Baby’s stool color is usually light yellow, sometimes with curds, occasionally tending towards green and with a softer texture. However, if the stool appears muddy and very thin, this may be a warning sign of the baby’s health condition. A greenish stool color may indicate faster intestinal motility, speeding up the passage of food through the intestines, where bile does not have enough time to influence its color. The first dark green sticky stool passed by a newborn is called meconium and is usually expelled spontaneously within 2-3 days after birth.
Green stool is sometimes related to indigestion or exposure of the abdominal area to cold. Indigestion may result from the baby consuming food that is hard to digest or from excessive milk intake beyond the baby’s digestive capacity. In such cases, considering the use of intestinal function-regulating medications such as MommyLove or Xingpi Yang’er Granules for treatment may be helpful. Exposure of the abdominal area to cold not only causes green stools but is often accompanied by thin stools, a symptom of diarrhea. In such situations, temporarily switching to diarrhea formula milk is advised, and breastfeeding mothers should pay attention to their diet, avoiding greasy, spicy foods, and maintaining nipple cleanliness to prevent bacterial infections that may affect the baby.
It is worth noting that some instances of green stool are normal occurrences. Babies exclusively breastfed may have stools slightly tinged with green; babies consuming iron-fortified formula milk may exhibit light green stool if unable to fully absorb the iron content; babies beginning to incorporate vegetable purees as complementary food may also have green stool. As long as the baby has a good appetite, is alert, and is experiencing normal weight gain, there is no need to worry excessively.
In the face of uncertainties, the safest approach is to promptly take the baby to the hospital for examination to ensure the baby’s health and to prevent potential issues from developing into more serious conditions.
