It is quite possible for an infant to pass loose stools during the first two months. A baby passing soft loose stool indicates that he is healthy. Since the newborn feeds only on breast-milk the nature of stool would be very soft. Hence it is difficult to distinguish whether the baby has diarrhea or not during this period. Stool pattern of the infant would change once the baby is given other foods in addition to milk. Newborns would pass stool almost after every feed and the mother would understand his stool pattern gradually.
Diarrhea In Babies Symptoms :
If the baby has any one of the following sign it can be said that he is having diarrhea.
- Number of times the baby has stools increases suddenly
- If the baby has several times stool after one feeding
- Nature of the stool is more watery and is different from normal pattern
- Baby is not active as before and cries frequently
- If there is any strains of blood or mucus in his stool
Babies Diarrhea Causes :
The cause of baby diarrhea is many.
- Sudden change in the baby’s diet can lead to diarrhea or watery stool. Any new thing takes time for the infant to settle. It is true with food items also.
- It can be due to food items that his mother eats.
- Baby can develop diarrhea due to allergy (food allergy or fluid allergy).
- If the baby has a fever or develops nasal congestion it can cause diarrhea.
- Viral infection can cause diarrhea but often it settles without any treatment.
- Intake of medications or antibiotics by the mother or baby can affect the stomach causing diarrhea.
Complications :
An infant who is less than 4 months old should be given additional care. Ignoring the symptoms of diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Following are the signs of dehydration (loss of water balance and electrolyte) which is potentially dangerous.
- Baby may get irritated and cry frequently
- His eyes may not show enough water (dry eyes) while crying
- He may urinate lesser than routine days
- He may become less active
- The infant’s skin may become dry and may not be spongy as before
- The baby may be sluggish
In severe cases of dehydration, the baby becomes very lethargic and there would not be any urine output for few hours. His eyes become dry and sunken. You need to consult your doctor immediately if there is any symptom given above. During such occasions, it is better to continue breastfeeding before visiting the clinic since it helps in managing dehydration. Depending on the case, your doctor may suggest oral solution like Pedialyte along with other drugs to restore normal balance.