Yellow-green foamy stool in an infant. Liquid, foamy stool in a breastfed and bottle-fed newborn

Daily human body must be cleared of food processed in the gastrointestinal tract. They are eliminated through bowel movements up to three times a day, which is considered normal. When the body is healthy, stool does not cause any difficulties or discomfort. But if any deviations or problems arise, a person is forced to pay attention to them. After all, they significantly disrupt the usual rhythm of life.

One of the possible troubles is the appearance of foamy stools.

Why foamy stools appeared: reasons

The appearance of foamy stools most often indicates so-called fermentative dyspepsia. This term means functional disorders digestion. The development of dyspepsia is facilitated by impaired motility of the digestive tract, which impedes normal digestion of food. It is accompanied by flatulence and significant release of gases, rumbling in the stomach and foamy stools. Bowel movements are loose and frequent. They are faintly colored and contain a large number of gas bubbles. The smell of the stool is sour and pungent.

Reasons that provoke the appearance of fermentative dyspepsia:

• insufficient excretion by the body digestive enzymes;
• long-term poor nutrition.

A lack of digestive enzymes causes the following ailments:

• Dysbacteriosis (in the intestines)– the normal mobile balance of the microflora living in the intestines is disrupted. Changes in the composition of microbial associations, both qualitative and quantitative, cause in humans bad taste in the mouth, flatulence. Lethargy develops, symptoms of complete intoxication of the body appear: vomiting and foamy diarrhea.
• Intestinal infection, flowing in the form:
  • gastritis;
  • gastroenteritis and enteritis;
  • enterocolitis.

  Each of these ailments is accompanied by diarrhea (often foamy), vomiting, pain in the various areas abdominal cavity. Most serious consequence intestinal infections - significant loss of water. This may provoke renal failure and even lead to dehydration shock.

  A serious factor causing the presence of foamy stools is poor nutrition, which has lasted for a long time.

  As a rule, a person is too fond of foods containing significant amount carbohydrates. His diet is dominated by White bread, cookies, pastries, cakes, sweet fruits, legumes, cabbage. A significant place is devoted to sugar and honey, beer or kvass. This menu helps create in the intestines favorable conditions for digestive disorders. Eating hastily, snacking on sandwiches, and insufficient chewing of food contribute to this.

  Treatment for foamy stools

  Foamy stool can be an episodic and short-term phenomenon: a person ate some kind of stale product, and the body rejected it. Then the problem is solved without the intervention of doctors. Enough to drink just in case Activated carbon and go hungry. Don't forget to replenish your body with water.

  You need to rush to see a doctor if:

  • the temperature rises;
  • visiting the toilet too often;
  • spasms and persistent pain appear;
  • weakness increases.

  Since any changes in feces are primarily associated with gastrointestinal pathology, the doctor will definitely prescribe the following:

  • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
  • coprograms;
  • general blood and urine analysis.

  Treatment established after diagnosis can be carried out on an outpatient basis, and in severe cases - inpatient. As a rule, it includes taking medicines orally and by intravenous and intramuscular injections. It is also possible to administer medications using droppers.

  A strict diet is prescribed that will help normalize the intestinal microflora. Eating rice boiled in water without salt and fat is quite effective. It can be supplemented rye bread and bananas.

  You need to drink a lot. First of all - clean water, the amount of which should be at least two liters per day. It needs to be supplemented herbal teas: chamomile, linden, raspberry and currant.

  To prevent relapse, you need to avoid fatty and spicy dishes and very carefully return to your normal diet.

  If serious pathologies internal organs, in particular the gastrointestinal tract, has not been identified, and diarrhea with foam does not go away, you can turn to proven folk remedies medicinal products. Here's one of them.

  Approximately 400 grams walnuts split and remove the internal partitions. Place them in a deep vessel and pour half a liter of alcohol. The partitions are soaked in alcohol for several days. After that alcohol tincture You need to take ten drops three times a day.

