08/27/2023
Would you believe me if I told you just how many questions I get about baby p**p? ππ©β
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Here's your guide-- share and save it for later!β
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What p**ping is like for a baby on formula can vary WIDELY. The good news? Almost everything is normal!β
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Here's what you need to know:β
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π© Color - formula p**p is often green due to the iron in the formula. This is totally fine! Yellow and seedy (like you see with breastmilk), brown, or any combination of these three colors is typically normal. Black, red (i.e. bloody), or white stools should be brought to your pediatrician's attention.β
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π© Texture - Formula p**ps can be liquidy, pasty (peanut butter texture, sorry for the visual π) or even formed. The key is that we want stools to be SOFT. If your baby is having hard, pellet-like stools, talk to your pediatrician as a formula switch may be recommended.β
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π© Frequency - Some babies p**p with every feeding, some p**p twice a day like clockwork, and others might only p**p once a week. All of these frequencies CAN be normal; I know it's hard to believe! Infrequency on its own does not equal constipation. Infrequency PLUS a hard, pellet-like texture is typically when your ped will want to intervene.β
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And remember, straining/grunting/getting-red-in-the-face is also not always a sign that baby is constipated. While we interpret these behaviors as "Help! My baby is in pain!," straining is sometimes simply a way for babies to create the intra-abdominal pressure required to push the p**p or gas out (as babies are not very good at coordinating the muscles necessary to "bear down").β
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As always, consult with your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby's p**p, but know that in general, MANY variations of color, texture, or frequency, are perfectly normal.β β β β