Patient's question:
Detailed medical history and consultation purpose: My baby is formula-fed. Previously, her bowel movements were normal, occurring 1-2 times daily. Recently, over the past week, she has been having 5-6 bowel movements per day, sometimes green and sometimes yellow, with sticky, sour-smelling, and sometimes runny consistency. How should this be checked and treated? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
If you are breastfeeding, your baby's stool will be loose because 80% of breast milk is water. If a breastfed baby passes formed stool, it is considered constipation.Breastfed infants have yellow or golden-yellow stools, with a uniform consistency like cream or paste. Occasionally, the stool may be slightly thin and greenish, with an acidic smell but no odor. They typically have 2 to 4 bowel movements per day.
Formula-fed infants have pale yellow or clay-colored stools, which are drier and harder, often streaked with curds, and have a strong odor. They typically have 1 to 2 bowel movements per day.
If your baby normally has only 1 to 2 bowel movements per day but suddenly has 5 to 6, it may indicate illness. However, if your baby has more frequent bowel movements but is otherwise doing well and not losing weight, there is no need to worry.
There are many causes of infant diarrhea, which can be broadly categorized into two types:
One type is non-infectious factors, such as improper diet or changes in weather, which can both cause diarrhea. Dietary-related diarrhea includes overeating or underfeeding; changes in food composition, such as adding too much sugar (conversely, insufficient sugar intake can lead to constipation). Weather changes, like a child getting cold, can disrupt intestinal function; hot weather can reduce stomach acid and digestive enzyme secretion, leading to poor digestion and diarrhea.
The other type is infectious factors, such as unclean feeding utensils or food, which introduce bacteria into the body and cause diarrhea. Long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt the intestinal microbiome, leading to diarrhea. Acute upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, otitis media, urinary tract infections, or pharyngitis in children can also cause diarrhea due to fever and the effects of pathogenic toxins.
Regulating the intestines is not an overnight process. A child's gastrointestinal system is not yet fully developed, so probiotics like Meizi can be taken long-term. My son took Meizi continuously for a full year! Meizi and He Sheng Yuan are probiotics (not medications) that help regulate the gastrointestinal system—loose stools become normal, and constipation improves. Meizi is reasonably priced, while He Sheng Yuan is relatively more expensive.
If a breastfed baby develops diarrhea, do not wean them prematurely. Instead, shorten the duration of each feeding session, allowing the baby to eat the first half of the milk. The first half of breast milk contains more protein, which is easier to digest and rich in nutrients, while the second half has more fat, which is harder to digest. If necessary, the mother can drink a large glass of diluted salt water half an hour to an hour before feeding to thin the milk, then breastfeed the child afterward.