  It is possible to prevent problems with bowel movements if you take your diet seriously. You can do without medications by following the rules of proper nutrition.

The first months of a baby’s life are considered the most important for parents, because their responsibilities include not only caring for the baby, but also strict monitoring of any changes in his condition. Often parents have to deal with the phenomenon of foamy stools in newborns.

Some mothers, guided by Dr. Komarovsky’s colorful explanations that foam in the stool is not considered an anomaly and everything will go away on its own, ignore this symptom, endangering the life of their baby.

In fact foamy stool may indicate many serious diseases if fecal foam lasts more than 3 days. Moreover, any delay can cause serious health problems for the newborn.

Often parents do not know why the nature of bowel movements when switching to formula or mixed feeding changes dramatically. The nature, frequency, and volume of fecal clots undoubtedly depend on the type of feeding. In children breastfeeding stool in the form of mush, yellow. Normal stool frequency is 2–4 times, after 6 months — 1–2 times.

When receiving artificial mixtures, feces become pasty, crumbly, whitish-yellow, with putrid smell, the number of bowel movements per day decreases, the volume of feces increases. This is due to poor digestibility of protein from the mixture.

If parents notice signs of foamy stool in a baby, they should also pay attention to the frequency of bowel movements, the color of the stool, and the smell. In small children, feces are a mushy, homogeneous mass, yellow color with smell sour milk. More liquid stool may also be evidence of pathology. The appearance of undigested food particles, discoloration, foam or mucus may indicate problems with the digestive tract and other health problems.

Most often, foam in the stool appears due to the following disorders:

• – the completely sterile intestinal tract of the baby begins to function fully after 3–6 months, when the microflora is fully formed. But sometimes the baby enters the body an insufficient amount bifidobacteria, fermentation processes begin to occur in the intestines undigested food, accompanied by the formation of gases. This process may be accompanied by green, foamy feces with a pungent putrid odor. In this case, it is recommended to contact a pediatrician, who will probably prescribe a course of bifid medications, sorbents, etc.
• Infectious diseases - foam and mucus in the stool may indicate an acute intestinal infection in the baby's body; in most cases, this problem is accompanied by fever, diarrhea or vomiting, sometimes it goes away more mildly and is accompanied only by bloating and pain in the tummy and too light-colored feces. Often changes in stool are the first symptom staphylococcal infection. In this case, the stool takes on a distinctly green tint.
• An allergic reaction can also cause foamy stool in an infant. Allergies can be caused by improperly selected nutrition when artificial feeding, improper nutrition of a nursing mother while breastfeeding, as well as the mother or child taking antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals. It is important to understand that any medicine during breastfeeding is unsafe for the baby and can only be used with a doctor's prescription.
• Early or incorrect introduction of complementary foods often causes changes in stool (about the correct introduction of complementary foods). It is recommended to feed your baby no earlier than 6 months. Some parents start using feeding purees much earlier, when the baby’s digestive system is not yet strong and is not ready to digest denser foods. This causes indigestion, colic, and greenish, foamy stool that looks patchy and has lumps, sometimes with balls of mucus. Earlier use in the baby’s diet can lead to the same consequences. cow's milk, which is poorly perceived by the child’s body.
• represents a lack of a trace element that helps process lactose. A certain amount of an enzyme such as lactase is produced in the child’s body independently, the rest of the additional part passes through breast milk. If the baby is bottle-fed or is not breastfed correctly, there may not be enough lactase in his body for a full digestive process. If you have been having slimy, bloody, or foamy stools for several days and feeling unwell baby, mothers using formula should switch to food that does not contain lactose. For breastfeeding mothers, it is recommended to adhere to a diet and attach the newborn to the breast in such a way that he drinks not only early milk, but also later milk containing lactase. If the baby does not drink completely from the breast during one feeding, next feeding it must be applied to the same breast until he completely empties it.
• – may also be accompanied by watery or foamy stool. Therefore, if the baby’s feces are foamy or watery for several days, you should definitely consult a doctor.
• The use of drugs against colic and bloating can also interfere with appearance stool, but the color and frequency of stool does not change. In this case, no measures need to be taken.
• At poor nutrition mother who is breastfeeding her baby. Eating legumes, grapes, smoked meats, cucumbers or cabbage can cause bubbles in the stool. In this case, it is necessary to exclude prohibited foods from the diet.
• During teething, some deviations in the form of frequent or foamy stools may also be observed. This condition also does not require special intervention, except for pain relief with the help of special gels.
• The introduction of a new product into the infant's nutrition system can also change the quality of bowel movements. This symptom usually disappears after 2-3 days.

