Breastfeeding and Baby Poop - What’s the Scoop?

By Alison Heyerdahl

While poop is a subject that can make your stomach churn, knowing the normal color, consistency, and frequency of stool can give you a lot of insight into your baby’s health.  If you are breastfeeding, the appearance of the poop can also give you clues as to whether your baby is consuming enough milk. 

What is the normal appearance of poop for breastfed babies?

In the first 24 hours of life, your baby will produce meconium stools – blackish, tar-like poop made from the mucus, amniotic fluid, skin cells, bile, and other materials that he/she consumed in the womb.  The colostrum in breast milk has a slight laxative effect which will help rid the body of this meconium.  In the next 24 hours, your baby should produce another two poop diapers, which will start to become a mustard-colored, pasty poop with the consistency of cottage cheese.  This poop may also contain small amounts of mucus. 

Within three to five days, the poop will take on the typical appearance of breastfed baby poop – a mustard color, seedy in texture with a sweetish scent. 

How often will my breastfed baby poop?

According to studies, there is no "normal."  Some babies may poop after every feeding (5 – 12 times a day), while others may only poop once every three to six days.  One study found that on average, babies poop 3 times a day in the first week, twice a day in the second week, 1.8 times in the third week and 1.5 times a day in the fourth week.  In the second and third month, babies pooped 1.4 times a day, which reduced to 1.2 times a day in the fourth month.  Although it may seem strange, the frequency (or infrequency) of your baby’s bowel movements aren’t a cause for concern, as long as your baby is getting enough to eat and is steadily gaining weight. 

Why does my breastfed baby poop after every feeding?

Pooping after every feed indicates that your baby is getting enough to eat.  Breastfeeding tends to fill the stomach up, stimulating the digestive tract, causing a bowel movement.  In the beginning, you may notice that your baby poops after every feed, but this frequency slows down as her digestive system matures and she settles into a routine.  In the first few weeks of life, it is normal to poop after every feed, or at least once a day.

How do I know if my breastfed baby has diarrhea?

Most breastfed babies produce stools that have a slightly loose or runny consistency.  This occurs because your baby absorbs most of the solids from your breast milk and passes the more liquid components.  However, if your baby is passing stools that are watery or greener than usual, it may be a sign of diarrhea.  Diarrhea in breastfed babies is often caused by a virus and carries the risk of dehydration.  It also often causes a diaper rash.  Contact your doctor for an official diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Why has my breastfed baby stopped pooping?

Breastfed babies rarely get constipation.  Babies usually poop more than once a day in the first few weeks of life. Less than this could indicate that he/she is not getting enough to eat.  At around the age of six weeks to three months, your baby may poop once a day to once every three days, which is normal.  If your baby is not pooping at all, it could be a sign of a health issue.  Other symptoms that could signify a health issue include:

• Stomach bloating

• Refusing feeds

• Excessive crying

• Fever

Call your doctor if your baby has not had a poop for longer than a week, and is accompanied by the symptoms mentioned above.   

How do I know if my breastfed baby has constipation?

As mentioned before, constipation is rare in breastfed babies.  Babies often look like they are straining during a bowel movement, but this does not indicate constipation.  Straining usually occurs because they spend a lot of time on their backs and don't have gravity to help them expel the stool.

Indications of constipation are:

• Hard poop.

• Extreme discomfort and crying during a bowel movement.

• Bloody and hard stools.

• Not wanting to feed.

If you notice these symptoms, you may want to visit your doctor, especially if it goes on for a few days.  Breastfed babies generally only develop constipation when solid foods are introduced.  Foods that cause constipation include rice cereals, bananas, cow's milk, and low-fiber carbohydrates such as bread and pasta.

When should I worry about breastfed baby poop?

As long as your baby is pooping consistently – whether after every feed or once every three days, there is no need to worry.  Her stools should also be soft and mustard-colored.  You may need to call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Her pooping frequency changes abruptly, where she was once pooping after every feed; she now doesn't poop for more than three days.

• Her poop becomes hard or thicker than the consistency of peanut butter. 

• You notice the presence of mucus in her diaper.

• Her stool becomes light-colored or white, signifying a liver issue (or a stomach bug).

• Her stool is black or red in color – which could indicate bleeding.

In conclusion, knowing the signs of healthy baby poop helps you keep a handle on whether your baby is feeding enough and if there may be indications of an illness.  There is no 'normal' pooping frequency in a breastfed newborn.  Some babies will poop after every feed, while others poop once every three days.  As long as your baby is producing soft, mustard-colored poop with a seedy consistency and is steadily gaining weight, you have nothing to worry about.