Patient's question:
My sister is 27 years old and recently gave birth to a baby. I came to her house to help her take care of the child. I haven't had children before and don't have much experience. Could you please tell me: What is the normal appearance of infant bowel movements?Doctor's answer:
The baby's meconium is usually eliminated within 2 to 4 days after birth and gradually transitions into normal yellow soft stools. For breastfed babies, the stools are typically golden yellow and pasty, with a frequency of 1 to 4 bowel movements per day. In contrast, formula-fed babies have lighter yellow, uniform, and greasy-like stools, with a lower frequency of 1 to 2 bowel movements per day. If the baby has frequent bowel movements with watery or egg-like soup-like consistency, or if there is mucus and foam, sometimes with a fishy odor, it may indicate that the baby is experiencing nausea and vomiting again.