FF Moms - Can you settle a disagreement with dh?

mrsp+3 · July 2012

The short version: How often should a FF baby be pooping?

The long version: Chloe was ebf til she was about 3 1/2 months old when we started supplementing with formula. Now she's pretty much exclusively FF (I do still nurse once a day, but I honestly don't think she's getting much of anything at that session).

When we first switched to formula, she got really constipated, going 5 or 6 days without going (and crying in pain as a result). We finally found a formula that worked for us - Enfamil Gentlease. With that, she was going about once a day(sometimes every other day).

One day, a couple of weeks ago, she SUDDENLY (like from one day to the next) started pooping non-stop all day (ok that's a bit of an exaggeration). But she seriously was pooping 4 or 5 times a day, and the consistency changed (from thick and "clay" like to runny). So, after several days of that, we switched to regular Enfamil thinking maybe the gentlease was a little TOO gentle or something. Now here we are about 2 weeks after the massive poops started, and we haven't seen a change at all. I should note that she doesn't have any signs of dehydration, she isn't overly fussy (no more than usual anyway), and she sleeps about the same as she has for the past couple months. So, no changes in anything but the poops (she drinks about 30oz a day and we haven't started solids yet).

So... (sorry this is so long), I called the Ped today to talk to the nurse. I figured at that point, she could either tell me that it was normal, I should try a new formula again, give it time, or that we needed to come in. After talking to her, she said that she'd recommend coming in just to get the doctor's opinion because it could be a little bug of some kind or a milk sensitivity, and she'd feel better having the doctor make that call now than waiting til her 6 month check (which won't be til mid-Aug).

I said all that to say that my dh thinks i'm completely overreacting. "Babies poop." I should point out that I'm not overly concerned. I just feel like maybe she's going so much that she's not getting all the nutrients she needs to be getting, and it's probably an easy fix. But he's thinking we should just ride it out. He feels bothered that I even called the nurse and seems to think that we're wasting our time going in (we are a military family, so there's no cost as we'll be seen on base. so that isn't the concern)

So, I guess I'm just asking what the experience of other FF moms is. AM I overreacting? Is pooping a runny watery poop 4-5 times a day for 2 weeks normal for a FF baby?

Sorry for the novel. I appreciate any advice you guys can offer!

jju_stb_jju · July 2012

DS is ff and he pops everydayfor sure once a day and some days it will be twice. But the consistency of it is not runny nor has it ever been. I would def take your lo in just to get checked, it isn't gonna hurt just to check and better to be safe than sorry!

Mar5195 · July 2012

I just want to caution, I wouldn't go and switch out your baby's formula without talking with your Pedi. A girlfriend of mine did that last week because her son was spitting up a bit. They had to go to the Dr because her baby hadn't pooped in days and they had to manually assist him in pooping and he literally pooped bricks bled from his butt and was multiple colors and in a cold sweat during this ordeal. She was beside herself having to witness it and I cried after reading the play by play. Save yourself that guilt.

Now with all that being said. My kid poops every day. Sometimes every other day. If he goes. If he goes two days without pooping I wait till the end of that 3rd day before I do something.

My son had done that pooping 3-4 a day thing a few times. But it was like *ahem* little sharts throughout the day. He wasn't in pain so I just let it go.

It's good to be concerned though, don't mess with my baby's pooping schedule! That's my number one in regards to his well being.

sparks2987 · July 2012

I have two points of view hope one helps you some

first DD has been FF since day 1: she poops 1-2 times a day, she will skip a day sometimes or go 3 times a day sometimes but average 1-2 times. She has never had runny poop, it is always about peanutbutter consistency.

next for my clients who are nonverbal we have a rule of thumb given to us by the doctor, if they have more than 3 runny poops a day(within 24 hours), it is categorized as diarreha and needs a doctors visit. Usually 3 runny poops means something is up, it is not concidered diarreha unless it is 3 or more, but after 3 a concern is there. We also monitor frequency, consistancy and color. Make sure you are noting all 3 of those things when you describe it to the doctor. (love the poop talk, we do it alot at work when monitoring adults who cant tell you they are sick, kinda like babies)