Primary diagnosis

Violation of the consistency of stool is not always evidence severe violations. Foamy feces are considered a symptom of the disease when there is accompanying symptoms, such as green color of stool, the appearance of mucus, wateriness, bloating, pain, loss of appetite, etc.

Tracking a child's condition up to one year can be an excellent diagnostic element. If there are no associated disorders and the foam disappears after a day or two, then the baby is not in danger of any diseases. But if additional symptoms appear, it is important to visit a pediatrician.

The hospital will analyze the excrement for the presence of carbohydrates, its results will confirm or reject lactase deficiency. Additionally, an analysis for dysbacteriosis and tests for antibodies to allergens can be carried out, based on the results clinical trials specialized treatment is prescribed.

It is important to remember that the baby’s condition must be monitored very carefully, because untimely application The baby's health may need to be seen by a specialist. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate - this can also lead to disastrous consequences.

To avoid digestive disorders in an infant, you should adhere to the following rules:

• When introducing a new product into a baby’s diet, it must be done gradually and in small portions, and if foam appears, it is recommended to delay complementary feeding.
• During breastfeeding, a nursing mother should monitor proper nutrition and not take any medications on her own. It is important to feed the baby correctly, making sure that he drinks not only foremilk.
• When artificially feeding, parents should monitor the newborn’s reaction to nutrition in the first days of life. If symptoms of indigestion begin to appear, the mixture should be changed.
• If foam appears in the baby’s stool, it is recommended to monitor the baby’s general condition and carefully analyze whether poor nutrition could have caused the problems.
• You should not make diagnoses on your own and try to treat the baby. Pediatric intervention – often necessary measure For wellness newborn

The baby needs not only regular nutrition and diaper changes, but also constant contact with his parents. This is relevant in the first months after birth, when the baby’s immunity is not formed, and the baby’s body undergoes adaptive changes. Subject to constant contact with adults, negative symptoms problems in the baby’s body will not go unnoticed and the child will be provided with timely assistance.

Baby's stool is one of the main indicators children's health, in appearance and chemical composition which can evaluate the functioning of the digestive organs. It is especially important to observe stool in the first year of a baby’s life, when formation occurs. intestinal microflora, and the production of digestive enzymes is improved. This process usually takes about 3-6 months, but in some children it is completely digestive tract is formed only by 8-10 months.

Until this time, the child’s stool may often change its consistency, smell, and appearance. One change that can occur at any age is the appearance of foam in the feces. Not always this symptom indicates pathologies at work gastrointestinal tract, but in some cases it may require careful diagnosis and treatment, so parents of infants need to know why their infant may have foamy stools and what to do in this case.

Foam in the stool of a newborn

In the first days after birth, a baby’s feces look like an unformed, viscous, sticky mass of predominantly black color. This type of stool is called meconium (original stool). Meconium is organic in nature and consists of epithelial cells, bile components, hair, which fall from the child’s body and are digested by his intestines during the period intrauterine development. Meconium also contains a significant portion of water and amniotic fluid, slime, mineral salts. The original feces of a newborn who does not have health problems are odorless and are completely excreted within 1-3 days after birth.

