Gail Hertz MD writes:

<< When I talk
 to the parents we can communicate well on "just a little smear" and an "up
 the back out the legs of the diaper" poop, but the amounts in between still
 pose a problem. >>

Gail I usually describe adequate poops this way: "by day 5 or 6, your baby
should have about 3-4 poops that would fill the palm of your hand (I usually
draw a circle on my palm with my finger) or the equivalent of that, for
example 6 that are half palm sized, or 2 whoppers.  Not very accurate or
scientific but it has been working pretty well.  Of course we occasionally
see those babies who are not pooping much at all and gaining fine and others
who poop lots and don't gain.  So I remind moms weight gain is the gold
standard for assessment of milk intake, while poop counts come in second as a
very good screening method.   I anxious to hear other ideas.

Kathy Kuhn
ParentsPlace.com LC
private practice LC
Eastern PA USA

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