Green poo

[Scottishmummy]

Has anyone had this with an exclusively BF baby? DD's nappies have been bright-dark green for about a week. I saw the HV yesterday but she wasn't concerned, said it might be due to a cold & to see GP if they don't go back to yellow.

Any thoughts what it might be or what to do before seeing GP? She doesn't seem to be unwell or in pain, is feeding well, growing & gaining weight, sleeping pretty well & only cries if tired, windy or hungry.

She's 8 weeks old.

[deb]

My DD#2 had that - turned out to be a reaction to carageenan in something I was drinking (rice milk, since I don't do well with dairy). When I stopped drinking it for a while - and it was someone here on BW who made the connection for me! - the green poo went away, never to return.

[weaver]

Yes, I'd wonder if you've changed anything in your diet?  Iron supplement?  Occasional green poo is normal, consistent green poo is not.  Great that she is healthy otherwise, but I would keep an eye on it. 

[Scottishmummy]

Hmmm, no dietary changes that I'm aware of (apart from trying to eat a bit more healthily & not just survive on chocolate!) As part of that I have been trying to remember to take a vitamin supplement regularly. Thinking about it I did change brands to a (cheaper) general pregnancy & BF one rather than a specific post natal one. Maybe the iron content of that is higher? I will try switching back & see if that makes difference.

Thank you x

[MommyN]

My DS1 had green poo with mucous. He also cried a lot, but I didn't realize anything was up - he was my first. When he was about 2 months I noticed streaks of blood in his poo and he was diagnosed with MPI (milk protein intolerance). I cut out all dairy from my diet and the green poo disappeared and I had a much happier baby. I only realized after that that was what the crying was from. Now with my second I remember thinking "so that's what healthy ebf poo looks like." You may want to consider this. It could also be nothing and will pass or a fore milk vs hind milk imbalance.

[MommyN]

I would add that he seemed perfectly healthy and was growing and gaining weight.

[weaver]

The key thing there is a mucus, I think, the consistency of the poo has a lot of bearing on indications of food allergies ... :x

[~*Nicole*~]

DS and DD2 had green stools. Both related to dairy issues. DD1 always had that typical yellow colored breastfed baby poop.

[Scottishmummy]

Thanks for suggestions. The thing is that her stools have been yellow up until about a week ago, which makes me think it's probably not an intolerance or allergy & there's no mucous. Normal consistency - just green!

[*Ali*]

My DD gets green poo with illness such as the cough and cold she has right now and also with teething, presumably due to excess saliva and mucous she swallows.

[Scottishmummy]

Apologies in advance for TMI....

I feel like I'm going colour blind from stool-analysing! It's still definitely greener than it used to be in the nappy & is not the normal bright yellow it was...but is yellow-green , with more yellow than green  yellow on cotton wool after wiping.....It's been 2 weeks since it changed. I don't think she has a cold still & I've changed my vitamin supplement back to the one I was on before.

Is it worth waiting to see if it's on the turn back to yellow, or better to make doctor's appointment to get checked sooner than later? She's still fine in herself, feeding & growing well.

[*Ali*]

Personally I'd wait if there are no other symptoms like discomfort.

[Scottishmummy]

Thank you. Yes that's what I've decided to do...wait until after this weekend and see if any changes.
Of course she had her immunisations today, including rotavirus which can upset their BMs so need to wait anyway for side effects of that to pass.

[*Ali*]

FX she's ok.

[bouldertc]

My little guy has green poo sometimes and I think it is related to a foremilk vs hind milk imbalance since he can be impatient at the breast. I also read that baby's poo can be green when mom is on an antibiotic. Something to consider.