On the fourth day of life feces The baby's milk acquires a light yellow, yellow or light brown color, a mush consistency, and may contain particles of undigested milk. If this does not happen, and impurities are found in the feces that are not typical for the stool of a healthy baby (foam, a large amount of mucus, blood), the mother and child may be left in the maternity hospital or transferred to a children's hospital for a comprehensive examination.

Lactic sugar intolerance

Lactose is a disaccharide found in dairy products, whole milk and breast milk (milk sugar). Lactose intolerance in most cases is associated with lactase deficiency. Lactase is a group of digestive enzymes needed to break down milk sugar into galactose and glucose molecules. In healthy children, lactase is synthesized by intestinal cells and is located on the surface of the membrane membranes small intestine, in which the absorption of all nutrients, vitamins and mineral salts.

In infants, lactase deficiency is quite common, since until six months of age the body is not able to produce required amount enzymes to ensure comfortable digestion. Signs of lactase deficiency may include:

• foamy, foul-smelling stools that are yellow or brown;
• excessive regurgitation after feeding (the discharged masses contain undigested lumps of milk, reminiscent of sour cottage cheese);
• anxiety during feeding (the baby lets go of the breast 1-2 minutes after the start of feeding, knocks his legs).

Children with lactase deficiency may be delayed in weight and height, and physiological development usually remains within the age norm.

Important! True lactase deficiency occurs in only 3-5% of babies, so there is no need to worry if a child under 6 months shows signs of lactose intolerance. For correction, the child may be prescribed enzyme preparations(for example, "Lactase Baby"). If the child is breastfed, the use of adapted milk formulas is indicated.

Allergy to breast milk

A very rare form of allergy, the prevalence of which is less than 3.8%. Allergy to breast milk is not related to the diet of a nursing mother and is most often caused by intolerance to lactoglobulins, which are found in large quantities in mother's milk. Symptoms true allergy on breast milk may be:

• loose stools with foam and a pungent odor;
• skin rash, itching, diathesis, occurring mainly after feeding;
• tension in the abdominal muscles (the child cries, restlessly jerks his legs, and vomiting is possible).

To confirm allergies, special tests and samples are carried out. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the baby must be transferred to feeding hypoallergenic mixtures. If the signs of an allergy become too pronounced, you can give your child as first aid antihistamine. Children over 1 month of age are allowed Fenistil drops. The dosage for children in the first year of life is given in the table below.

Dosage regimen "Fenistil" for children up to 12 months

The drug should be given 3 times a day.

Meconium ileus

This is a rare pathology that is detected on the first or second day of a child’s life. Meconium ileus (meconium ileus) – acute surgical pathology, in which the original feces have increased viscosity and get stuck in the intestines, forming a blockage of its lumen. From anus The baby may produce a dark, odorless foam that may contain mucus and blood streaks.

Treatment of the disease is always surgical and is carried out immediately after diagnosing the pathology.

Note! In 90% of cases, meconium ileus occurs against the background of cystic fibrosis of varying severity - genetic disease, in which the glands are damaged internal secretion with severe respiratory dysfunction.

Common reasons

Foamy stool in a child not associated with pathological factors, can occur for a number of reasons, some of which do not require any treatment or correction.

Incorrect attachment to the breast

They teach how to properly put a baby to the breast in the maternity hospital, but, as practice shows, many mothers have difficulties with organizing feeding for several weeks after arriving home. Incorrect attachment not only increases the likelihood of intestinal colic (due to excessive swallowing of air), but also contributes to digestive disorders. If your baby only latch onto the nipple, he will only be able to draw out foremilk, which is 95% water. Hind milk, which is rich in fat and has a higher nutritional value, enters the milk ducts when the child intensively squeezes the areola (areola).

