A New Parents' Guide To Baby Poop Colour
Did you know that your baby's poop can come in many surprising shades? Check out this poop colour chart
By Terri Kue -
So, baby poop. When caring for your newborn, you will come face-to-face with stools of various colours you've never seen before. From black, yellow, and green, the variety can be confusing. For one, why the different colours? And what do they mean for your little one?
We must first understand how stool passes through the system. According to this study, it is initially yellow or green as it passes through the digestive system. It is then turned brown by bile and bacteria in the body.
The colour of your baby's stool can also be affected by what they eat; for example, whether they are breastfeeding or eating solid foods. On that note, this study notes that breastmilk acts as a natural laxative, so if you breastfeed your baby, they are going to pooping... a lot.
Keep reading to find out whether your little one's stool colour is a cause for concern.
Ah, a baby's meconium. They will be the first poops your baby will ever have, and they will most probably be black in colour with a thick, almost tar-like consistency. It usually occurs within the first 48 hours of life; if two full days have passed and your baby isn't passing motion, it could be a sign that their bowel movement is obstructed.
But why is your baby's first poop black?
In your womb, they ingest the amniotic fluid surrounding them. (Amniotic fluid helps to cushion and protect your baby.) They process the waste whilst in your body and pass urine. However, they do not poop in your body (unless you are experiencing late pregnancy). But as your baby starts feeding, the meconium will pass out of their body. It normally continues from the first to the third day.
After your baby's meconium, stool starts to turn dark green which can be mistaken for black if not checked properly. This may seem concerning, but don't worry. It's perfectly normal for your child to have green stool, especially when transitioning from meconium. This study found that many of the babies studied experienced green poop after their first few days.
If your child is past the early phase of their life, then green poop can be caused by the vegetables they eat. Make sure to keep track to see if this is a recurring trend in your little one. In general, green poop isn't a cause for concern.
Yellow poop can be a tricky thing to figure out. On one hand, it can simply mean that your child is transitioning towards 'normal' poop. This is especially the norm for babies that have been breastfed. The stool can come out in various shades of yellow and with different consistencies i.e, sandy and lumpy.
On the other hand, yellow stool could be a sign of diarrhoea. To distinguish this from normal yellow poop, try to monitor for symptoms such as fever and fatigue. If you suspect that your child has diarrhoea, make sure your baby is drinking enough water so they don't become dehydrated. As always, make sure your child is seen by a doctor if you notice something is wrong.
Brown or orange stool is common in formula-fed infants. This is usually the result of bile and bacteria picked up by your baby's body along the way through the digestive tract.
For babies that have progressed to solid food, they start to pass dark brown stool - in other words, most of us' version of 'normal' poop.
If your baby's stool is white, then it's likely a cause for concern. According to this research study, it can be an early signal of cystic fibrosis in infants. White poop can start around two months after an infant is born.
Cystic fibrosis can be inherited, so if you have a history of it in the family, make sure to keep an eye on your child.
If your baby has started consuming solid foods, you may notice that their poop is coloured with shades of various colours. This can be due to the types of solids that your child eats.
On that note, if your baby's poop is red, it can be a good idea to contact a doctor just in case. It could be blood in the poop, which could be a sign of an intestinal infection.
A version of this story first appeared on Young Parents.