'm no expert on BF, but I've heard many BF mothers experience a low milk supply in the evenings.

During the day, my DD can suckle for a short time, even on just one breast and will seem quite content and 'drunk' on milk. It becomes apparent to me that I have insufficient milk when she starts to pester for more milk after suckling for what seems an age but still doesn't seem satisfied, and this happens on the occasional evening.

I think DD had a growth spurt last week when she just kept feeding nearly all day every couple of hours of so. This growth spurt was confirmed at a weighing when she'd put on nearly a pound in 7 days (she usually only puts on about 5-7oz in a week).

Yes, I have heard this too - it's a very common myth.

It is totally normal for babies to clusterfeed in the evenings. It's not an indicator of low supply, just that you have a very typical baby! Even now at 7mo my little girl will clusterfeed in the evenings for a few hours. In the early days it was 4-11pm and I remember thinking my boobs were going to shrivel up and fall off!

The only way your body knows how to make more milk is by 'stimulation' at the breast - aka feeding, comfort sucking and pumping. If you had a supply issue (and I don't think you do, from what you've said) giving formula just interrupts that supply and demand relationship.

Unless you desperately want to give formula, there is no need. Trust your boobs!