Newborn with Diarrhea

UGH! Bless your heart! I'm just going off of my girlfriend's experience here---it could be an allergy to milk or soy. You might want to try a soy formula, and if that doesn't help over a 2-week period you'll have to go to something else. The frustrating thing is at this age the allergy tests don't work--not until 2 yrs. old. If you're breast-feeding, it can mean a complete diet change on your part. Good luck! Let me know if you need more info. on this.

A touch of organic celtic pink salt on your baby's tongue will truly help and is all natural. Often they experience diarrhea after vaccinations. The salt will help the stomach and the immune system get back on track. You can also use a drop of water too, as the baby will be dehydrated, the salt and water act as a healthy 'pedialyte' or 'gatorade' type of drink and will heal the baby's stomach.

PS - we carry a pink salt as mentioned above and many other healing remedies for adults and children at our Feel Great Store in S. Redondo.

Namaste,
J. Eltman, MPH, RD
Preventive & Therapeutic Holistic Health
www.CreativeNutrition.com
1.877.5.EATWELL
Author: The NO DIET Diet: Healthy Meals in 5 Minutes

Good luck.

Diarrhea is like nausea in that it can dehydrate the baby. If he's not drinking much and it's dry around the house, try a humidifier, or try steaming up the bathroom with him in there. If you have concerns, it is best to get him checked out as soon as possible. Good luck!

A.-
I don't think it is diarrhea, diarrhea would be all watery and lots and lots of it. Babies often change their stool cycles, once you think it is all figured out then it changes. Because your baby is 3 weeks old and only formula feed he may not like the formula, it can sometimes take up to 2 weeks before you see that a formula isn't working. Might be worth trying a different brand, soy etc. I went thru 4 formulas while breast feeding before we discovered my son is allergic to milk, and it took 3 months to figure it out!! Good luck and congratulations!!

Hi A.

Diarrhea for a baby can be very serious. They can dehydrate at a much faster rate that we do because they are so small. You may want to take him to the urgent care and have him evaluated just to be on the safe side. I'm sure the on call nurse can tell you where one is or call your insurance sometimes they offer an on call nurse to answer questions. By the way don't ever feel like you're being overreactive, you're a mom trust your gut. Good luck hope he's feeling better soon.

I would definately try to get in to see the doctor just to be on the safe side with him being so young. Also, I feel like he should be pooping more than once a day at 3 weeks. He may have an intolerance for the formula, possibly a dairy allergy? Just the fact that he is so little and not that hungry, makes me think you should see the doctor to discuss your concerns. A 3 week old should be eating every 2 hours around the clock. I know people mentioned pedialite, but my doctor said at that young of an age, you shouldn't offer babies anything except breastmilk or formula. Good luck!

Hi A.,

Making sure he is hydrated is the best thing to do. Did he have vaccinations in the last week? That is an immune system response if so. btw - most babies are pooping more than once a day:o)

Probiotics are important but I am not sure what to do when you aren't nursing. email me offlist if you want more information and I will be able to find out a couple of options for bottles.

____@____.com

Newborns generally poop a lot. If I remember correctly, my babies pooped about four times a day when they were newborns. It should be mustard colored with "grainy" bumps in it. It may change a bit over time, too. He's so young, that he shouldn't really have a "normal" time to poop, etc. If it's different than that, and you are worried, call your doctor. Congrats on the new baby! :)

Although it doesn't sound like diarrhea (with some stools in there), I just wondered if you had tried Pedialyte? I always used that when my kids were babies. I don't know if it is still around, but it definitely replaces the nutrients lost, although I'm not sure that it "cures" the diarrhea itself, if that what this turns out to be.

He only poops once a day! I have a two month old (mostly breast fed) and he has always pooped a lot more than that. He has never had a firm stool either. I know the iron in formula tends to constipate but it sounds extreme for your 3 week old to only be pooping once a day and firm stools... He's only drinking liquids! I only breast fed my first so I don't really know anything about formula feeding though. In my son's case it is liquidy with what looks like curds- and that was the way it was for my first son too. sorry... I think I am giving too much detail...

The biggest thing with either diarrhea or vomiting is the danger of dehydration as others have said. Since he isn't drinking well you should take him to the doctor. If he were drinking like normal I would say don't worry about it. He should be pooping more than once a day!

It is probably the formula. He may need to change what he is getting. Gas may be cause by a reaction to cows milk in the formula. I would wait for the on-call nurse to return the call since he is so little. Babies usually have stool movements often and it is usually soft because they do not have a lot of fiber.
Congratulations on your bundle of joy,
H.