Diarrhea in a Breast-Fed Baby
Parents can often confuse what is a normal stool and what is diarrhea when their infant is breast-fed. The stools of breast-fed babies tend to be runny, leaving the parents to look for other methods of identification to decide whether there is a need for treatment.
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Identification
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The normal loose stools of breast-fed babies and diarrhea are differentiated by an increased occurrence from normal stools to 10 more stools a day, a foul odor and stools that have mucus or blood in them.
Causes
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Diarrhea in a breast-fed infant could be the result of a viral infection, food sensitivity from something the baby or the mother has eaten or the consumption of too much fruit juice.
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Treatment
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C.S. Mott Children's Hospital suggests continuing to breast-feed the infant at frequent intervals to prevent dehydration. If the baby is consuming solids, it suggests offering easily digested, high-fiber items such as bananas and carrots. The hospital also suggests that the mother cut out food and drinks from her diet that may be triggering or contributing to the diarrhea.
Prevention
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To help prevent a baby from getting diarrhea, wash your hands thoroughly after each diaper change and after using the restroom.
Warning
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Contact your baby's health care provider if the baby exhibits signs of dehydration, acts lethargic, has a fever, is vomiting or if there is blood in the diarrhea.
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