I changed my 5 month old's diaper last night and there was something weird in his poop. There was the regular mushy, sticky, mustard yellow goop but there were also little balls that were whiteish with little red or brown viens or strings all over them. Each little ball was smaller than an M&M in size.
First to explain - I only feed him oranic and I am breast feeding exclusively. I also give him water after each meal to help with kidney function. Right now he has been eating bananas for a few days, and breast milk of course, and that is it.
At first I thought they were chunks of undigested banana even though I mashed it up very well. But what the heck are those reddish brown squiggly lines encompassing each? This definately was NOT bananas. I squished one to be sure and it was kind of spongy but solid. I am freaked out!
I called the doc and he thinks it's just constipation. But he had a full diaper and he pooped the day before no problem. I thought constipation meant you couldn't go. He told me to stop feeding him bananas and start on apples. I asked the doc what the reddish brown lines were and he said sometimes there's a little blood in the stool when there's constipation. But I just don't feel comfortable with that diagnoses. I'm tellin' you, they looked so alien and scary!
Oh... he also had a fever Saturday and Sunday but has been ok since. Don't know if that is related.
Can someone tell me what is going on?
Well, I am resolved to think that you all are right, being experienced Mom's and all, about it being just the banana. I switched him to apples and he seems better. No poop yet - but it is not unusual for him to go two or three days with nothing. So I am no longer worried. I will just have to wait and see "how it all comes out." LOL Thank you all for your suggestions and support.
And just to clarify a few things to those who seemed to judge me and my decisions... He only drinks water after eating solids and he only has 2-4 oz. a day. He still drinks/ nurses the same amount each day. There is no reduction in his milk intake. I started him on solids at 4 months only after a discussion with my peditrician and researching the subjuect. He was more than ready for solids and it was a decision I do not regret. He seems a little advanced in the eating arena - holding a spoon and using a sippy cup at 5 months old! All in all, he is a big, (18.5 lbs at 4 months) healthy, happy baby and I wouldn't change a thing - weird poop and all!
A.,
have you ever made banana bread? if you have or have eaten it did you notice that there are little strings in it? that is the part of the banana! that's all.
E.
I would just watch to see if it happens again and in that case I would take the poop to the doctor and have him look at it.
I have an 8-month-old (Charli). She has the same stringy-wormy looking stuff after eating bananas, too. My sis-in-law says the same w/her 3 kids. We were both told they're the fibers in the bananas. I've read several places that bananas are the least conflicting w/babies' systems, but Charli's tummy doesn't seem to respond so well. We just try them about once a month in small doses to see if she improves, and slowly but surely she has. Alternative - she LOVES when I make "sauce" from a mix of D'Anjou pears, granny smith, and golden del. apples (we go organic, too - I'm dying for summer to get here!) It always moves well through her system.
Also, If you're not comfortable w/the diagnosis & still concerned, ask another doc - the hospital where I delivered is very nice about taking calls from first time (and more) moms. All the best to you and baby Ryan!
Did changing to apples help? If so, maybe the doctor was right. I mean, they've seen it all. If this keeps up, I'd take a sammple into the doctor to have him look at it.
Hi A.. I think you should get a second opinion. My fiance says that it sounds like he's allergic to bananas. Or it could be something that your eating. Too much potassium maybe? The doc is right about the apples. There's lots of fiber there and it would help if there's anything wrong with the bananas. So try the apples for a few days, but get a second opinion as well. My guess is an allergic reaction or too much of a good thing!
Anytime I had poo related questions for the doctor, I would save the diaper and take it with me to the doctor.
It does not sound like constipation. My son was always constipated and the blood he had was obviously blood from tearing caused by passing too big of a poop, nothing like what you describe.
First, if you make your own baby food and mashed the banana yourself, it may be just be those strings/seeds & stuff. If you have ever made homemade banana bread, the batter will have those stringy things in a similar color all over the place. The whitish balls you describe does sound like piences of partially digested banana pulp.
However, if you purchase jar food and there was nothing like that in the jar to begin with, then I would be a little more concerned.
In any case, I would get a second opinion and bring the diaper in question with you.
I can't tell you what is going on but I would certainly get a second opinion on that one. It doesn't sound like he is constipated to me. Don't be afraid to tell his doctor that you want a second opinion on that either. It may have something to do with the organic foods but I can't say for sure. One thing to do though is keep an eye on his poop and if it still like that do get another doctors opinion.
D.
I am 31. I have been married going on 12 yrs. this Nov.. My husband and I have 3 wonderful boys ages 10,7 and 4.
