Green poo

[PaulsMom]

Ok, it's been a few days now.  DD is feeding well although my boobs are not fond of the block feeding  .  Last Thursday was fine with yellow poops.  Then Friday looked like it was going well but she was fussy in the evening and wouldn't go to sleep and at 9 pm had a green poop  .  Saturday, we had no poops and it took until today around 5 pm for dd to have a bm.  It was on the greenish side.  Not sure what to make of it because she had gone so long without a bm and then it was greenish but not mucousy  . 

I've been eating my usual diet which is not heavy into the dairy as I am lactose intolerant (I only became lactose intolerant when I was a teenager).  However there is hidden dairy in cookies, etc. 

The other thing is that I am getting engorged so I don't know if she's still getting too much foremilk when I switch sides.  Is that possible too?

Tia!

[becj86]

The other thing is that I am getting engorged so I don't know if she's still getting too much foremilk when I switch sides.

Yeah, this is why I bottle fed - that way there were no foremilk-heavy feeds. At the beginning of each block (first feed on each side), there will naturally be a foremilk-heavy feed and that can prolong the issues (but the issue will go away eventually if it is a foremilk thing because block feeding downregulates supply to what you need to do one side per feed. Are you pumping for a stash at all? Maybe express the engorged side, then feed? Or at least express the first letdown in to a towel or something so there's a little more chance of getting richer milk in the first feed? The foremilk is necessary (for hydration and short-term energy needs), just it needs to be balanced with the fattier milk too.

Lack of mucous is a good thing.

[PaulsMom]

I had to pump on Saturday morning (rather than waking dd to feed) because I had soaked through the nursing pad and my shirt  .  I don't mind doing this first thing in the morning but don't know if I can do it for every other feed with another Lo running around.  Will see how things go.

[becj86]

I had soaked through the nursing pad and my shirt 

BTDT - Block feeding will help settle that down in time.

I don't mind doing this first thing in the morning but don't know if I can do it for every other feed with another Lo running around.

Understandable! Was hard even just with one Worth giving it a go and even just doing it for the morning one will help.

[kitcameron07]

I had to pump on Saturday morning (rather than waking dd to feed) because I had soaked through the nursing pad and my shirt  .  I don't mind doing this first thing in the morning but don't know if I can do it for every other feed with another Lo running around.

Don't know if this will help but I use silicone breast shells during overnight feeds cos I leak so much from the boob I'm not feeding from. If you don't need the milk they're very good for avoiding getting soaked. I use medela shells and got mine from Amazon for about a tenner.

[PaulsMom]

Hmmm. Thanks for the suggestion.  Do the shields help with engorgement?  I didn't mind the wet shirt as much as the sore boobs that wake me up

Was able to pump this morning but really I should consider pumping the side I'm not feeding from in the middle of the night.  then again, logistically this might be a bit much (plus I hate pumping in the middle of the night  when I should be sleeping  ). Feeding is going well today and got a brownish poop    Is that considered normal?  She's been fussing all evening and not sleeping  .  Not sure if she's just very OT & OS or if she has some tummy pain.  Come to think of it, her naps were pretty poor unless i totally APOPed them.  This is the part when I wish she could just tell me what's wrong .

[becj86]

This is the part when I wish she could just tell me what's wrong

You and me both and loads of other mums too, I'm sure!

Feeding is going well today and got a brownish poop    Is that considered normal?

Not sure Not within my experience, sorry! No solids involved are there? Glad feeding is going well

the sore boobs that wake me up

This will settle, I promise. It takes some time, especially because night is the time when you're resting and your body makes most milk but it will happen.

[kitcameron07]

Hmmm. Thanks for the suggestion.  Do the shields help with engorgement?  I didn't mind the wet shirt as much as the sore boobs that wake me up

I think so. I pop one in my bra whilst I feed her from the other side and I think they put a bit of pressure on my boob cos I've tucked it inside my bra so I can get an ounce out just whilst I'm feeding, if not more. I'm never so bad that it hurts, my boobs just tend to explode from too much milk.  It saves me having to express after feeding her.

[Fiver]

The only thing to be aware with breast shells is that they can actually increase production as they put pressure on the milk ducts as you're using them, so as long as it's only for a short time, it will be ok (I used them myself - just make sure you put the solid shell in if you're collecting and make sure they're sterilised before use).

They're also great if you have really sore nipples as it stops clothes rubbing and gives some air to them

[PaulsMom]

Wrt the engorgement I'm trying to ensure that I can feed her on my left side in the middle of the night so that I'm not bursting by morning.  I suppose it also helps if I end up doing two feeds  .    Good poiny about the shields stimulating production. this is something i dont need at the moment.  Although we are not bottle feeding I can use the frozen EBM when she starts solids... So becj, to answer your question about solids... No we haven't started them yet.  Although she was fussy yesterday I'm glad she didn't have a bright green poo.  Hopefully today will be better.  Fx!

[Fiver]

WRT poo colours, there is a range of "normal"

Erin posted the link in her response:

Have you seen this link? -- Poop.  What's normal, what's not and when to panic

[PaulsMom]

not exactly my favorite pics to review after dinner  .  Based on the pics, DDs poos are "normal" in colour    so, since I didn't elimate anything from my diet, I'm assuming her green poos are just due to foremilk imbalance. 

Thanks for all of your help ladies!   

[becj86]

Yay for normality

[Erin M]

LOL, those pics and dinner do not go together well. 

[Fiver]

LOL, sorry about that

But good it's looking more 'normal'.  If LO has been a bit under the weather and/or feeding more often/for a shorter duration, they will often take a bit more foremilk and so greeny poo.