Diarrhea in a 2 Week Old

Updated on January 05, 2009
G.K. asks from Waterloo, IL
18 answers

My 2 wk old has had projectile (only when diaper is off), very watery, green poop. Is this diarrhea and if so what could be the cause - my diet (as I breastfeed). She seem a little cranky but not too bad, she has wet diapers and tears - so i don't think she is dehydrated. Any suggestions?

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

That is how they poop- they squirt it out- that is why you have diaper explosions- where the poop travels up to the top of the diaper,in the back, and you have it all over their clothes, car seat, etc. Just one of the many perks to motherhood :) Have fun, they grow too fast- S.- mom of 9

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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

G., That's how tiny ones poop, especially breastfed little ones. Now the only when diaper is off part is interesting, I guess she's just sensitive to the cool air, beware!!!

Take Care, M.

More Answers

A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Are you breastfeeding? This can be normal for breastfed babies. From what you're describing I'm not thinking it's diarrhea. We had the same thing happen with our daughter. Green poop just means it's going through her system so quickly nutrients don't have time to absorb (that's what our pediatrician told us). The color, consistency, and frequency of poop changes all the time. It depends on growth spurts, what you're eating, changes in feeding patterns, teething, etc, etc... I never thought I'd worry about poop as much as I would now that I'm a parent.

Diarrhea is very watery, has a very foul odor, and will happen very frequently (more often than normal poop).

However, all that being said, you're the mommy. If you're concerned call your pediatrician and see if they want you to come in. Better to be safe than sorry and always better to have peace of mind.

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J.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Breastfed babies poop is generally loose. Since it is green and watery you might have a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. You can talk to a La Leche League leader or a good lactation consultant to get help.

Here is the information on this - http://www.llli.org/FAQ/foremilk.html Foremilk is the thinner sugary milk that comes first. Hindmilk is fattier and more filling. If it is this, I would not worry about it just work to make sure your baby is getting both types of milk.

I had oversupply, overactive let down and subsequent imbalance with my first. It was very stressful. It's important to have your baby stay on one breast long enough to get to the fatty hindmilk that comes later. You can stay on one side until your baby is full and pick up where you left off on the other side the next time if need be. If the baby is only on one side for a short time than they may not get to the hindmilk.

Keep with the breastfeeding it is great for your baby and great for bonding. Eventually everything will work out. Also, if you choose to have another child it is not always the same. The best gauge is your baby. If she is gaining weight and having wet diapers that is what is important.

Keep in mind that if you talk to your pediatrician most are not experts in breastfeeding. I have known several women who have stopped breastfeeding because they were told their baby was gassy and fussy because they were intolerant of their breastmilk. More likely they were having an issue with milk imbalance. Good luck.

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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

To ensure your baby is ok call her dr diarrhea in a 2 weeks old can be dangerous

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F.M.

answers from Kansas City on

With a baby this small, I would think it would be conservative to have the ped check her out. If it is a foremilk issue, then doing a full nursing on one side is the answer. Then, use the other side for the next nursing. Green is not normal at this age. And, breastfed babies should NOT be getting sick at this young age. The breastmilk gives them natural immunities. It doesn't mean they can't get sick, but if they do, there is usually something else at work.

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A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

This is a common result when the baby is filling up on the foremilk and not getting enough hindmilk. The foremilk is higher in the sugar content, therefore it can upset her tummy and cause the green, watery poop. The best thing you can do is try to be sure she empties each breast at each feeding. It will clear up shortly and is not serious. However, I know you posted a question before about pumping and giving bm in bottles instead of putting her on the breast because you were having problems nursing; are you still doing that? I ask because pumps are not as effective as nursing babies, so sometimes the pump will only get foremilk. You can tell if it's getting hindmilk if, when the milk is chilled, there is a thick, creamy (it's actually the cream from the hindmilk) layer on top. Check out the La Leche League webpage; they have tons of info on this issue. It's called overactive letdown, sometimes.

J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Ah newborn poop - so much fun! The projectile part and wateriness sound pretty average, but the color sounds off. Calling the dr's office is probably for the best. The nurses will be able to give you good advice. Congrats on your new bundle of joy!

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H.H.

answers from Kansas City on

breastfed babies have runnier stools than formula fed babies and may not be diahreah at all and sometimes they will go a few days without a bm but will be a real bad one when it does come and may seem like diahreah as well. If you have questions contact your doctor but if she seems healthy, no fever, or sick otherwise it could be normal. If she gets a diaper rash you may want to get it checked as well as it could be a yeast infection and not clear up with regular diaper rash cream. Most rashes will clear up with a few times of using cream if it isn't another type of infection.

