Concerned about poop after switching to Neocate

[ashleamc1]

My 8 wk old son also has MSPI.  He has consistently had mucus in his stool since birth.  Even on Alimentum, he still had mucus.  My Dr just switched him over to Neocate.  He has been on it 2 full days.  Today his stool looked like his first stool after birth.  It was black, tar like, and sticky.  No mucus, but just as strange looking.  Is this normal?  I've never been so concerned at the appearance of poop    I don't know if this is a good sign or not.  Any ideas? 

[birdie]

Welcome to Neocate!!!!  This happens because the formula is pure it has little or no waste...so what he excretes is mostly bile.  It is also very STINKY!!!!  It can also be difficult to pass.  Our pediatrician recommened Miralax.  We played around with the amount and usually kept him around 1 tsp of "poo powder."

Have you checked out the Neocate website.  They periodically have sales (I know crazy, ehh).  I also recently received an e-newsletter that had great recipes I wished I known about back then.

Good luck.

[Rachel_Momto3boys]

Hi there!  I actually work for Neocate and yes your LO's poops sound right on track!  As the previous poster said your son's stools can change in consistency and color when introduced to an elemental formula such as Neocate. This is because Neocate is a low residue formula. Low residue formulas lower the number of bacteria in the gut leading to reduced breakdown of bile. More bile is present in the stool making it darker in color.  Does that make sense?  So it's a good sign, stick with it!

Let me know if you need help with any more info

Rachel
Mom to 2 boys
Augustboy02 - Sensory kid
Decemberboy04 - former reflux baby
Expecting again July10!

[birdie]

Hi Rachel and Welcome to BW.  Thanks for the better explaination of the bile breakdown process.  Curious, what is the benefit of lowering the bacteria in the gut?

[Mashi]

We didn't go need to go onto Neocate, we stayed with Nutramigen, but yes, that's exactly what the poops were like and pretty much what the paed said.  My husband used to race out the door in the mornings for work so as to avoid the poop smell sticking to him, as it's nasty nasty nasty!  It got slightly better on early solids, and by about 9-10 months with the amount of solids he was on it was much more bearable! 

[birdie]

I would add that I think as a mom, you just kind of get used to the nasty smell.

We DS was tiny, we used to take him to MILs office after his doctor apts.  As MIL works for a large medical practice, she would let me sneak into an exam room to change him.  He had his first Neocate poop during one such visit.  OH MY!!!  I asked if I could use an exam room.  She polietly asked me to use the public restroom at the front of the building.  My stinky boy got us shuned (joke) but clearly left an impression.

[Rachel_Momto3boys]

Thanks for the welcome to BW!

As far as the benefit to lowering the bacteria in the gut?  I'm not really sure there is a benefit or disadvantage, more that it's just the way the body functions when digesting a simplified food. KWIM?

Rachel
Mom to 2 boys with one on the way!
Augustboy02 - Sensational Sensory Kid!!
Decemberboy04 - former reflux baby
Julyboy10!!!!

[Austin's mom]

Anyone know what the normal look of nutramigen poo is? My MSPI son is on day 7 of the transition from similac sensitive, which was super dark green and thick and stinky. So now he is having alternating diapers of that and a light tan colored, non stinky, more runny diaper every morning. Is that normal?