Mucusy Poops, EBF

[Mommy2008]

Hello,

I am new here and I am finally able to post. I have used this website for alot of great tips and advice.

I am a first time mom. My DS was born on 2/28/08. He is 4 months old.

I had a problem when he was about 2 mos old with green, stinky, mucusy poops. I block fed for 3 weeks and my supply has finally adjusted and now we are green poop free for over a month now...YAY!

He is EBF. However, I am wondering why his poops still have mucus in them. I guess I would call it mucus. They are stringy like if I fold the diaper in half, it looks stretchy I guess I would say. Most of his diapers are like this. Some have a little more than others. I dont know..maybe this is how they were when I first had him but never noticied until I started paying more attention to his poops..LOL. I really didnt pay much attention to his poops color/consistenty etc.., until they started turning green and then I became the poop inspector..LOL.

I took him to the ped. about a month ago. I brought her 3 diapers though they were sort of dried up by then...she said the mucus was probably normal. They tested him for rotovirus which was neg.

I have read that mucus can be a sign of a virus or happen when they are teething. He is drooling alot more lately and has been for almost a month now.

I do want to add that he really doesnt have any other symptoms. He is a spitter, has been since he was a few weeks old. He does have a little tiny red area on his anus, that comes and goes with A&D onitment, but never seems to fully go away.

I decided on mon. that I was going to not have obvious dairy for about a week straight to see if anything changed, possibly longer if I didnt see change yet. I have been limiting my milk intake for about a month now..actually I dont think I have had an actual glass of milk for about a month, but was still eating cheese, etc. Not real sure yet if its helping b/c He has only been pooping about once a day and the other day he didnt go at all...so I think I need more time to see if its helping yet. Is it possible that its not dairy and the mucus is just normal? He doesnt seem like he is in pain or discomfort?

So, I dont know what to make of it. Anyone can help me out? What do you think is the cause of the mucus/stringy poos? Is this just normal? If your LO has something simliar, what did it turn out to be for them?

Thanks alot:)

[Nipple_nectar]

If your baby is happy and meeting milestones- chances are it is his version of normal:)

This link has a ton of info: www.drjaygordon.com/development/pediatricks/poop.asp

[Mommy2008]

Thanks!

[Amy_G_]

It could be the non-obvious dairy that's hidden in foods you eat (prepared things).
It could be something else--some other food he has a sensitivity to.

It could be his version of normal.
It could be teething--mine started at about 3.5 months, but first tooth didn't make it til 6.5 months.

If he's meeting milestones, and isn't a cranky little monster, I'd probably leave well enough alone. :)

[Mommy2008]

Thanks!

[DancinMomma]

I know this is late. But I try to pop in here every once in awhile and read any possible intolerance/allergy posts to see if I can help.

Anyhoo, Your DS is probably fine, just "normal" for him like everyone said.

But just in case you are still questioning it, my boys had the exact same poops that you describe and theirs was from a milk intolerance. The only way to really test it is to 100% cut out dairy (including hidden) for 2 weeks and see what his poops are like. In my case, DS2 stopped spitting up completely as well. I went on and happily bf him on a non-dairy diet. I "cheated" on major holidays-for my sanity;)
I also had OAL/oversupply....you and I are alot alike!

Anyway, just my experience. Since you say your DS doesnt seem bothered by it, it makes me think its not an intolerance/allergy. But just FYI...

[ChristineLynne]

We just went through a very similar experience, and I've decided that slightly slimy poos are just from teething or (as others put it so well) her version of normal. I did total hardcore dairy elimination for 7 days, and if anything things got "worse" over that time, so I decided not to push through to 2 weeks. She seems fine, and the sleeping issues I was thinking might be dairy related are getting better, too.

I'd say unless there are substantial problems (baby in pain, not gaining well, crying a lot), don't bother cutting all dairy, as it is a huge PITA. Of course, if you're willing to give it a try just to see, it can be done - remember Asian food is your friend. (And I think I lost two pounds doing it - bonus!)

[Mommy2008]

Thanks so much for replying! Yeah, that is what I have such a hard time figuring out if its normal for him or not? Im not eliminating hidden dairy. Only the main dairy sources. Its so hard to even do this let alone go deeper into it =( Ive not been eating main dairy sources now for 2 1/2 weeks.

His spitting up hasnt gotten any better during this time. And, at first his mucusy poos were getting a bit better, they dont have AS MUCH mucus in them, but its still there. But, like I said. He really doesnt have many other symptoms and im so confused. I have a huge freezer stash of Frozen BM that I saved up for going back to work in a month and a half and now im worried he wont be able to use it. and now im trying to start over with pumping now while im not eating dairy.

I just dont know what to do. His pede said at his 4 month checkup to continue to not eat dairy for 3-4 weeks and if he was still having mucus in his poos, then to let them know b/c them it might not be that.

Is there a way I can "test" it out. Like once Ive been avoiding dairy for 3weeks[this mon coming up] then eat like a piece of cheese or something to see if it makes his poos worse?

Also, what would happen if he was truly intolerant and I didnt know to avoid dairy, and just kept eating it like normal? how would that affect him? is it really that bad if someone doesnt avoid eating dairy? I would bet that most of the population probably doesnt know if their DC has a intolerance or allergy, unless of course they Formula feed.

I just wonder how bad it is if I didnt avoid it all together or just "limited" it?

Yeah, my son is a happy baby, not over cranky, and meeting milestones and has great weight gain, so who knows?

I appreaciate your suggestions. Any others?

[whitnessforhim]

I also noticed the same thing in my DD. I have always had a problem with dairy myself and am use to eliminating it from my diet. However, as you stated it sometimes is so hard to avoid it. But any tiny bit of dairy can still come through your BM.

I have been a bit relaxed in my efforts to eliminate dairy in the past two or three months and recently noticed my DD having the same mucusy poos. At first I thought it was the solids I was feeding her (we just started solids at this point) So I just experimented. I stopped all solids for about a week (only BM) and I started eliminating all dairy again. Within a week her poos were back to normal. Then I started introducing the same solids we had already tried and watched her poos. Its been about 3 weeks now...she's back on the solids and I try to be dairy free and still no mucusy poos. So for us I'm pretty sure it was the dairy. It really is just a process of elimination. You'll just have to try it and see.

Honestly though if its just the poos that are different and he's his happy normal self regardless I don't think your going to hurt him to feed him your frozen (with dairy) BM. Besides as he gets older you might find that it no longer bothers him.

[dodoe80]

I never had a problem with dairy or mucusy poops but my son would sometimes get an irritated anus when I ate really spicy foods. So I have to watch that. I also had to switch diappers becaues his bottom didn't like the Parents Choice brand (had a mild diapper rash that would never really go away). Once I switched diapper and kept the spicy foods down to mild we don't have a problem.