Karen Walker and others discussed possible causes of green stools. Long
experience has taught me that my early training to look for pathologies did
not fit every situation of green stools. I now tell mothers that one of the
four "reasons" for green stools can be that it is normal. If the child is
well, growing within the normal range and has no indications of
sickness, the green stool, or green tinges on a regular basis, doesn't
mean there is anything untoward. Green stools need to be weighed up against
the infant's general condition and health. Healthy infants have green
stools, and often no cause is found.

If there are any question marks about the child's health, of course send
the mother and baby to their treating medical practitioner. Green stools in
a baby who is suddenly failing to thrive, for instance, need intervention
to increase the infant's intake and the IBCL is well placed to set in
motion appropriate breastfeeding management and supplementation if it is
necessary.  Green stools in a well, thriving child can be noted and a
follow-up call done but all that may be needed is often reassurance of the
mother.

Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA
Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

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