The Scoop On Newborn Poop

Newborns have a greenish-black, tarry, sticky poop that resembles motor oil. This is called meconium and is made up of amniotic fluid, mucus, skin cells and other things ingested in utero. Two to four days after birth, you’ll notice “transitional stools” that are green and less tacky than meconium. Once the meconium is out of your baby’s system, their regular poop can vary a lot, depending on how they’re being fed. Breastfed baby poop is normal when it’s a mustard yellow, green or brown colour. It has a seedy, pasty texture and may resemble diarrhoea. Formula-fed baby poop is typically a shade of yellow or brown with a pasty consistency similar to peanut butter.

Newborn poop is greenish-black, tarry and sticky, resembling motor oil

Newborn poop that is greenish-black, tarry, and sticky, resembling motor oil, is known as meconium. Meconium is a newborn's first poop and is completely normal. It is made up of mucus, amniotic fluid, dead cells, and other substances ingested in the womb. It is typically odourless and may be difficult to clean off, so smearing petroleum jelly on your baby's bottom beforehand can help.

Meconium is usually passed within the first 24 hours after birth, but it can take a few days for a newborn to fully pass it out of their system. As this happens, the colour will gradually transition from greenish-black to yellowish-green, and eventually to tan or mustardy yellow. This transitional stool indicates that your baby has started digesting early breast milk or formula and that their intestinal tract is functioning properly.

If your baby's first bowel movement doesn't occur within the first 24 hours, it's important to consult a doctor to rule out any potential problems, such as an intestinal blockage. Additionally, if your baby's poop remains black beyond the first few days of life, it could indicate bleeding in the digestive system, and medical advice should be sought.

In summary, while the initial greenish-black, tarry, and sticky appearance of meconium may be surprising, it is a normal part of a newborn's development and indicates the healthy functioning of their digestive system.

Breastfed baby poop is mustard yellow, green or brown, seedy, pasty and may resemble diarrhoea

The first few diapers of a newborn contain meconium, a gooey, dark-green, tar-like substance, with hardly any smell. Meconium is made up of mucus, skin cells, lanugo hairs, and other particles the baby swallowed, along with the amniotic fluid, while still in the womb. After a couple of days, the baby's poop will become lighter in colour – a yellowish green – and less sticky. This is a sign that the baby has started digesting early breast milk or formula.

Breastfed baby poop is typically mustard yellow, yellow-green, or brown, and may have a mushy or creamy consistency. It may be dotted with little seed-like flecks and smell slightly sweet. It can also be runny, resembling diarrhoea. The colour of breastfed baby poop may vary depending on the mother's diet. For example, eating green vegetables like spinach may result in a green tint in the baby's poop.

Formula-fed baby poop, on the other hand, tends to be thicker and pastier, resembling peanut butter in consistency. Its colour ranges from tan to brown, yellow-brown, or greenish-brown.

Formula-fed baby poop is yellow or brown, pasty and thicker than breastfed baby poop

Formula-Fed Baby Poop

Formula-fed baby poop is typically yellow or brown, pasty, and thicker than breastfed baby poop. It is similar in colour to breastfed baby poop but has a thicker consistency. Formula-fed babies tend to have larger, firmer, and smellier stools than those fed with breast milk.

Colour

Formula-fed baby poop is usually brown, ranging from light brown, tan, yellow-tan, and greenish-brown. The colour of the stool may also be affected by the baby's diet. For example, if your baby is taking an iron supplement or iron-fortified formula, their poop may be dark brown, dark green, or black.

Texture

Formula-fed baby poop has a pasty, peanut butter-like consistency. It is thicker and firmer than breastfed baby poop, which is softer and more runny. The thicker consistency of formula means that it is slightly harder for babies to digest, so some of the ingredients may pass through the baby's digestive system without being fully broken down.

Frequency

Formula-fed babies may poop less frequently than breastfed babies. They may have a bowel movement at least once or twice a day, and sometimes every other day. It is not unusual for formula-fed babies to go a day or two without a bowel movement, as long as their stools are soft when they do occur.

Partially digested food in baby poop may result in chunks of food or a surprising colour

It is completely normal to find chunks of food in your baby’s poop if they are less than one year old. This is because their digestive system is still immature and they may not be chewing their food into small enough pieces before swallowing. As your baby grows and becomes more comfortable eating solid foods, their poop should return to a normal consistency.

You may also notice surprising colours in your baby's poop, such as red, orange, or dark blue. This is usually nothing to worry about and is often caused by certain foods, such as beets, carrots, or blueberries. These colours can also be the result of food travelling too quickly through the intestines, not being fully broken down, or your baby eating a lot of one type of food.

