Patient's question:
My daughter was born on July 26th, and until now, she has been having frequent bowel movements every day. Basically, she has a bowel movement every time she eats milk, with intervals of 1 to 2 hours. The stool is yellow in color but quite loose. Is this normal? If not, what could be the issue and how can it be resolved?Doctor's answer:
After birth, the baby begins to pass meconium within ten hours. Meconium is black, dark green, viscous, odorless, and somewhat similar to asphalt used for paving. It is composed of bile, intestinal secretions, shed epithelial cells, and amniotic fluid, as well as hair swallowed in the womb. It is usually expelled within two to three days, with an average of 3 to 5 bowel movements per day. If no meconium is seen within twenty-four hours after birth, it should be suspected whether a congenital gastrointestinal malformation is causing fecal obstruction, and timely diagnosis and treatment are required.