Did you save them? If not, can you hunt them out of the trash? I would take them to the doctor's office & have him look at them. It could be polyps.
my dr actually told us about this, bananas turn their poop like that. kinda weird sometimes may even look wormy. but they can also constipate them as well as harden their stools. happens to adults too. just be sure to give him some other fruits too. they recommend apples or prunes to help soften the poop. prunes work awesome for our son. good luck. i was the same way when i noticed that weird poop.
Bananas are binding, and the balls could be portions of his excrement that were bound together. Babies should not be started on solids, organic or not, until at least 6 months, as their little tummies are not ready for food.
That said, if your doctor advised you to stop with the bananas, you probably should.
I never had that issue with bananas, but my son did have a little blood in his stools. Just a little thought to keep in the back of your mind. If you are drinking milk and breastfeeding then he could have a milk allergy. I kept telling my doctor that there was blood in his stools and he finally just said he was lactose intollerent. He had no symptoms other than that so I went to lactose free milk. After my daughter was born, she screamed for the first year of her life. I finally switched doctors and they sent her to an allergist. She had a full blown milk allergy and when I started looking into symptoms , blood in the stool is a very common symptom of a food allergy. I am not saying that your son has a food allergy, but if this continues you might check into it. I found out that my son had some of the common mild symptoms of a milk allergy and I was still giving it to him because the doctor insisted that there was nothing wrong with him. Good luck
Hey A.! I am with the other mommies on this...it very well could be the bananas...if it were me, I stop them for a while, do the apple sauce, see if it happens again. IF it does, I would take him in to get checked out. and take a sample of the stuff with you. (I know it sound gross, but that way they can check for anything if they need to.) Good luck!
i am having the same problem. searching the internet to figure this out...i do however, have one question that perplexes me. why would you give your baby water? breastmilk is 80% water. water in a baby THAT young is going to mess up his/her electrolytes. yes water flushes and that is a bad thing in babies. you flush out their sodium etc and that is EXCLUSIVELY BAD. if you research any medical website is clearly states taht you should never give a baby that young water. one other thing is taht there is bacteria in the water that would need to be boiled off. let alone the chlorine which is horrible for adult gut let alone a babies immature gut. if youre doing bottled water EVEN WORSE as there are not as strict of guidlines and tap water is tested a lot more strictly. water for babies = bad bad bad.
The only thing I can think of is the bananas. You said you mashed it really well. Bananas turn brown and black and maybe were not fully digested. They are also kind of stringing. Baby food is mashed and processed more than what we could do at home. I have found that bananas do not wash out of the wash clothe used to wipe faces. They just turn black even after washing. As babies get older and they eat different foods you will find many interesting things in the poop; carrots, raisins (whole), even grapes.
Maybe try stopping the bananas for a few days and see if it disappears, then start them again and see if it returns?
I am a mother of 2 ages 10 and 14 and have had a licensed home daycare and take care of the nursery at church.
If it get worse or the fever comes back or see bright red blood you should take the child to the doctor.
Hope this helps. Take care, T.
Poop can be a strange thing! My sons have had GREEN poop before! It could be an allergy, it could be something that you are eating and it could be nothing to worry about! If you feel uncomfortable with your doctor's opinion, just ask him for a recommendation of another doctor. Tell him that you want a second opinion. If he is a good doctor, he will have no problem giving you the name or names of other doctors for a second opinion!
At 5 months old, all a baby needs is breastmilk. Why did you start adding solids?
That being asked, I'm sure it was just the bananas in his poop. The bananas are actually quite stringy.
it's the banana! my daughter's look the same if she has more than a bite or two.
If you are breastfeeding, you do NOT need to give your baby water after you nurse! He is getting all that he needs from you. You can actually give too much water! Poop is a strange thing, and I've learned sometimes there is no rhyme or reason. I have girls 4 and 2, and we have run the gammet of poop issues. Yes, the red strings are probably a little blood. My youngest was breastfed ONLY for 9 months, but the first time she tried banans she was constipated. And constipation isn't just no poop. If it is a chronic problem (allergy) take the banans away for a while and see what happens. Then try mashing the bananas and thin them down with breastmilk. He certainly won't starve w/o the bananas. Remember to go slow with introducing foods please. Organic or not. Check out kellymom.com
Once your baby is older and on more solid foods, the diapers get more and more interesting and there usually is little cause for alarm. Don't stress over the poop.
Hey A. - I would be freaked out too! As a new mom you have that "instinct" and if you are not comfortable with the answer, either call him back and take in some of the "alien poop" for him to see - or try calling a gastroentrologist (sp?). Worse case the second Dr. tells you it is nothing to worry about and you will feel better. I just think it does sound kind of odd and if he has not been constipated then your Dr. inital reaction is incorrect. Good luck A.!
