Kathy,
Those figures are in line with what we teach.  We usually put it in terms of "at
least as many wet as baby is days old".  That way mom doesn't have to worry about
remembering so many numbers.  In addition, we tell moms that the stools should have
changed from meconium to mature breast stools by day 5 or 6.  (Later may indicate
inadequate milk transfer)  This also give us an opportunity to talk about what
normal breast stools look like if she has never seen them.
Winnie Mading, hospital-based IBCLC-Waukesha WI

> From:    Kathy Eng <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: bowel movements right after birth
>
> Can anyone confirm how many bowel movements a baby should have right =
> after birth? I am looking at a (Health Dept) crib card for new moms that =
> lists something different from what our hospital expects. Two nurses saw =
> this and had a fit, saying that "we" tell moms that baby needs to have a =
> whole lot more bowel movements on day two. One nurse said six bowel =
> movements on day two, but I think she misspoke!!=20
>
> Day 1 -- 1-2 wet diapers, 1  dirty diaper
> Day 2 --  2-3 wet, 3  dirty
> Day 3 --  3-4  wet, 3 dirty
> Day 4 --  4-5 wet, at least 3 dirty
> Day 5 -- 4-5 wet, at least 3 dirty
> By the time baby is 6 days old, he should have at least 6-8 wet  diapers =
> and at least  3 dirty diapers  every  24 hours,  maybe even a dirty =
> diaper every diaper for a few weeks.
>
> Are these guidelines pretty accurate?? Thanks a lot.I am trying to =
> introduce new written materials to our unit (read more accurate).=20
> Kathy Eng, in  far southeastern Houston, TX, USA
>
> ------------------------------
>

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