If a child receives large amounts of foremilk, it intensifies fermentation processes, which leads to the appearance of copious foamy stools. The urge to defecate may become painful, so your baby may become restless, cry, and act out. Almost always, fermentation processes are accompanied by swelling and advanced education gases, the movement of which causes painful intestinal colic.

To avoid this, it is important to properly organize the feeding process. A diagram of proper breastfeeding is shown in the figure below.

Taking antibiotics

The baby's intestines continue to populate beneficial bacteria within 4-8 months after birth, which may cause changes in stool and digestive disorders. If the infant has been prescribed antibacterial or antimicrobials, the few colonies of beneficial microorganisms die under the influence active ingredients. Intestinal dysbiosis may be accompanied by foamy, liquid, foul-smelling stools, abdominal pain, vomiting and regurgitation.

To prevent pathology, it is recommended to start taking bifid medications from the first day of treatment antibacterial agents, maintaining an hour interval between their reception. Children in the first year of life can be given the following medications:

• "Bifidumbacterin" (contraindicated for lactase deficiency);
• "Bifiform Baby";
• "Linex" powder;
• "Acipol" (mix the contents of the capsule with liquid).

Probiotics should be taken for 7-10 days. In some cases, the doctor may recommend more long-term use– about 20-30 days.

Errors in the introduction of complementary foods

Many mothers try to introduce their baby to new foods and tastes as quickly as possible and begin introducing complementary foods at 3-4 months. This is a big mistake, since the baby’s digestive tract is not ready to cope with such a load and reacts to it by changing the stool. The stool may become thin, foamy, watery, and may have an unpleasant odor.

To make the introduction of complementary foods comfortable for the child, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules.

1. Breastfed babies do not need additional products and drinks up to six months of age (provided that the mother has enough milk and her diet consists of healthy and varied foods).
2. For children receiving milk substitutes, complementary foods can be introduced from 5 months.
3. Although the labeling on some finished products baby food allows use from 3-4 months; they should be administered at this age only on the recommendation of a pediatrician.
4. You should start getting acquainted with new tastes with hypoallergenic fruits and vegetables (green apples, pears, zucchini). To prepare the first porridges, it is better to use buckwheat or oatmeal.

Foamy stools can be caused not only by the early introduction of complementary foods, but also by the abundance of foods in the menu, causing flatulence and fermentation processes. One of these products is zucchini. The rate of its consumption in the first weeks of complementary feeding is no more than 40-50 g per day. The same picture can be observed when a child eats too many prunes - they can be included in the menu no more than 1-2 times a week in the amount of 30-40 g.

Foamy chair – when should you worry?

In some cases, foamy stools may be a worrying sign, pointing to serious illnesses. To differentiate the norm from possible pathology, it is necessary to assess the child’s condition and monitor his well-being.

Infectious inflammation of the intestines

Intestinal infections in children of the first year of life they occur quite often. In most cases, acute infection occurs in children over 6 months of age receiving complementary foods. The causative agent of infection can be contained in poorly processed and stale meat, fish, eggs, and cottage cheese. Failure to maintain hygiene of hands and toys can also cause infection to enter the child’s digestive tract, so it is important to regularly carry out wet cleaning and disinfection of the surrounding area.

It is especially necessary to monitor the cleanliness of objects that the child constantly puts in his mouth: pacifiers, pacifiers, rodents, teethers. They must be washed with soap and water hot water after each use, and is best stored in in a plastic bag(rodents and teethers can be put in the refrigerator).

The main symptom of any intestinal infection is diarrhea. Stools with diarrhea may be watery or foamy. Foamy feces are more often observed with salmonellosis and dysentery. Some viral infections caused by rotaviruses and enteroviruses can also present with loose, foamy stools. The stool is foul-smelling, Strong smell, may contain streaks of mucus, drops of blood and particles of undigested food. In addition, the child also exhibits other signs:

• vomiting (usually profuse, repeated, not bringing relief);
• refusal to eat;
• pale skin;
• dry lips and mucous membranes oral cavity(caused by dehydration);
• high temperature (can rise to 40°).

