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5mo won’t stop pooing!

11 replies

Bella0831 · 17/10/2022 08:21

Hello,
Sorry if TMI, seems strange to be talking so much about poo… but my five month old just won’t stop! We went from going once every 3/4 days to anywhere between 8-12 poos a day for the last two weeks. A lot of them are just farts that follow through but others are big wet explosions. They used to be that yellow mustard colour but now they resemble pesto - sort of goopy, thick, sticky and green. I’m worried about him becoming dehydrated but he has lots of wet nappies, his soft spot seems normal and he seems fine in himself besides this?

I did mention to my GP as we’re having fortnightly calls about his severe reflux but she didn’t seem too worried - just said as long as he’s having wet and dirty nappies he’s fine, but I think she was a bit too dismissive?

He’s breastfed majority of time apart from one bottle of formula in the morning that my partner gives so I get some sleep. We were using SMA up until 6-8 weeks ago when we switched to Kendamil upon recommendation that he wolfs down - that was long before this started but could that be it? We still sometimes use the SMA ready to feed bottles if we’re out and about and desperate as we had loads of bottles left over. I figured as formula is all mainly the same recipe would be ok but could that be it? I’m not sure the do’s and don’t’s. Otherwise there’s no significant change to my diet to impact my breast milk.

A friend with a previously refluxy baby also said that once her little one’s reflux started to improve she pooed loads and constantly as rather than throwing up she was taking all the food and nutrients in. She said it only lasted about 8 days whereas this has been over two weeks. Our little one has been on Omeprazole since about 4 weeks old - and quite a high dosage. We recently swapped from tablet form to liquid as is easier to give but that has only been in the last week whereas this started the week before.

I’ve googled previous Mumsnet threads which suggested imbalance of fore and hind milk - he’s at an age where he’s so distracted feeding that sometimes I do switch boobs to see if I can get him to concentrate better on one side but I was always told by a feeding specialist we saw previously that baby will get the milk he wants and needs from the boob and is much cleverer than we think (for example if it’s hot he might take more fore milk which has more water etc). He doesn’t really show signs of hunger any more, I think as he’s so distracted he just wants to play ALL the time but I do offer him the breast at intervals, sometimes he’ll take it others he won’t, as I worry about the rate he’s pooping and want to make sure he’s hydrated and taking enough calories.

We did a dairy free trial for CMPA a month or so ago to see if that was cause of his reflux but made no difference.

He had a terrible nappy rash from the sheer amount he is doing but metonium cleared that up pretty quickly. He’s showing signs of teething, has been for weeks - very dribbly, literally constantly has saliva hanging from him, putting anything in his mouth. I also read on a mumsnet thread could be excessive saliva. On advice from GP we’re planning on starting to wean early to see if it helps settle his reflux.

Any thoughts?? I can try GP again but seemed a bit useless to be honest! It’s just hard
To know as we were told a breastfed baby not going for ages was normal…but if you google green poo also seems to be normal, but the amount he’s doing I’m worried there’s something seriously wrong!

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WolfMother326 · 17/10/2022 11:06

My bf baby pooed up to 12 times a day at this age and was healthy and fine. He only slowed down when we introduced solids. At 9 months he maybe pooed 6 times a day. Now he's 14 months and it's more like 3-4 times. He's totally healthy, good weight and height.

FrizzledFrazzle · 17/10/2022 11:11

No advice yet, but I'm in the same boat. DS is 4 months old and just went from doing one huge yellow explosion once every other day to about 10 poops per day that are green and seedy looking. I shit you not, he pooped 5 times last night. Plus about the same number during the day. No idea what changed.

I have the HV coming this week (I think today!) for his 4 month check, so I'll ask her when she's here. He seems fine though, so it's probably just some developmental change.

Sofarsogood123 · 17/10/2022 11:20

Would suggest an allergy is potentially the cause. Reflux always has a reason it doesn't just happen. Likely cmpa. Did you also exclude soya? About 60% of baby's with cmpa are also allergic to soya.

I had really similar and didn't get to the bottom of it until weaning when it became apparent that there was dairy, soya and egg allergies.

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Sofarsogood123 · 17/10/2022 11:23

We also had no growth issues. Weight and height were both in the 70%+ and his reflux didn't particularly bother him. He would just bring up milk 50 times a day. Getting anyone to listen was a nightmare as he was 'growing, happy and thriving'. Eventually went private and saw a paediatric dietitian who got us sorted.

Danikm151 · 17/10/2022 11:25

A side effect of ompeprazole is lots of poo!
my son’s nappies got better once he’d been weaned off it

40andfit · 17/10/2022 13:21

Sofarsogood123 · 17/10/2022 11:20

Would suggest an allergy is potentially the cause. Reflux always has a reason it doesn't just happen. Likely cmpa. Did you also exclude soya? About 60% of baby's with cmpa are also allergic to soya.

I had really similar and didn't get to the bottom of it until weaning when it became apparent that there was dairy, soya and egg allergies.

I was just about to say this too.

NotAsOldAsIFeel · 17/10/2022 23:12

My DD (2y) and now my DS (4m) both did/do an awful lot more poos when teething. It's like someone flipped a switch, and yes, it can last weeks and then the switch flips off again, and there aren't even always any teeth to show for it by the time it stops. It's something to do with all the extra saliva they're swallowing. I wouldn't worry too much of everything else seems ok.

Bella0831 · 18/10/2022 08:17

Hi all,

thanks for your thoughts. @FrizzledFrazzle I’d be interested in what your HV said? I spoke to mine yesterday who batted me back to GP as said she was concerned as it’s been going on for two weeks.

we’ve been referred to a paediatrician for his reflux to try find the root cause of it but we haven’t been allocated an appointment yet…hoping we won’t have to wait too long. He seems to be in real pain and no one seems to be listening. I just keep getting told reflux is normal, he’ll grow out of it by 3 months / 6 months / by the time he’s weaned…

googling green poo also seems to be normal but I just think something’s not right. Yesterday I went through an entire pack of nappies - I was honestly changing him every 15/20 mins apart from any time he was napping. It’s not even half 8 and this morning he’s already done 4 :/

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Inthesky42 · 18/10/2022 21:24

I'm also thinking it sounds like cmpa. Exclude dairy and soya for a good 3 weeks and see if there's any improvement. Defo avoid the bottle of formula as cows milk protein in formula is 100x more potent than any protien consumed 2nd hand through breastmilk.

Juicesausagecake · 18/10/2022 21:47

Ds did have this. Green poo. Acidic. Loads of them. It was teething.

FrizzledFrazzle · 18/10/2022 21:52

Nothing super useful I'm afraid @Bella0831 - she thought perhaps he might have a virus?

I don't think he does because he's perfectly fine otherwise. Might possibly be teething - previously he'd been getting a bit sicky when teething and he was drooling quite a bit today, so it could be that.

He's totally healthy-seeming so I'm not too worried - sounds like your LO is getting quite uncomfortable though, so going to the GP sounds like a good idea.

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