HawkeyeJulz · July 2012

When DS was still getting BM and formula I experienced something similar. There was one week he was going 5-6 x a day. Then one week things were way off (this was when he was like 90% formula) he had massive watery poops which was very unlike him. I stopped the BM and switched to just formula and it cleared up almost immediately. So idk if it was something I ate or took but It didn't sit well with him. He has been only FF for about 2 months and he goes once a day (or will go one day) and it is not watery or runny. Look for mucous in her diapers. But when in doubt you could at least call and speak to a nurse about it. My DR said to only be concerned about blood, mucous, or pebbles. You are the mommy do what you feel is best!

MollySm · July 2012

Lucia has been FF since day one. She normally poops once a day, very rarely skipping one day, or pooping twice in a day, never more. Her poop varies from a little runny to a little thick, and always has. When I see runny I always worry about a stomach thing, but since she goes just once a day I figure she's fine.

SevenT7Switch · July 2012

I'd be concerned too and would definitely take my little one in. Totally agree with you on this.

My ff guy poops on average one time per day. Some days it is more watery than others, but he has never randomly started pooping 4-5 times a day.

GL!

mrsp+3 · July 2012

Thank you all so much! You've definitely made me feel better about being concerned enough to call. I'm not freaking out or anything, but it was just enough to make me think "hmmmm this seems a little off."

So, I'll take her in Friday (the earliest appt) and see what the dr says!

Thanks girls!

88eve88 · July 2012

We're EBF but this happened to us too. One night, DS's poop turned watery (literally soaking into the diaper with no 'residue') and I totally freaked and thought it was a stomach bug. I took DS to the doctor's and they did a swab to make sure it wasn't bacterial. DS literally pooped liquid for at least 2 weeks straight, day and night (we had many night diaper changes and leaks too). The doctor didn't find anything wrong so he told me to keep doing what I was doing. To this day (it's been 1.5 months now) his poops are still watery. I guess that's his new poop. I read somewhere that teething and swallowing all that extra saliva can also change poop and make it watery and possibly mucousy. As long as your DD isn't dehydrated, I think she will be fine.

michelle7482 · July 2012

first DD has been FF since day 1: she poops 1-2 times a day, she will skip a day sometimes or go 3 times a day sometimes but average 1-2 times. She has never had runny poop, it is always about peanutbutter consistency.

THIS. exactly.

dmsny · July 2012

MollySm:
Lucia has been FF since day one. She normally poops once a day, very rarely skipping one day, or pooping twice in a day, never more. Her poop varies from a little runny to a little thick, and always has. When I see runny I always worry about a stomach thing, but since she goes just once a day I figure she's fine.

This exactly. It's gotten less loose now that she's eating solids.

SeptemberBride'08 · July 2012

88eve88:
We're EBF but this happened to us too. One night, DS's poop turned watery (literally soaking into the diaper with no 'residue') and I totally freaked and thought it was a stomach bug. I took DS to the doctor's and they did a swab to make sure it wasn't bacterial. DS literally pooped liquid for at least 2 weeks straight, day and night (we had many night diaper changes and leaks too). The doctor didn't find anything wrong so he told me to keep doing what I was doing. To this day (it's been 1.5 months now) his poops are still watery. I guess that's his new poop. I read somewhere that teething and swallowing all that extra saliva can also change poop and make it watery and possibly mucousy. As long as your DD isn't dehydrated, I think she will be fine.

This is happening to DD and I'm just thinking it's all the saliva that changes her poo every now and then. We go in for shots on Friday and I'll ask.

jmccall79 · July 2012

We've started solids so I can't give a good comparison, but Ian poops, typically, 2 times most days, but sometimes it's just once...really depending on what I've fed him food wise. On a rare occasion he will go a day between poops. Again, depending on what food he's had, it can be pasty but never runny. Before food, he was pooping probaby 2 -3 times a day but it wasn't as "thick" as it is now but it wasn't really runny either.

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