Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Newborn with 'Explosive' Bowel Movements | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
I have a seven-week-old daughter. She is formula fed. For the last two weeks she has been having explosive bowel movements every day. They are loud, smelly, and sometimes run out of her diaper. My doctor says it is OK--it's the formula. What do you think?
— Jodi | | | ANSWER |
March 22, 2001 | | | Dear Jodi,
Loose, foul-smelling stools and gassiness are often signs of formula intolerance. However, at times it depends on the type of formula being used. There are some formulas given to babies with certain medical conditions that are partially predigested. The stools of babies who drink this type of formula may be quite loose. If this is the case, the stools will be loose from the time the baby starts drinking the formula. That is, there would not be a sudden onset of loose stools.
There are also other medical conditions that would cause loose stools. These include viral infection and many other illnesses that affect the digestive system.
Be sure to keep in close contact with your daughter's doctor, and take her in to have her weight checked. If she is gaining weight at an acceptable rate, this may well be a normal response to the formula. If there is a slow rate of weight gain, your baby may not be absorbing the nutrients in the formula and may need a further work up. An unpleasant but helpful thing to do is to take a full (fresh) diaper to the doctor's office for his/her observation of the consistency of the stool. This may help the doctor determine if further laboratory testing is necessary.— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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