- 1. Cracked nipples while breastfeeding
- 2. Excess iron in the diet
- 3. Use of some medications
- 4. Lesions in the stomach or esophagus
When the baby is newborn it is normal for his first feces to be black or greenish, and sticky, due to the presence of substances that have been accumulating throughout the pregnancy and that are eliminated during the first days. Thus, it is also normal for the color to become increasingly brown after 2 or 3 days.
However, other situations, such as feeding and using iron-based medications, can also make baby's stools darker than normal.
When it is not a newborn it is necessary to be attentive and try to identify what may be causing this alteration in the stool and to contact the pediatrician as soon as possible, because in some cases, this may be a sign of something more serious. Understand better what other situations can cause changes in the baby's stool.
1. Cracked nipples while breastfeeding
If the mother has cracked nipples and is breastfeeding, the baby may ingest some blood, which is digested and then appear in her stool, making it darker.
The mother's blood intake is not harmful to the baby, however, the mother should treat the cracked nipples to reduce pain and discomfort during breastfeeding. See the best ways to treat cracks in the breast.
2. Excess iron in the diet
Iron-rich foods like spinach and beets, for example, can make baby's stools darker. This change is not a cause for concern and the color of the stools usually returns to normal when there is a decrease in the intake of these foods. See a list of foods that contain more iron.
Therefore, if the baby is already eating baby food that may have beans, spinach or beets, you can try baby food without these ingredients to assess whether the color of the baby's stool returns to normal. Initially they should come with mixed colors and then they should return to normal color.
3. Use of some medications
The use of some remedies like Ferrous Sulfate or that contain bismuth compounds, like Pepto-Bismol, for example, can cause dark stools in the baby. In this case, the color of the stool usually returns to normal when the baby stops taking the medicine.
If the baby is taking an iron supplement, the stools, in addition to being dark, may become more dry and that is why it is important to offer enough fluids, according to age, to soften the stools. Babies who only breastfeed can breastfeed more often during the day, while babies who have started a varied diet can drink water, fruit juice or tea.
4. Lesions in the stomach or esophagus
Despite being a less common situation, the baby's black stools can also indicate some bleeding in the stomach, esophagus or intestine and this situation should be evaluated by the pediatrician as soon as possible, so that the baby receives the appropriate treatment. In this case, the stool can be very dark and smell very strong, but the presence of blood in the stool is not so visible.
If parents or caregivers suspect that blood is mixed in the baby's stool, they should be very attentive to the baby's diaper and genitals. The bright red blood mixed in the stool can indicate bleeding due to fissure in the anus or constipation. In this case it is possible to see traces of blood in the stool. Learn more about blood in your baby's stool.