Important! Treatment of intestinal infections in children of the first year of life should be carried out in a hospital setting, since children of this age group are part of the group increased risk lethality. At home, the child needs drinking plenty of fluids(1 teaspoon every 10 minutes), food rest (fasting). Before the doctors arrive, you can give your baby any enterosorbent (Smecta, Polysorb, Enterosgel). At severe vomiting You can give Motilium syrup - its dosage is determined by the child’s weight and measured using the dispenser syringe included in the package.

Infection with worms

Helminthiasis in children infancy occur quite often. The main cause of infection with worms is non-compliance with personal hygiene and rules for sanitizing the surrounding area. If there are pets in the house, they can also be a source of helminthiasis, so treatment anthelmintic drugs must be carried out at least 2 times a year. It is important to monitor your child’s behavior outside: many worms live in contaminated soil, sand, and water. There are especially many worms in puddles, in which children of any age love to play.

Acute helminthiasis manifests itself quite characteristic features, which may include:

• thick, foamy stool with a pungent odor;
• irritation in the area anus(especially common with enterobiasis);
• vomiting and excessive regurgitation;
• increase in temperature within the subfebrile range;
• pale skin;
• skin rash.

If the disease progresses to chronic form, the symptoms “erased”, and the only manifestations of the pathology may be abdominal pain, intestinal colic, cramps accompanied by tension abdominal muscles. Almost always, chronic helminthiasis is accompanied by abnormal stool: stool can be liquid, watery, and may contain foam and mucus.

Choice of drugs for treatment helminthic infestation in children of the first year of life should be carried out by the attending physician, since they have a high degree of toxicity and negatively affect the functions of the hepatocytes that make up the liver tissue. Some of the drugs in this group are allowed to be taken only with of a certain age, therefore, before giving your baby medicine for worms, you should consult a doctor.

List of drugs for the treatment of helminthiasis in children of the first year of life

Name of the medicine and release form	Image	At what age can it be given?	Dosage regimen
		From 6 months	125 mg once during or immediately after feeding. For infestations caused by hookworms, the drug is prescribed for 3 days at a dosage of 10 mg per kilogram of the child’s weight
		Approved for use in children whose weight exceeds 12 kg.	1 scoop of suspension (12.5 ml) for every 10 kg of child’s weight once
		From 10 months	125 mg once during feeding

Video - Baby stool: what is normal and what is not

About hygiene

If your baby produces foamy stool, it is important to ensure there is sufficient hygiene care, which consists of daily bathing and washing the genitals after each bowel movement. If conditions permit, it is better to do without diapers until stool normalizes, since prolonged contact with such feces can cause severe irritation and burning. After hygiene measures it is recommended to arrange air baths lasting 20-30 minutes. If signs of irritation appear (redness, red spots, diaper rash), you should lubricate the skin 2-3 times a day with dexpanthenol-based ointment (“ Bepanten», « D-panthenol"), baby cream or liquid vitamin E. During treatment, I must exclude zucchini, prunes and other foods that contain a large amount of water and help thin the stool.

Source: stomach-info.ru

The baby’s digestive system in the first months does not always fully cope with its functions due to a lack of enzymes, and even small errors in the child’s nutrition affect the consistency and color of stool.

Common problems include foamy stools in infants. Its occurrence does not necessarily indicate serious problems with the baby’s health, but in combination with others clinical manifestations(change in the color of stool, increased body temperature, lethargy or increased excitability of the child) may be a symptom of an acute illness.

Main causes

Normally, a healthy baby's stool has a mushy consistency, light yellow or brown tint. If the stools become watery, foam, mucus, traces of blood, fragments of undigested food, a strong unpleasant odor appear, the color changes to green or white, this is a reason to monitor general health child and contact your pediatrician for advice.

