Patient's question:
Doctor, my baby has been passing gas with stool since he was two months old, and his stools are very loose, like water. He has been exclusively breastfed, and now he's almost five months old. Since last week when we started adding solid foods, his stools have improved a lot, but he still passes gas with stool sometimes, and even a little stool with urine at times. How should I take care of him?Doctor's answer:
Babies may have different bowel movement frequencies each day due to factors such as age, diet, and bowel habits. The feeding methods and practices also vary, resulting in different characteristics of the stool. For breastfed infants, normal stool is typically yellow or golden yellow in appearance, with a uniform, creamy consistency and a slightly sweet and sour odor, but it is not foul-smelling. There is no significant mucus, and occasionally, it may contain small curd-like particles or a faint greenish hue. Bowel movements occur 3-5 times a day, but some infants may have 6-7 bowel movements daily as well. However, the volume per bowel movement is usually small, and the stool appears normal. If the baby's weight is maintained and their nutritional status is good, this is not a pathological condition and does not require any treatment. If the baby, who originally had 1-2 bowel movements per day, suddenly has more than 5-6 bowel movements and the stool contains excessive moisture or undigested food remnants, it is advisable to seek medical attention.