how can my babys running stool (watery feaces) be solved?

Question

he is 2weeks old.he is being breastfed only.

Answer 1

If he is 2 weeks old and solely breastfed then his stool should be pretty thin. It's not a problem. (Well....it CAN be a laundry problem! Buy some Oxyclean and make sure his diapers are on good!) He's on a purely liquid diet and his immature little bowels couldn't push out a solid stool anyway! When it does get thicker, it should be no thicker than the consistency of peanut butter. DO NOT give your baby Pedialyte or anything else! ALL he needs right now is breastmilk!!!!!

What Are Baby's Stools Supposed to Look Like and How Often Should Baby Wet?

It is normal for the stools of the breastfed baby to be mostly liquid, with small curds that resemble cottage cheese (some say it resembles runny egg yolks). It has very little odor. Usually the baby will have a bowel movement each time he/she nurses. It may or may not sound "explosive". These liquid stools are not diarrhea. Diarrhea in the breastfed baby is rare. A baby who has diarrhea would have stools that are very frequent, usually green and full of mucus (and/or specks of blood), and almost always foul smelling.

A breastfed baby should have six to eight wet diapers a day until around six weeks of age; and five to six wet diapers a day thereafter; and two or more good-sized bowel movements every day for the first 6-8 weeks.

At around the age of six weeks, the stooling pattern of a breastfed baby may change. It is not uncommon for the breastfed baby to skip days between bowel movements. Some babies skip every other day, some go every two or three days, some once every 5 - 7 days, and some babies hold out for up to 11 or 12 days at a time - then have quite a FULL diaper when they DO go!

There is absolutely no reason to intervene and try methods commonly used to "induce" a bowel movement (such as prune or other types of juices, water, glycerin suppositories, or using rectal stimulation). If artificial stimulation is done too often, the baby's system can become dependant upon this stimulation to "go", and no longer is able to have a normal bowel movement on their own.

In most cases, as long as baby is not acting ill (lethargic, crying in pain, etc.), the tummy is soft, not rigid or distended, skipping days between stools is not cause for alarm, however, mother should not hesitate to ask her health care provider to check her baby to be sure there is no physical problem.

The breastfed baby's stools may change in color, and baby may even have an occasional green stool. Consistently green stools, however, may indicate a problem, such as imbalance in foremilk/hindmilk, or sensitivity to something in mom's diet, such as dairy. Green stools do not always indicate a problem.

Answer 2

Your baby's runny stool is normal. Sometimes it will be so watery that it almost looks like it could have been urine except that it's more greenish and that there's just a bit of non-liquid residue on the diaper. Even this does not constitute diarrhea. Diarrhea in a baby is really rare, but it will smell different (foul) and you'll see up to two stools every hour in that case.

Bottom line: don't worry about it. That's more or less the way your baby's stool will be the entire time he is being breastfed only. It's healthy, it's great and you'll miss it once the solid, stinky stuff comes around! :-)

Answer 3

These watery bowel movements are completely normal for breastfed babies! The most important thing is finding a diaper that can handle it - the Pampers that the hospital sent us home with just didn't cut it! We tried brand after brand and finally settled on Huggies Baby Shaped - there's more elastic and it helped keep in the poopy much better!

Ignore advice to introduce solids early or give up breastfeeding because after a month or two your baby will be pooping a lot less (and less smelly) than formula fed babies! My daughter once went a week without pooping and her doc said that that was one of the perks of breastfeeding - as the baby gets older there is less and less 'waste' and therefore less poopy diapers!

I know how frustrating it can be to have to change baby, and clothes, strip the bassinet completely and launder EVERYTHING... But finding a diaper that works can help ease this!

Best wishes - and hang in there!

Answer 4

This is very normal for a breastfead baby. Because the baby digests just about all of the breastmilk's compontnets, his stools will be runny/watery. This will go on for 3 months or so. You should not give your baby Pedialyte or anything like that without talking to the doctor first, because baby's system, especially at 2 weeks, is very immature and will not tolerate much other than formula or breast milk.

Both of my kids had watery stools well into their thrid month, which was when they transitioned from breastmilk to formula. Hope this helps!!

Answer 5

First - Congratulations to you on the birth of your baby! Most breastfed babies have yellow seedy stools which are quite runny. Every time they pass gas they have a bowel movement. This should be ok as long as he is not screaming with (gas)pain and his bottom is not red/raw from a bad rash. Most MD's recommend a 2 week check up for breastfed babies to monitor weight. I would let the MD know at his next appointment just to be safe. ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!

Answer 6

Your baby's stools won't be solid for a while. Being on a liquid diet only, it will be on the runny side. They're bowels aren't yet strong enough to push out a solid stool, anyhow. And expect it to be frequent. My breastfed baby had a BM just about every time she ate the first two months or so.

Answer 7

Breastfed babies will have runny stools because breast milk is mostly water. Babies will not develop harder stools until they begin solid foods, about 6 months of age. Formula fed babies also have runny stools for the same reason. It is nothing to worry about, but you will want to be sure to pack several extra changes for your little one when you are away from home in addition to plastic bags for soiled clothing and plenty of baby wipes.

Please do NOT give a 2 week old baby pedialyte or any other medication without your doctor's approval. Your baby is not having diarrhea, his stools are perfectly normal. Check with your doctor, he/she will be glad to ease your concern.

Answer 8

I breastfed both of my kids, too, and the stool consistency is extremely different from kids on formula. It's much looser and more frequent (lucky you). I was doing 12-13 diaper changes A DAY at the two week point for both of my kids. You're probably due for a six week checkup pretty soon, anyway, but if you're concerned, ask your pediatrician (not the person who answers the phone-insist on talking to the doctor, not someone who works there).

Enjoy your new baby!

Answer 9

If this is your first baby, call the health care provider. Breast fed babies do have loose stools, but, diarhhea in new babies can be VERY dangerous.

If you're not sure which it is, call and take the baby in right away. And don't be discouraged about nursing!

You sound like a terrific new Mom. Best wishes to you!
from a grandma-aged person

Answer 10

I know what you are talking about my child went through the same thing and I ask the doc about cereal and he said OK.. so we gave him cereal for about a month and he slept alot better and the next month we introduced veggies one a month for the longest to make sure he didn't have a reaction..I am so glad we did his stool firmed up and he slept sooo much better after his belly got fuller... We did have to seem to pound his back harder and longer as well as more often to get the burps out but it was worth it in the long run..