Breastfed Newborn Poop: What's Normal?

A newborn's first poop is called meconium, and it is usually a greenish-black tar-like substance. After a few days, the stool of breastfed babies becomes looser and lighter, turning from green-black to army green, and then to a mustard yellow or yellow-green. The texture of the stool is often seedy and runny, resembling mustard. Breastfed babies tend to have frequent bowel movements, and their poop usually has a slightly sweet scent. As the baby grows and starts eating solid foods, the colour of their poop will change to brown and the smell will become stronger.

Newborn's first poop

A newborn's first poop is called meconium. Meconium is made up of everything ingested by the baby in the womb, including amniotic fluid, mucus, bile, and skin cells. Meconium typically looks like a tarry, sticky, greenish-black sludge, resembling motor oil. It usually doesn't have a smell, so parents might not realise it's time for a diaper change.

After the first few days, the baby's poop will become lighter in colour, turning into a yellowish-green, and less sticky. This transitional stool indicates that the baby has started digesting early breast milk or formula, and their intestinal tract is functioning properly.

What to Expect

The appearance of a newborn's poop changes over time. Here's what to expect:

• First few days: Dark green stools (meconium)
• After 48 hours: Looser and lighter-coloured stools
• Within 3-5 days: Mustard yellow or yellow-green colour with a seedy texture
• After starting solids: Brown and smelly, resembling adult stool

Frequency

In the first four to six weeks, newborns typically poop after almost every feeding, which could be anywhere from five to twelve times per day. After a few weeks, the frequency may decrease to three or four times per day. Babies older than six weeks may poop even less frequently, sometimes only once a week.

Breastfed infants tend to poop more frequently than formula-fed infants. However, it's not unusual for a breastfed baby to go several days without pooping as long as they are gaining weight and appear healthy.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

While slight variations in colour and texture are normal, there are some instances when you should contact a healthcare provider:

• Red or black poop: This could indicate gastrointestinal injury or illness, or ingestion of blood from a parent's cracked nipple.
• Infrequent or hard stool: May signal constipation or other issues.
• Watery or diarrhoea-like stool: Especially if it persists for an extended period.
• Pale, white, or clay-coloured stool: Could indicate a liver problem.

Frequency of poop

The frequency of a newborn's bowel movements can vary, so don't be alarmed if your breastfed baby's poop schedule doesn't perfectly align with the following guidelines. Generally, in the first four to six weeks of life, a breastfed newborn will poop after almost every feeding, or at least three times a day. This can be as frequent as five to twelve times per day. After this initial period, it's normal for the frequency of their bowel movements to decrease to about three or four times per day. After the six-week mark, some breastfed babies may only poop every other day or even less frequently, perhaps only once a week. As long as your baby is happy, feeding well, and gaining weight, less frequent bowel movements are typically not a cause for concern. However, if you are worried about the frequency of your infant's stools, it's always best to consult your pediatrician.

Colour of poop

The colour of a newborn's poop can be indicative of their health and well-being. Here is a guide to what is considered normal for a breastfed newborn's poop colour, and when to be concerned:

Meconium

A newborn's first poop is called meconium, which is a dark greenish-black, tarry, sticky substance that resembles motor oil. It usually occurs within the first few days of birth and is made up of everything ingested in the womb, including amniotic fluid, mucus, bile, and skin cells.

Transitional Stool

After a few days, the meconium transitions to a lighter greenish-yellow colour, indicating that the newborn has started digesting early breast milk. This is called transitional stool.

Normal Breastfed Baby Poop

The normal colour of breastfed baby poop is typically mustard yellow or yellow-green, and it may contain mini white "seeds." It may also be runny or watery, resembling diarrhoea. This colour is considered normal and healthy.

Variations in Colour

It is important to note that breastfed baby poop can vary in colour and texture. For example, it may be more greenish-yellow or tan-brown, depending on the baby's diet and the mother's diet if breastfeeding.

Red Flags

While slight variations in colour are usually not a cause for concern, there are some colours that may indicate a potential issue:

• White, grey, or pale-yellow poop: This could indicate a liver condition and improper digestion.
• Black poop after the initial meconium stage: This could be a sign of stomach bleeding.
• Bloody stool: This may indicate allergies, constipation, or gastrointestinal issues.
• Bright green and frothy poop: This could mean the baby is getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk, which is the fattier milk that comes at the end of a nursing session.

If you notice any of these colour variations, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation.

Summary

The colour of a breastfed newborn's poop can vary, but the typical colour is mustard yellow or yellow-green. Any drastic deviations from this colour, especially white, black, or bloody stool, may indicate a potential health concern and should be addressed by a healthcare provider.

Consistency of poop

The consistency of a newborn's poop can vary depending on whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. In general, breastfed babies tend to have softer and more liquid stools, while formula-fed babies may have thicker and pastier stools.

For the first few days of life, a newborn's poop, known as meconium, will be tar-like in colour and consistency. After around 48 hours, the stool may become looser and lighter in colour, turning from dark green to army green or yellowish-green. This transitional stool indicates that the baby has started digesting early breast milk or formula, and their intestinal tract is functioning correctly.

Within a few days, the colour of a breastfed baby's stool typically becomes mustard yellow or yellow-green, and it may be watery or contain mini white seeds. This colour is considered normal. The texture may resemble mustard and contain small, white, seed-like particles. Each bowel movement should be about the size of a United States quarter (2.5 centimetres or larger).

Breastfed babies usually have frequent bowel movements, with at least three bowel movements per day during the first six weeks. Some breastfed babies may have up to 12 bowel movements per day or pass stool after each feeding. After six weeks of age, it is common for breastfed babies to poop less frequently, ranging from once a day to every few days.

Formula-fed babies' poop is typically slightly lighter in colour than breastfed babies but falls within the same green-yellow-brown palette. Their stools tend to be thicker and may range in colour from tan-brown to yellow-brown or greenish-brown. The consistency is often described as pasty, resembling peanut butter or toothpaste.

As babies start eating solid foods, their poop consistency and colour may change. Solid food poop tends to be brown or dark brown and thicker, with a stronger odour. Depending on the baby's diet, their stool might also appear tinged with colours like orange, green, or dark blue.

If a newborn's poop is hard, dry, or pellet-like, it could be a sign of constipation. Watery or very loose stools for three or more diapers could lead to dehydration. In such cases, it is important to consult a paediatrician or healthcare provider for guidance.

Smell of poop

The smell of a newborn's poop can vary, but it is generally agreed that breastfed babies' poop has a milder scent than formula-fed babies' poop. In the first few days after birth, a newborn's poop, known as meconium, will be black and tar-like, and will have very little odour. After this, breastfed babies' poop may smell slightly sweet, like milk, cheese, hay, porridge, or yoghurt. Other descriptions include buttery popcorn, yeasty bread dough, and sourdough starter.

Once a baby starts eating solids, the smell of their poop will become stronger and more unpleasant. The introduction of solids may also cause a change in the colour of a baby's poop, with some parents reporting unusual but harmless colours such as orange, green, or blue.

If a baby's poop is extremely foul-smelling, this may be a sign of inadequate nutrient absorption, or a food allergy or intolerance. If you are concerned about the smell of your baby's poop, speak to your paediatrician or health care provider.

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