However, if your baby's poop consistently has undigested food in it, it is important to consult a doctor to check for any digestive issues. Additionally, if you notice any of the following, it is important to seek medical attention:

• Diarrhea that doesn't resolve within 24 hours
• Chunks of food in every diaper
• Weight loss or failure to gain weight
• Blood in the stool

Breastfed Baby Poop

Breastfed baby poop is typically yellow or slightly green, with a mushy or creamy consistency. It may be runny and resemble diarrhoea, but breastfed baby diarrhoea is usually very liquid. Breastfed baby poop often looks like Dijon mustard and may have seed-like flecks. It also has a slightly sweet smell.

Formula-Fed Baby Poop

Formula-fed babies tend to have thicker, pasty, peanut butter-like poop that is brown, tan, yellow, or greenish-brown in colour. The formula is slightly harder to digest than breast milk, so some of its ingredients may pass through the baby's digestive system unchanged. Formula-fed baby poop also has a stronger smell than breastfed baby poop.

Solid Food Baby Poop

Once solid foods are introduced, baby poop becomes thicker and has a stronger odour. The consistency may vary depending on what the baby has eaten, ranging from hard and pebble-like to runny and mustard-like. It is normal for solid food baby poop to be brown or dark brown.

Baby Poop Frequency and Colour

Baby poop frequency can vary, with some babies pooping after every feeding and others going as long as two to three days between bowel movements. Breastfed infants tend to poop more frequently than formula-fed infants.

The colour of baby poop can also vary and is usually not a cause for concern. Brown, yellow, and green are typical colours for baby poop, and slight changes in colour are often due to the baby's intestinal lining or how they digest milk. Red poop is usually caused by red food or medicine, but it can also indicate blood in the stool, which requires medical attention. White or light grey baby poop can signal a liver condition and should be evaluated by a doctor.

Black blood in baby poop may be due to the ingestion of blood from cracked nipples during breastfeeding

The contents of a newborn's diaper can vary, but it's important to know what's normal and what's not. Here's a guide to help you understand your baby's bowel movements and what to look out for.

Meconium

Your baby's first few diapers will contain a substance called meconium, which is a gooey, dark green or greenish-black, tar-like stool. It has hardly any smell and is made up of things like mucus, skin cells, lanugo hairs, and amniotic fluid that the baby swallowed in the womb. It usually takes a few days for a newborn to pass all the meconium, after which their poop will transition to a yellow-green colour, indicating that they've started digesting early breast milk or formula.

Breastfed Babies

Breastfed babies typically have yellow or slightly green, soft, and seedy poop. It often has a mushy or creamy consistency and may be runny, resembling dijon mustard. It may also have little seed-like flecks and smell slightly sweet. The colour of breastfed baby poop can vary depending on the mother's diet; for example, eating green vegetables like spinach may result in greener poop.

Formula-Fed Babies

Formula-fed babies tend to have thicker, pasty, peanut butter-like poop that falls on the brown colour spectrum, ranging from tan-brown to yellow-brown or greenish-brown. Formula is harder to digest than breast milk, so some ingredients may pass through the baby's digestive system unchanged.

Solid Foods

Once solid foods are introduced, you'll notice significant changes in the colour and consistency of your baby's poop. It will become firmer and vary more widely in colour, depending on what the baby has eaten. You may even see undigested bits of food like pea or tomato skins in their stool.

When to Be Concerned

While a rainbow of poop colours is generally normal, certain colours may indicate a potential health issue. Pale, white, or clay-coloured stools, for instance, are rare but could signal a liver condition. Black or dark green poop may be harmless, but it's important to inspect it closely under bright light to ensure it's not black, which could indicate stomach bleeding. Blood in baby poop, whether bright red or black, should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out any serious causes.

Black Blood in Baby Poop

The presence of black blood in a baby's poop may be a cause for concern, but it can sometimes occur due to ingestion of blood from cracked nipples during breastfeeding. This usually happens when a baby is attached primarily to the nipple during feeding instead of having enough breast tissue in their mouth as well. The constant sucking and chafing can lead to cracked, bleeding nipples, which can then result in the baby ingesting small amounts of blood. While this situation may not pose a direct threat to the baby's health, it is essential to address the underlying cause of nipple cracking and bleeding to relieve pain and promote healing. Consulting a healthcare provider or a lactation consultant is recommended to ensure proper positioning and latching techniques during breastfeeding.

In summary, while black blood in baby poop may be alarming, it is important to remain calm and consult a healthcare professional. They can help determine if the blood is due to ingestion from cracked nipples or if there is another underlying cause that requires further evaluation and treatment.

Frequently asked questions