I've seen many babies who do not follow the suggested numbers that have
been posted so far.  Breastfed babies will often have *zero* stools on
day 2 (24 to 48 hours of age) if they have completely cleared out the
meconium in the first 24 hours of life.  I think zero stools on day 2 is
perfectly acceptable when you look at how much colostrum is going into
the baby.  I also tell parents that the baby may only void once or twice
on day 2.

As long as mom is offering frequent access to the breast, baby is not
drugged or overly sleepy, and the baby is properly positioned and
attached to the breast, I see no problem in deviating slightly from the
numbers that have been suggested.

I remember when my first child was born 22 years ago, I was told to keep
track of his voids and stools on a chart that the hospital gave me.
Since I had been to several LLL meetings before Brian was born, I felt
confident with my decision to breastfeed and didn't want any
interference from bottles or formula.  I "fudged" the numbers on the
chart that I was keeping at the hospital because I didn't want the
nurses to become alarmed when Brian didn't have a stool on day 2.  By
day three he was having explosive stools and I remember my husband's
comment that Brian's stools were so forceful they " could knock the
watch off my husband's wrist".  That comment gave me plenty of
confidence that breastfeeding was going well when we went home the next
day.

Janet Talmadge, IBCLC
Lactation Innovation

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