How to Understand a Breastfeeding Baby's Bowel Movements

To new parents, the first few days of their baby's life come with much uncertainty and many questions. For the breastfeeding mother, normal bowel movements from her newborn baby can help the mother feel confident about her breastfeeding her baby. Follow these steps to help you understand the breastfeeding baby's bowel movements in those first few days of life.

Instructions

1

Look for a breastfed baby's first bowel movement, also known as meconium, the substance that formed in the baby's bowel prior to birth. This substance is sticky and thick and has a greenish-black color. Parents tend to find it difficult to remove meconium from their baby's bottom because it's sticky. Breastfed babies usually have their first bowel movement within 12 hours after their birth. Typically, on the first and second days of life, a breastfed baby will have one to two bowel movements of this type per day.

2

Watch for the transitional bowel movements that follow the meconium stools. You will note a bowel movement that has a greenish-brown or greenish-yellow color on approximately the third day of the baby's life. These stools are not as sticky and thick as the meconium and they have a softer texture. At a minimum, your breastfed baby will have about two of these transitional stools per day.

3

Pay attention to the third type of bowel movement that you will see in a breastfed newborn. Around the fourth day of life, you will note that the baby's stools turn to a mustard yellow color. The stools have a runny and seedy texture as well. On days 4 and 5 of the baby's life, you can expect about three bowel movements per day at a minimum. This type of stool is what you will see in a breastfed baby until about four to six weeks of life.