The new baby’s defecation mystery.

The arrival of a newborn child has brought endless joy to parents, accompanied by many new responsibilities and challenges. One important but often neglected aspect is defecation of infants. Understanding normal patterns of infant defecation not only helps parents to take better care of the baby but also detects potential health problems in a timely manner.The first defecation of a newborn child usually occurs during the first days of life, and the substance excreted is called foetal sap. Feet manure is a sticky, black or dark green substance that is filled with intestinal tracts before the baby is born. This unique excreta is in fact formed from substances such as the fetus swallowing of sheep water, falling skin cells and fetal hair in the womb. The excretion of foetal septics marks an important milestone in the normal functioning of the infant digestive system.As foetal manure is excreted, the excreta of the baby changes gradually. This change reflects the gradual maturity of the infant digestive system and a shift in diet. For breastfed infants, excreta is usually turned into yellow liquids, with some particles mixed. This excreta is usually described as mustard or egg yellow, which is in a form similar to rare paste. In contrast, tan or yellow is usually used in the excreta of a baby fed by formula powder, which is more dense, but should remain soft and should not be harder than soft clay. It is worth noting that there may be significant changes in the colour and density of baby dung, which is normal in many cases.The frequency of defecation varies widely, depending on a variety of factors, such as feeding patterns, age and individual differences. Many newborns defecate very soon after each feeding, due to gastrointestinal reflection. However, as babies grow up, the defecation pattern changes. For breastfed infants, it may also be normal to defecate once a week at the age of three to six weeks. This is because breast milk leaves little solid waste in the infant ‘ s digestive system. As long as the defecation is soft, the other aspects of the infant ‘ s normal performance are steadily increasing in weight and the number of defecations is low. In contrast, formula-fed infants should normally defecate at least once a day. If the frequency of defecation is below this standard and it appears to be difficult to defecate, it may mean that the baby has constipation.Maintaining proper water intake is essential for normal defecation of infants. If the excrement of the baby becomes dry, it may indicate that they do not consume enough water or that they lose too much water due to illness and fever. For breastfed infants, no additional water is usually required, as breast milk itself contains sufficient moisture. However, some additional moisture may be required for babies fed with formula powder, especially in hot weather or when the baby is sick.When babies start adding solid food, defecation patterns and faeces can change significantly again. Certain foods, such as cereals or milk (no full milk for infants under 12 months of age is recommended) may lead to constipation. Therefore, when starting to add solid food, parents should be careful to gradually introduce new foods and to closely observe the defecation of infants.It is sometimes difficult to judge whether a child suffers from mild diarrhoea, as the defecation of the baby is usually soft and rare. Obvious symptoms of diarrhoea include a sudden increase in the frequency of defecation (more than one defecation per feeding) and exceptionally high liquid content in defecation. Diarrhoea can be a sign of intestinal infection or may be caused by changes in the diet of infants. For breastfed infants, diarrhoea can even occur as a result of changes in the mother ‘ s diet.The most worrying thing about diarrhoea is the potential for dehydration. In cases of diarrhoea, especially fever, parents should pay close attention to the urine and overall state of the baby. In the case of infants under three months, any fever should be immediately referred to a doctor. For older infants, a doctor should also be consulted if the fever lasts longer than one day.Understanding normal patterns of infant defecation is essential for new parents. While the situation may vary for each infant, by closely observing and understanding the basic principles, parents can better judge the health status of the child and identify potential problems in a timely manner.