Hello all! Charity Pitcher-Cooper BSN, RN, CLC current job title MOM-
24/7...Coming out of lurkdom for this awesome thread. I love it when we
can all toss out those ideas and theories that have been buzzing around in
our heads for a while.
While I certainly understand Jennifer's outlook on infrequent stooling
given her son's allergy/stooling history. And I do believe that there are
babies who have infrequent stools that are typical for them but not normal
(ie indicative of some underlying health issue) just as there are frequent
stoolers who are actually experiencing diarrhea; I cannot believe that
every baby with a non-average stooling pattern is ill and in need of
medical attention, chiropractic adjustment, or a mom on a drastic
elimination diets.
Nature loves genetic variety. Thanks to recent research into breast milk
production, we now know that different mothers have different capacities
for milk storage and milk production. There are large breasts and small
breasts, big nipples and small nipples (you are getting my drift here, I
hope). Why can't there be differences in digestion as well? Big stomachs
that can handle large amounts of breastmilk even if mom produces like gang-
busters, and waits long periods between feeds, small stomachs that need
frequent nursing 8-10 times per hour- shorter intestines that remove the
needed H2O and return 10 runny breastmilk stools per day and those longer
intestines that remove more water and return a stool of firmer consistancy
less often.
One of the great things about breastmilk is that it encourages the gut to
create more surface area. Why? So there is greater absorption of
nutrients and a greater re-claiming of needed materials- like water, salt
and trace minerals. I do not believe ALL infrequent stoolers are just
letting waste material to sit and ferment- creating toxins like food left
to spoil outside in the sun. Some are just better digesters and can use
up the breastmilk so there is very little waste. In my personal
experience, 1-3 day poopers do not have gigantic stools. Bigger than a
baby who stools 10 per day, but not 3 days worth of stool. More like a
stool and a half...no unusual odor or color, and not liquid, but certainly
not difficult to pass.
Also- just as an aside, I do not think we should compare exclusive
breastmilk stooling pattern to any other (adult or child). Ideally, what
makes the bulk of adult stool is non-digestable fiber. The fiber content
of breastmilk is very low;-) so it can all be used up- there should be
very little to "waste".
-----"My Leo is a perfect example, I had undiagnosed celiac disease while
pregnant with him. He was born at home--never had a drop of anything other
than my milk. Within 2 weeks of birth, he was only stooling once every
few days (happy, growing like crazy, though). He was severely allergic
to soy and removing it from my diet changed everything for him. It also
made me realize that soy was a problem for me. My gut was and is
definately the problem. IMO, this is an underlying cause in allergy in
most
babies.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA"
If Leo was happy and gaining, what in your mother instinct gave you clues
to his digestive problems? Can you recall?
Warmly,
Charity
(who's little boy is about to turn one...where did that first year go?)
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