Hi-
I rarely post (mostly just learning!), but I had to throw in my .02 worth
on stool patterns in newborns.  This is just an anecdote and doesn't
necessarily mean anything...a baby who isn't stooling still frightens me;
there is no need to remind me of that.

My second daughter was born at 8lbs 2 oz and nursed well from the start.
Her discharge weight (the next day) was down 2oz.  The problem was that
although she had some mec in utero, she hadn't stooled.  Of course, she
only went home because, "since you're a pediatric nurse, you know what to
watch out for."

I sure did.  By day 5 I was panicked; still no stool since birth.  She was
eating great and peeing well.  Visions of surgery.  She was already back to
birthweight.  "Wait and see."

Finally on day 6 a very large BM.  Not another one for another 4 days.  Her
weight at day 13 was 9lbs 3 oz, more than a pound over birthweight.
Pediatrician: "Well, you're obviously nursing her too much (every 2
hours).  You should only feed her every 4 hours."  Advice ignored.

My dh, now 7 years, continued to have BMs about every 5-7 days until
starting solids at 6 months. And boy, were they huge.  Then her stool
pattern totally changed.  At age one, she was worked up for CF, and celiac
disease for frequent loose stools.  (luckily negative - dx "toddlers
diarrhea")  She was breastfed for two plus years.  She continued to have
these frequent large stools until about age 5.  I guess she was just making
up for all those stools she was supposed to have had...

I always look for horses, not zebras, when a baby isn't stooling.  But if
there is a "normal stool pattern", I guess there will be those very rare
babies who don't fit it, but who are perfectly fine.  (Following her weight
was crucial in this case.)

Marita, almost done with diapers full of BM on dd #3

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