green stool

[littlerani]

Hi, my daughter is 3.5 months old and for the past week she has been having only green stool. She is ebf and only from the breast. I have not used a breast pump. My milk supply is good, and after she is finished feeding my breasts fill softer and lighter. I use one breast per feed. Recently she has been feeding for an hour and does not seem to want to let go. I am really worried about the green stool.... any advice is greatly appreciated.

Also, she has around 10 wet nad stool diapers per day, and the stool is always green in colour.

[KerrySmithIBCLC]

Sometimes green stools can indicate illness. Sometimes green stools can indicate a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance (where baby is not getting enough fatty hindmilk). If she's only nursing on one breast per feeding and feeds for up to an hour each time, I think she's probably getting plenty of hindmilk.

If she's healthy, happy, gaining well and doesn't seem to be in pain, I honestly wouldn't worry too much about green stools. They're only a problem when they're a problem.

Sometimes green stools can be caused by something in YOUR diet, such as artificial colorings, food supplements or vitamins.

[littlerani]

She seems to be hungry all the time, she keeps chewing her fingers, and she does not sleep much. She would take two 10 minute naps from 8 in the morning till 10 at night. She sleeps from 10pm till 8 am every night, only waking up twice to feed and going back to sleep. During the day she is pretty cranky.

[KerrySmithIBCLC]

It sounds like she needs more sleep during the day. Have you tried lying down with her? Babies will often sleep longer if they're next to mom, especially if you can latch her on while you're both lying down.

If she seems hungry all the time, maybe you should try offering both breasts at a feeding instead of just one. Keep her on one breast until she dozes off or comes off on her own, burp her, and offer the second side.

Chewing on her fingers could be an early teething sign. How has her weight gain been? That's the only true indication that she's getting enough to eat. If her weight gain is appropriate, then she's getting enough.