In a message dated 4/25/0 2:59:37 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< What do you all think?  Does infrequent stooling in babies not happen if
mother's diet is high in whole grains and fruits and vegetables?  I also
wondered if our commonly high dairy intake might contribute to this.  Hmmm. .
.  perhaps another thing I thought was "normal" really isn't.
 >>

So, there's my problem--I live in the wrong country! I have been the lone
voice it seems, telling mothers it is absolutley *not* normal for babies to
poop less than several times per day. This is, IMO, one more example of
common evolving into normal. If it is not normal for adults to have bm's less
than every day, how is it normal for babies?

Below is an excerpt from something I wrote to another list on this topic:

<<I am aware that many breastfeeding consultants and most ped's say that
infrequent stooling is normal, but I believe this is because common evolves
into normal in our culture. However, I am certain it is not normal or
healthy. Often detecting food allergens can remedy the problem, but sometimes
it does not. However,  I have noticed several commonalities in these
situations. One is that many babies with this pattern become toddlers w/ this
problem, which means the theory that the breastmilk is being efficiently used
up would no longer apply, since the same is not true of the solids. Another
is that many babies/toddlers w/ this problem show no evident signs of food
allergy until they are older. Further, I have seen that when mothers
recognize this as abnormal and pursue a solution, they normally find one. If
there is a solution, there was a problem. Often, it takes the right
constitutional homeopathic remedy, a chiropractor or other body work to
correct the problem. I also think many adults believe it is not a problem b/c
many adults
have the same problem!
    In my personal experience, my third baby had this problem. I knew it was
not normal b/c my other two children always stooled many times per day. I
took him for a constitutional remedy when he was several weeks old. He
stooled several hours later for the first time in about a week and normally
after. When he began to skip again at several months, I repeated the remedy
and the problem
immediately was corrected. He also would have several very large stools in
one day, after a few days. Common sense (and the off-odor--compared to my
other babies ) told me that stool was remaining in his body for way too long,
not that his body was just making efficient use of milk. When I have referred
other mothers for similar care, they have had the same corrective results.
BTW, he is my only child w/ any food sensitivity. This was one of the reasons
I knew to
observe him for food sensitivity. >>
    BTW, as a response to Michelle's soy in the diet theory, my ds is
sensitive to soy, so I have avoided it w/ him (was eating it a lot before his
problem showed up). At 20mos, like my other children did, he still stools a
couple of times per day (we are vegans). I would venture to guess it is the
lower intake of processed foods, including simple carbohydrates and the low
intake of meat products. Last year, my husband and ten yr old son went to
China. They did not have a typical tourist experience as they were travelling
with natives. My dh said that he was told that the diet was all vegetarian
except for special occassions and when guests were visiting. The Chinese do
not eat simple carbohydrates and do not eat bread and bread products, either.
Heather wrote:
<<In many non-Western societies, the paediatrician (or any medic) would
be very unlikely to know what basically healthy, bf babies do, as
they never see 'em!>>
I found this comment to be a bit surprising and might have actually thought
you were right, if not for my dh's experience. In China, it is still common
for babies to be bf for at least one year. My dh commented when he returned
that one of the most amazing sites was the children. He commented on how
beautiful and robust the children were and how well cared for. Now, they
travelled in some very rural areas, where some people had never seen
Americans, as well as in large cities. While there was abject poverty in many
areas, the children did not reflect that poverty in their appearance.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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