Many new mothers have asked me about the bowel habits of newborns. In fact, it is probably the number one question I am asked, without exception. I often get desperate calls from new mothers whose baby has not had a bowel movement for 24 hours. So, let’s talk poop!

Newborns have bowel movements that vary in behavior. For the first few days, a black, sticky substance called meconium is removed from the colon. This is very normal. This is the substance that fills your intestines while in the womb. It is difficult to clean and does not come off easily. After the first few days, you should see what we call “transition stools”, which are still dark in color, but gradually becoming looser, easier to clean, and perhaps with some yellow seeds in them. These can range in color from very dark brown to green and may have yellow spots.

From this point on (approximately 4-7 days after birth), you will begin to see progressively more yellow and loose stools. Now these can be on the green side as well, depending on what the baby ingests. If you are breastfeeding, your diet may have something to do with it. If the baby takes vitamins of any kind or iron supplements, the stool can be much darker in nature. But they should be fairly loose and easy to clean. If you are breastfeeding, this trend will continue. Stools will be soft, yellow / green in color, and usually very frequent in the first few weeks. They can also be very explosive !!!

When my son was a newborn, he was changing his diaper on the changing table and I looked on the right side of the table for a new diaper. When I raised my head, I saw a flash of something right in front of my eyes and then I saw the “splat” on the dresser next to me. I marveled at how this little creature could produce something with such force behind it. Ugh !! I also lost my mind !!

Actually, not that much force is exerted, it has a lot to do with the small area from which it is fired. My point in all of this is to say that this is all very NORMAL. What mother hasn’t experienced this or something like that, or the occasional poop “on the back” that blows you away?

If you continue to breastfeed, you will also notice that as your baby goes through periods of accelerated growth, he may go from having a bowel movement every feeding to no bowel movement for 2-3 days. Again, very normal. Breast milk is very well used by their little bodies and in a great period of growth, it simply runs out. There is nothing left to remove. So if you’re used to changing a dirty diaper every time you feed your little baby, don’t worry when that changes. All babies go through growth spurts. Your bowel habits are constantly changing. It is very unusual for a breastfed baby to be constipated.

If you are bottle feeding and formula, your stools may be a bit more solid. They are usually what I call “silly putty poops.” This may be a date with myself, but that’s what it looks like. The more solid consistency is due to the way they digest formula differently than breast milk. Again, it is very normal. Bottle-fed babies can also have varying degrees of regularity. This is also due to the accelerated growth of the baby.

So you ask, “When do I worry”? Most doctors won’t even flinch if you tell them that your little bundle of joy hasn’t had a bowel movement for 2-3 days. Usually there is nothing to worry about. We don’t call it constipation unless the stool looks like little solid pebbles. So there is some intervention that can be done. Try a warm bath and move your baby’s legs as if you were riding a bicycle. Sometimes this helps to relax the muscles. Talk to your pediatrician if the baby seems very uncomfortable for long periods of time or if it has been more than 3-4 days. There are a multitude of remedies out there; most of them from their own kitchen. But every pediatrician has different opinions on this, so it’s best to talk to yours.

If your stools are soft or loose, but infrequent, don’t worry. Your baby is most likely growing. Call your pediatrician if:

1. More than 3 to 4 days have passed,

2. Your baby seems very uncomfortable for much of the day.

3. You see blood in the stool when it goes away

4. Feces are small hard stones.

It is very rare, but there are some conditions that may require medical attention.

Babies only have to focus on eating, sleeping and defecating, so their attention is completely on the “task at hand.” Your intense concentration can sometimes be misinterpreted as discomfort, but wait. They will be back to their normal angelic appearance in no time. Baby systems are very efficient. They tend to work easily on autopilot. Just relax and enjoy the moment. Someday you may write about it or tell stories at parties and embarrass your own adult child.