To improve your child’s digestion, you should determine the causes of foamy stools. These include:

• allergic reaction to food products or medicines;
• nutritional imbalance natural feeding;
• malnutrition;
• infectious disease (intestinal infection, staphylococcus infection);
• functional disorders (intestinal dysbiosis, enzyme deficiency, increased gas formation).

Recovery normal digestion in most cases, there is no need to resort to drug treatment - it is enough to adjust the baby’s diet.

Bowel dysfunction

Foamy stools in some cases are a consequence of insufficient adaptation of the child’s gastrointestinal tract to new conditions. TO functional disorders Intestinal problems include dysbacteriosis, increased gas formation, and enzyme deficiency.

For dysbacteriosis loose stools constantly alternate with constipation, foamy stools with sour smell may include pieces of food. The color of the stool may be excessively light or green. According to many experts, including Dr. Komarovsky, dysbiosis of a breastfed child does not need special treatment and goes away without intervention when the baby’s gastrointestinal tract has developed sufficiently.

Increased gas formation can also cause foam in stool. To alleviate the condition of the baby, measures are taken to prevent colic, and the diet of the nursing mother is adjusted.

Enzyme deficiency(lack of isomalt, sucrose, etc.) appears when complementary foods are introduced if the baby’s body is not ready for a new product. A lack of enzymes affects the consistency of stool and causes foam.

Formula-fed babies react with stomach upset to formula that is not suitable for them. A change in the consistency of the stool indicates that the mixture contains insufficient biologically active substances or at enzyme deficiency the baby himself.

Infectious diseases

Foamy green chair in an infant - one of the symptoms of a serious illness. If the stool has become green color, you should immediately consult a doctor in order to exclude staphylococcus infection and intestinal infection.

Intestinal infections, in addition to foamy stools with each bowel movement, are characterized by a set of other symptoms, including:

• increased temperature;
• abdominal pain;
• vomiting;
• loss of appetite;
• diarrhea.

A child with an intestinal infection requires treatment - you need to call a doctor and prepare a stool sample for analysis. Foamy stool may be green and contain blood and mucus.

Infection with staphylococcus can manifest itself in the form of foamy stool, but other symptoms are also observed - suppuration of wounds, boils, inflammation of the mucous membranes, etc. Drug treatment prescribed by a doctor.

Allergic reaction

Why shouldn’t you rush to treat your baby when foamy stool appears? One of the reasons loose stool with foam is food allergy.

Breast milk may expose your baby to substances that cause intestinal irritation. To eliminate this problem, it is enough for a nursing mother to identify and eliminate allergenic product from your diet.

Food allergies often accompanied by the introduction of complementary foods into the infant's diet. Foam in the stool indicates that complementary foods were introduced incorrectly or too early. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract of a child in the first months of life are often associated with consumption of cow's milk.

Taking medications by a nursing mother also affects the functioning of the infant's intestines. Substances contained in antibacterial and other drugs prescribed to a woman after childbirth pass into breast milk.

Disruption digestive system Medicines for the infants themselves also provoke. Foamy stools with a change in odor may occur even after using colic medications.

Malnutrition and nutritional imbalances

• Malnutrition. If a baby systematically does not receive the required amount of breast milk or formula, a deficiency develops in his body. useful substances. This affects the functioning of the intestines - fecal masses differ more dark color and contain foam.
• Imbalance of milk during natural feeding. Mother's milk can be roughly divided into anterior and posterior. Foremilk primarily performs a drinking function; it is less fatty and contains maximum amount vitamins and minerals, as well as lactose, a carbohydrate necessary for the growth and development of a child.

Lactose is digested by the enzyme lactase. The baby's body produces this enzyme, but in small quantities. The lack of its own lactase is compensated by the enzyme supplied to the baby along with the mother's hind milk.

