Breastfed baby's stools

Nov 5

3 min read

What Appearance, Quantity, Colour, and Texture Should You Expect in a Breastfed Baby's Stools?

Frequency of Stools and Urine in a Breastfed Baby After Birth

The appearance and colour of baby's stools will change after birth.

You can expect:

- Meconium: black, sticky stools on days 1–2

- Transitional brown-green stools: from day 3 to day 5

- Yellow, seedy stools from day 5 onwards (at least 3 per day)

Expected Number of Nappies in the First Week of Breastfeeding

Baby's nappies are one of the criteria for assessing the establishment of effective breastfeeding.

When breastfeeding is going well, from day 5 to 6 weeks, you can expect at least 5–6 nappies filled with urine (the weight of an egg, or 2 to 4 tablespoons of water) and at least 2–3 yellow, seedy stools (the size of a 2-euro coin, or the size of the "OK" hand sign) per day.

Note: Before 6 weeks, infrequent stools (fewer than 3 per day) are generally not a sign of constipation but a sign of insufficient milk supply: you should then monitor weight gain and review the breastfeeding approach.

3. Stool Frequency After 6 Weeks

After 6 weeks, stools may become less frequent without cause for concern: when baby does have a bowel movement, sometimes after a week or 10 days without stools, the stools will be plentiful and soft. If you feel baby is uncomfortable, you can try massaging their tummy, or place them in a seated squatting position without a nappy over a container (this position opens the sphincter).

4. Colour and Consistency of a breastfed baby's Stools

The colour and consistency of a breastfed baby's stools may also vary: green stools, liquid or explosive stools, mucus… which generally raises a lot of questions for parents.

This can happen in the following situations:

The isolated case: baby generally has yellow, seedy stools, but occasionally has green stools. Baby is gaining weight well and is generally content: occasional green or mucus-containing stools can occur and are not a cause for concern.

The case where, in the first 6 weeks, stools are infrequent (fewer than 2 or 3 per day), sometimes green, in small quantities, and weight gain is slow: there is not enough milk. You should then review the breastfeeding approach: for example, offer both breasts (super alternating), increase feeding frequency, review positioning and latch, and possibly introduce top-ups if baby is very drowsy at the breast, cries as soon as they are removed from the breast, or does not show signs of satisfaction during the feed.

When weight gain resumes: baby will have much more frequent stools: this is normal.

The case of abundant milk supply and lactose overload: in this case, there will be plentiful stools, sometimes explosive and liquid, accompanied by gas and digestive discomfort after the feed (baby crying, writhing). The stools are yellow, or sometimes green. There will also be signs of discomfort during the feed: baby letting go of the breast, coughing, crying, choking, milk overflowing from the corners of the mouth. Baby is gaining weight very well in this case. Mum may have a sensation of very full breasts throughout the day, and recurrent episodes of mastitis. You should then review feeding frequency to adjust the abundant milk supply.

The case of an allergy to a food eaten by mum: in this case, there may be green stools, sometimes foul-smelling, sometimes with mucus or blood, accompanied by other signs: crying, eczema, gastro-oesophageal reflux, blocked nose, slow weight gain… A medical consultation will be necessary to confirm the relevance of an elimination diet for mum.

breastfed baby's stools — Stool of a breastfed baby with traces of blood

A cold, a gastrointestinal virus, teething, antibiotic treatment (for mum or baby), or a vaccination can also cause liquid, sometimes green, or mucus-containing stools.
In the case of phototherapy for jaundice: stools will be green (excretion of bilirubin).
A green food in mum's diet can cause green stools.

In conclusion, the colour, texture, and quantity of stools can vary throughout breastfeeding. This is one of the indicators that breastfeeding is establishing well in the early days, so it is important to keep an eye on the contents of the nappies.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide general information and does not in any way replace medical advice. It is essential to consult a healthcare professional for any question relating to your personal situation.

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