D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Pretty normal in breastfed babies. My oldest would do that when she was changed at church and we'd have to have an extra outfit for her. Very common. It will thicken up as she gets older. Good luck and God Bless.

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S.V.

answers from St. Louis on

My 2 1/2 week old already has a stomach virus for the second time!! It only lasts a few days, but it's so sad. She is projectile-vommiting her breastmilk back up and has diarrhea that looks similar to what you describe yours having. I know it's a stomach bug because I also have two toddlers, 2 and 3 years old, who also had the bug last week and a new one this week, right along with the newborn baby. Poor things :( Hopefully they dont get anymore this season, 2 within 2 weeks is enough! Not to mention the messes that come with all three of them when they are sick! lysol has been my best friend this past couple weeks lol

I took her to the doc last week so he could make sure she wasn't dehydrated and that she wasn't losing too much weight (which she wasn't losing at all, but she wasn't gaining either)... she was fine and got over that bug, and last night her and her 2-yr-old sis came down with another one! I would call your doctor and see if he wants you to bring her in. It's probably a stomach bug, it's that time of year again.

***EDIT

Just read your other couple responses... YES breastfed babies poop is loose, but it's not watery and projectile. I breastfed all my babies and there IS a difference in newborn breastmilk-poop and newborn diarrhea. My infants poop is yellow, loose, liquidy, and seedy when it's normal, but her diarrhea is like you describe: watery, projectile, and kind of greenish

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K.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I would check into too much foremilk. Maybe you haven't been finishing each breast off, switching too soon and not going back to that side again. The foremilk is watery-er and will tend to make the poop green and watery if there is too much of it. LLL is a good information source. (Certainly ask a doctor too and keep an eye out for other problems) My oldest as an infant always had projectile poops if her diaper was off. I think she still would practically if she was in that position, I think it's just how her body was. It shocked me at first, but I just learned to be careful, and soon she never pooped while her diaper was off. I hope it is something simple like that.

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

It is not diarrhea - that really is how breastfed baby poop is. I've got video of the aftermath of my 3rd child's!! I have 5, all breastfed, and they have been healthier than any children we know - and they're around other's who are not!! Keep giving her the good stuff. Even with gas or reflux or food upset - WHATEVER......If you stick with it you both benefit. I totally agree with the advise given by the person before me too!! (sorry, I don't remember name) There is great support out there but it doesn't always come from the pediatritian. La Leche - it's their specialty!!

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

One thing I haven't heard anyone talk about is that if a child drinks a purple drink it comes out in green poop, I don't know the reason and don't know if it will come through the milk, I never drank anything purple while I was breastfeeding so no experience. Newborns do have very runny poop and if the diaper is off it will shoot everywhere, even with the diaper on it will get all over anything (I always kept a burp diaper available to go between me and baby when I knew they were pooping) and bring lots of clothes for baby to change into! My grandmother had to wear one of my husbands t-shirts during a CEC birthday party because of this one time LOL!
Any questions you have take to your pediatrician, their nurses can reassure you or tell you when you need to bring them in, that's what they're there for, especially for a first time mom!

M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

My doctor told me if it was substance its not diarreha. But if its just plain liquid (no seedy, no nothing) than thats diarreha. You have to be careful with little babies, they dehydrate very quickly. Its good that she has wet diapers but I would call the doctor in the morning. Also if she has fire butt (rash), butt paste works great for my little one! Good luck, I hope the pooping gets better!

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C.C.

answers from St. Louis on

The liquid 'projectile' part is (like many said) pretty normal in breastfed babies. I remember my daughter hitting the wall at the end of the changing table! That same daughter is now the mother of 3 and has breastfed them all. Every time she drinks anything grape/purple, her son poops green. So, all in all, I wouldn't worry.

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S.B.

answers from Wichita on

Hi G.,

As others have said, the more watery stool is normal for breastfed babies, however, when my son was the same as your daughter, he ended up with a blister on his bottom from his "watery poop". The pediatrician I talked to told me the very green color comes from the stomach bile. (Although, healthy breast-fed poo is sometimes greenish too.) He had a virus that was causing the milk to move too quickly through his system and contain too much bile. It was literally burning his bottom. :(

Basically, my advice would be to keep watching the additional symptoms, as you have been. If you started to notice problems when changing the diapers, I'd recommend a doctor visit, but do keep up with the breatfeeding! There's a nasty virus floating around out there and nursing is the best thing you can do to protect your little one. Other than that, she sounds pretty normal. :}

Congratulations and hang in there!
S.

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J.K.

answers from Topeka on

Yes, sounds like diarrhea...with your baby being so young please call your pediatrician for guidance ASAP. Good luck!

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