Why does nutritional imbalance occur? If a newborn manages to get enough of the foremilk without reaching the hind milk, lactase deficiency occurs. With a sufficient volume of milk received, the baby does not receive enough enzymes and lactose is not digested in the required amount.

Lactase deficiency manifests itself in the form of liquid, foamy stools with a sour odor. If you suspect this disorder, you should take a stool test for carbohydrate content. Correcting the diet will help correct the disorder; in some cases, it may be prescribed additional introduction lactase into expressed foremilk.

By tracking stool consistency, you can determine what kind of milk your baby is getting. Watery, foamy stools indicate a predominance of foremilk in the diet. So that the baby receives the required amount full fat milk with lactase, it should be applied to one breast until it is completely empty.

Primary diagnosis

By the color of foamy stool, you can determine some types of disorders of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract:

• Light shade. If light, foamy stools with a putrid odor appear regularly, the baby experiences bloating and skin rashes, this usually indicates dysbacteriosis.
• Greenish tint. Such feces are typical for dysbacteriosis, but can be a manifestation of an intestinal infection or infection with staphylococcus. Dark green stools, fever, vomiting and other symptoms are a reason to immediately consult a doctor.
• Yellow color (normal). Foamy yellow stools indicate a lack of breast milk and the nutritional imbalance needs to be corrected.
• White color. White, foamy stool indicates poor bile flow. To identify the causes of the disease, it is necessary to perform a coprogram, biochemical analysis blood, ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

Foamy stool in children in the first months of life is normal if the baby remains in good health. By monitoring the characteristics of bowel movements, you can correctly adjust the child’s nutrition. At the same time, it is important to closely monitor general condition child, and when elevated temperature and other symptoms of the disease, immediately call a doctor.

Responsibilities of parents infants includes many things: timely feeding, daily exercise, ensuring healthy and good sleep, as well as attention to the nature of the child’s bowel movements. For healthy condition characteristic mushy stool brown or light yellow color. Please note that the stool is dark green in color and has a foamy consistency with a sharp unpleasant smell If it contains particles of food, blood or mucus, you should consult your doctor. But if, of all the above symptoms, you observe only foamy stool in your baby, and it happens only occasionally, and the baby is regularly gaining weight, feels healthy and happy, then there is no reason to worry.

List of the most common pathological conditions in infants:

• colic;
• foamy stool in infants;
• regurgitation;
• skin problems – diaper rash, prickly heat, acne, peeling;
• rickets;
• conjunctivitis;
• colds;
• diarrhea or constipation.

Let's take a closer look at one of the most common problems that bother young parents - foamy stools in babies.

Signs and symptoms

Foamy stools in themselves are not a symptom of any disease. The baby’s first month is the most important and serious, since his body is still adapting to life outside the womb, so such stool is a completely natural reaction to breast milk, or to foods eaten by the mother. In case of regular foamy stools, the mother should review her diet and, if necessary, keep a food diary to avoid bowel movements of this nature.

Advice! Before throwing away your used diaper, examine your bowel movements. They can tell you a lot about your child's health.

If the baby eats formula, then foamy stool indicates that this formula is not suitable for the baby’s digestive system and it needs to be changed. Another factor in foamy stool is sucking on a pacifier or water bottle.

But one of the main causes of foamy stools is improper milk intake (imbalance). This occurs in cases where the baby is fed predominantly with foremilk, which contains a large amount useful vitamins, substances and carbohydrates needed for infants - lactose. To digest lactose, lactase is required, which is produced independently by the young body. The baby receives additional lactase by consuming hindmilk, which he sometimes does not have time to get to. This is where nutritional deficiency occurs - lactose is not processed properly and therefore the baby experiences colic, abdominal pain, and foamy discharge.

Drug treatment

Please note that under no circumstances should you engage in self-treatment child without your pediatrician's approval. Doctors usually resort to medicines V last resort. First, the pediatrician will advise you to adjust your diet and eliminate all forbidden foods, causing discomfort in the baby's body.