Why is newborn poop black

Over the first few days of life, a newborn will continue to pass meconium. The color should gradually change from black to dark green, then yellow.

After 1 week of life, stool should no longer be black. If a black color persists, seek medical advice. It could mean that there is some bleeding in the digestive system. These flecks come from breastmilk and are harmless. When a baby drinks formula, their poop tends to light brown or orange. It may be slightly darker and firmer than stool from a breastfed baby.

If the baby is putting on weight and seems content, green poop is not necessarily a cause for concern. Learn more about green poop in children here. The baby may have a health problem, or they may have swallowed a small amount of blood.

This could happen if a breastfeeding mother has cracked or bleeding nipples. It usually goes away within the first 2 weeks. Anyone who suspects that their baby still has jaundice after 14 days should check the color of their poop. Pale or white poop may suggest liver disease. Another sign to look for is yellow pee. If the baby has white or pale stool, the doctor may test their bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is a compound that helps the body get rid of waste. There are two types of bilirubin, and if levels of one type are too high, it can cause health problems.

Baby poop can also have a variety of textures and other features. Before an infant starts eating solid food, their poop is usually very soft. Breastfed babies may have quite runny or stringy poop, while formula-fed babies tend to have firmer, but not solid, poop. Diarrhea in a baby consists of loose, watery stools that occur more than once every feeding. It can be difficult to pinpoint diarrhea in a young infant because their bowel movements are naturally looser than babies who are on solid foods.

A mucus-like or frothy texture can sometimes occur when your baby is drooling from teething, and then subsequently swallows their drool. The presence of mucus in the stool is normal in newborns as they pass meconium. As a rule of thumb, you should call your pediatrician if your baby is older than a few days and not drooling, and has persistent mucus in their stool. It could also be a sign of an infection, which warrants a call to the pediatrician. Small amounts of blood are sometimes ingested during breastfeeding if your nipples are cracked.

Once your baby starts solids, you might notice food pieces appearing in their poop. A newborn can have few bowel movements early on. If your baby is formula-fed, then you should see bowel movements occurring at least once a day. Pooping more than once after each feeding at any stage could indicate diarrhea. Baby poop fluctuates in color. Feeding and age can also affect the overall color and consistency. You should also take your baby to the pediatrician if they have diarrhea accompanied by a fever.

Extremely hard and dry stools are usually a sign of constipation. But if your baby is vomiting or otherwise ill, it may be a sign that your baby is dehydrated. Other symptoms of dehydration in a baby include:. Read this article in Spanish. Newborn poop can vary greatly from one baby to another. If you have serious concerns, talk to your pediatrician. Meconium fills the lower bowel of all newborns. It gets its distinct color from bile, a fluid produced in the liver that aids digestion.

Most of these ingredients are harmless, but too much bilirubin in the blood can lead to jaundice. Jaundice is a common condition in newborns but can have serious consequences if the bilirubin level exceeds certain limits. Because meconium is chock full of bilirubin, early excretion is vital to preventing serious jaundice. Red flecks can also appear when your baby swallows nipple blood during breastfeeding, or from dark-red foods and drinks.

It's smart to call the pediatrician for red baby poop, just in case. Call the doctor for dark red or black baby poop, since it might indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, says Nanci Pittman, M.

Blood in baby poop should always be checked by a pediatrician. Chalky white or gray baby poop indicates a liver problem, low bile, or lack of nutrient malabsorption, says Dr. Contact your pediatrician right away.

Any variation on the colors yellow, green, or brown is normal for baby poop. If you see other colors in your baby's poop—like red, white, black after the meconium stage , or pale yellow—make an appointment with your doctor to rule out health problems.

Silver, wine-red or maroon, or raspberry gel-like poop need urgent medical attention. By Nicole Harris Updated October 19, Save Pin FB More. Yeji Kim. Credit: Yeji Kim. By Nicole Harris. Be the first to comment! No comments yet.