Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting and fulfilling adventures a person can have, and also one of the scariest. Finding blood in a newborn’s diaper can be very alarming for most parents. However, this is usually not a cause for concern; finding blood and mucus in baby stool is actually quite common. Here is a list of reasons why your baby might have bloody stools:
Small Anal Tears
Anal fissures are the most common cause of blood in a baby’s stool, and thankfully are no cause for concern. They are simply shallow tears in the lower lining of the rectum, usually caused by constipation and the passing of hard stools that stretch out the skin, causing them to tear and bleed.
How to Know if Your Baby Has an Anal Fissure?
If your baby has an anal fissure then their stool will likely have red streaks of blood on the surface. You might also see some blood in baby diapers, diaper wipes, or toilet paper when you clean them up.
- What You Should Do
Anal fissures usually heal all by themselves at home in 4-6 weeks. You can relieve any discomfort they may be causing your infant by giving them warm baths and applying an ointment. However, if the anal fissure hasn’t healed in 8 weeks we recommend you call us for an appointment so our expert pediatrician Dr. Ana M. Hernandez-Puga can properly assess the problem.
Allergy to Cow’s Milk
Another extremely common cause for blood in a newborn’s diaper is intolerance to cow’s milk due to some of the proteins it contains. This causes inflammation in the rectum and colon known as Allergic Colitis, which eventually leads to blood in the stool.
How to Know Your Baby Is Allergic to Cow’s Milk?
An allergic reaction to cow’s milk might produce streaks of blood and mucus in baby stool. Other symptoms of an allergic reaction to cow’s milk include rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive gas.
- What You Should Do
If bovine proteins are the culprit of the blood in a baby diaper, all you need to do is switch their formula to a hypoallergenic one. If your baby breastfeeds, then removing cow’s milk from your diet should solve the problem; however, it will take one to two weeks for it to leave your system. However, it’s always a good idea to have a professional take a look, even if you don’t find blood in the baby’s diaper afterward, and especially if you do, you should make an appointment with us and we will provide you with the pediatric care your child needs.
Intestinal Infection: Gastroenteritis
It’s common for an infection of the intestine to produce blood in baby stool, usually due to inflammation in the intestine causing small tears. The infection could be caused by a virus such as rotavirus, norovirus, or adenovirus. They can also be caused by food poisoning if your baby is on solid foods due to bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia Coli.
How to Know If Your Baby Has Gastroenteritis
When suffering from some sort of gastrointestinal infection you will notice your baby feels unwell and blood and mucus in baby stool or diarrhea. Other common symptoms of gastroenteritis include stomach pain, vomiting, bloating, lethargy, and fever.
- What You Should Do
The most important thing you should do when your baby has gastroenteritis is to keep them well hydrated to replace the water and minerals they lose due to diarrhea and vomiting. Additionally, we always recommend our patients make an appointment as soon as possible if they suspect their baby has a gastrointestinal infection, especially with blood in baby stool, because we will likely need to run a stool culture and prescribe antibiotics depending on what we find.
Consuming Blood During Breastfeeding
Another very common cause for blood in the stool is the ingestion of blood from the mother. It’s usually caused by a bleeding or cracked nipple during breastfeeding; this is neither harmful nor toxic to the baby.
How to Know If your Baby Swallowed Blood During Breastfeeding
If your baby swallowed blood while you were nursing them, the blood had to go through their entire gastrointestinal tract before coming out in their stool. This makes the blood look almost black, most likely as specks in their stool. Aside from that, your baby shouldn’t have any other symptoms as the ingestion of these small amounts of blood during breastfeeding are no cause for concern.
What You Should Do
For this, the care should be focused on the mother rather than on the baby. It is most common for new mothers with babies under 6 months old to suffer from nipple bleeding and cracks. While it’s okay to keep breastfeeding your baby even with the bleeding, it may cause discomfort. For this, you can apply cold compresses to your nipples before and after breastfeeding, soaking in warm saline solutions, or applying a prescribed ointment. As always, it is best to consult a professional.
Foremilk/Hindmilk Imbalance
Mothers produce two types of milk when breastfeeding: foremilk (low-fat milk) and hindmilk (high-fat milk). Your baby needs enough of both kinds of milk to stay healthy. It isn’t uncommon for an imbalance in foremilk-hindmilk proportions in your baby’s diet to cause a little bit of blood in your baby’s diaper, usually because they are not consuming enough hindmilk. This puts unnecessary pressure on their intestines, causing irritation and blood in the newborn’s diaper.
How to Know Your Baby Is Suffering From Foremilk/Hindmilk Imbalance
A little bit of blood in baby stool is a common symptom of foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, accompanied by lots of gas bloating, increased appetite, delayed increase in weight, and even green foamy-looking stool.
What You Should Do
Hyperlactation is usually the cause of this imbalance. Try to avoid switching breasts during a breastfeeding session so your baby can have a good proportion of foremilk and hindmilk. If the problem persists, pumping is a recommended alternative to make sure you get a good mix of both kinds of milk. We always recommend consulting with a pediatrician even if the symptoms have gone away. It’s always a good idea to get a professional’s opinion.
Other Causes for Blood in Your Baby’s Diaper
Were we able to help you figure out how to help your baby feel better? Or are you still worried? Of course, there are many more frightening reasons why you could find bloody stools. We urge you not to worry; you shouldn’t rush to the ER because of a little blood. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you are concerned about your baby’s health and are in search of a pediatrician in Miami, come in and we will evaluate the problem.
Prevention is also important when becoming a parent, so don’t wait until your baby is sick to bring them in for a well visit so they can be tested for allergies and get an overall check-up to make sure they are healthy and happy. As always, we invite you to visit our webpage and make an appointment from there.
