Patient's question:
My child was just born two days ago and has only drunk some breast milk, some formula milk, and some water. Why does he have a stomachache?Doctor's answer:
Stool of newborns:Breastfed infants: The stool is golden yellow, soft, and has a uniform consistency, resembling soft butter. Occasionally, it may be slightly thin and greenish, with an acidic odor but no foul smell. The average daily stool output is one to four times. If the child normally has four to five bowel movements or even seven to eight times daily but is otherwise in good health and gaining weight, this is not considered pathological.
Formula-fed infants: The stool is light yellow, drier, and more abundant, with a faint and sometimes mixed with curdled milk. If the child has only one to two bowel movements daily, constipation may be suspected.
The above information is referenced from Dr. Xu Jide's Pediatric Internal Medicine, 3rd Edition.
My summary on diarrhea: I hope my answer helps you. The most common causes of diarrhea in infants are indigestion and intestinal inflammation.
Generally, if the child's stool contains bubbles, it often indicates indigestion. Only when the child's digestion is poor and food residue accumulates can the intestines ferment the material, producing gas and causing bubbles in the stool. Additionally, bubbles in the stool may also be related to the child swallowing excessive air due to prolonged crying.
If the child also experiences vomiting, with the vomit having an acidic odor or containing undigested milk curds, or if the child has abdominal distension (the abdomen is higher than the chest when lying flat), and the stool is bubbly but without mucus or pus, with only increased frequency but still yellow or slightly greenish and mushy or watery in consistency, it is likely indigestion. In such cases, digestive water can be given to aid digestion, or probiotics like Mama's Love can be used to regulate intestinal flora, along with Smecta for diarrhea relief.
If the child also has severe vomiting, even vomiting immediately after eating, or intermittent crying that subsides on its own, with significantly altered stool consistency (e.g., resembling egg drop soup or watery, with mucus), the likelihood of intestinal inflammation increases. This requires prompt medical attention, and a stool test can help diagnose the condition.
If the child has persistent crying during diarrhea and appears lethargic, with tomato-juice-like stools, intestinal intussusception should be suspected. If the stool also has a very foul odor, necrotizing enteritis must be ruled out.
Some children may develop diarrhea after drinking cold tea. If the child has indeed consumed cold tea before the diarrhea, this is a strong possibility. It is recommended to avoid giving the child excessive cold tea in the future.
Improper complementary feeding, such as adding food too quickly, too much, or too early, can also cause diarrhea.
Care tips:
- When the child has intestinal inflammation, digestion may be impaired. Gastric protease or digestive water, such as "Food " digestive water, can be given to aid digestion.
- If the child is formula-fed, it is recommended to use a diarrhea-specific formula. If unavailable, the milk can be diluted.
- If the child is breastfed, the lactating mother should follow a light but nutritious diet, avoiding greasy foods. The mother can also take "Chang Le Kang" to support the child's recovery, as I advocate "treatment for the mother and child together" for diarrhea.
Additionally, frequent bowel movements can cause discomfort to the child's buttocks. It is advisable to avoid wrapping the buttocks too tightly, especially if the child is prone to getting cold. When cleaning the buttocks, water is preferred over cloth, and gentle patting should be used instead of rubbing to prevent irritation and skin breakdown, which can cause severe crying. If the child cries uncontrollably, check if the buttocks are red, as this may indicate discomfort.
To prevent diaper rash, applying a topical ointment, such as tetracycline ointment or eye ointment, after each cleaning can help.
I hope this explanation addresses your question.