Patient's question:
The baby is 4 months old. Recently, they have been having bowel movements every four or five days, but the stool has started to be dark green in the front and yellow at the back. It's not dry, but rather sticky and mushy. The baby is in good spirits. What could be the reason?Doctor's answer:
Babies who are normally breastfed can also have occasionally light green stools. If the baby's stool is dark green, it indicates indigestion. The causes of indigestion may include the mother eating foods or foods that are too cold. Additionally, the mother's stress and anxiety can also disrupt the baby's bowel movements. When the stool is acidic, bile contained within it oxidizes into green when exposed to air. Bilirubin in bile is a yellow pigment, and when it stains the stool, it turns it yellow. After bilirubin is hydrolyzed, it transforms into biliverdin, which makes the stool green.