Jan,

I have always considered questions about voids and stools to be
screening questions and weight to be a better indicator of adequate
intake (assuming scale accuracy, etc., which in this case seems to be a
valid assumption).

Even if we could come up with a research based answer as to what
represents adequate stooling, what if the normal for this baby is on the
high end, but his demonstrated pattern is on the low end?  That number
of stools could be inadequate for him.  For example, if we accept 2-5 as
adequate, what if he is having 2, but would be having 5 if he were
getting enough milk?  What if his normal is to stool at every
feeding--eight to twelve times a day?  This was normal for my babies.

I wonder about differences in baby's physiology--ability to digest the
milk, bowel motility, thyroid level, energy and activity level.  Do
these impact the number and size of his stools?

How about milk compostion--percentage of fat in mom's milk, diurinal
changes in milk composition, foremilk:hindmilk.  To what extent is
feeding frequency related to stooling frequency?

Anybody have answers?

I think it comes back to looking at the whole picture, which you did.
That's how you know something is wrong.

--
Bonnie Jones, RN, ICCE, IBCLC
from the sunny S.W. USA
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