Pay attention to your baby's poop color!

By Dr. Kenta – Family Medical Practice

Yến is a two-month-old girl who had no specific issues at birth. When Yến was one-month-old, her poop turned grayish-white. However, she was breastfeeding well and gaining weight, so her mother chose not to take her to a doctor.

One day, Yến became irritable and vomited several times, prompting her mother to take her to Family Medical Practice (FMP). The mother informed the pediatrician of her medical history, including her poop color. The doctor immediately ordered an IV line, blood tests, and the administration of vitamin K. In addition, an abdominal ultrasound and a head CT scan were conducted to determine the cause, and Yến was transferred to a children's hospital.

Poop color is a good indicator of a child's health!

The baby’s poop color is one of the signs that can indicate specific illness. Therefore, it is essential to understand what normal poop looks like.

The first poop passed within 48 hours of birth, known as meconium, is sticky and has a greenish-black color. During the breastfeeding period, poop gradually shifts from greenish-black to yellow or green, reflecting the color of bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. Occasionally, poop may contain small white particles, which are solidified fat or calcium from breast milk or formula. When the baby starts eating solid foods, poop may shift from green to brown due to the influence of the foods consumed.

In summary, yellow, green, and brown baby’s poop color are usually not causes for concern. However, if the poop is primarily white, red, or black, it might indicate an underlying condition; please consult a pediatrician!

Watch out for white poop!

White poop (including light beige or gray) is an abnormal baby’s poop color and can indicate biliary atresia or liver disease. Biliary atresia is a condition in which the bile ducts become blocked. When bile cannot flow from the liver to the intestines, the poop appears white, and this blockage can also cause jaundice and dark urine. The bile builds up in the liver, potentially leading to liver damage, cirrhosis, and even death. Additionally, the inability to absorb vitamin K due to insufficient bile flow can lead to vitamin K deficiency, increasing the risk of bleeding. Since infants have narrow blood vessels in their brains, this elevates the risk of brain hemorrhage.

White diarrhea may also be a symptom of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus. Rotavirus gastroenteritis often causes vomiting and fever, and can easily lead to dehydration.

Red or black poop could mean bleeding in the digestive tract!

Red poop may occur after eating foods like dragon fruit, but it can also indicate bleeding in the digestive tract. This abnormal baby’s poop color could result in hemorrhoids, Meckel's diverticulum, or bacterial enteritis. Additionally, if a child becomes fussy every 15-20 minutes and passes red poop resembling strawberry jam, this may indicate intussusception, where one part of the intestine folds inside another. In this case, it is essential to return the intestine to its normal position as quickly as possible (preferably within 6 hours).

Black poop can be caused by taking iron supplements, but like red poop, it may also indicate bleeding in the digestive tract. If bleeding occurs in the stomach or duodenum, the blood oxidizes due to stomach acid, resulting in poop that appears blackish.

Fortunately, Yến only suffered a mild brain hemorrhage that did not require surgery. After an entire examination at the children's hospital, she was diagnosed with biliary atresia, and surgery was scheduled to be performed immediately once the effects of the bleeding had subsided. Yến managed to survive, but if she had been taken to the hospital when her baby’s poop color first turned white, treatment could have been administered before the brain hemorrhage occurred.

Some diseases can be detected based on the baby's poop color. So when changing your baby's diaper, please pay attention to the color of the poop. If you notice anything concerning your child, including the poop color, please consult a pediatrician in FMP. - Family Medical Practice

Dr. Kenta Sugiura is a Japanese pediatrician at Family Medical Practice Hanoi. Specializing in pediatric emergencies, he is capable of providing care for conditions ranging from mild to severe, including illnesses and injuries. Please feel free to consult him about any concerns regarding your child's health.

FMP Healthcare Group operates medical centres in major cities including HCM City, Hà Nội and Đà Nẵng, offering consultations with international doctors, check-up centres and emergency ambulance services.

FMP HCM City has 24/7 clinics at Diiamond Plaza, thao Dien 

To book an appointment, please call (024) 3843 0784, or contact via WhatsApp, Viber or Zalo on +84 944 43 1919, or email hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com.